2 people using Eurail flexipasses on smart phone(s)

Two things.
This sounds like way too much travel (too many one or two night stops) in a short time.
I can not believe this much can be saved on advance purchase tickets online or even the walkup prices.

To Bob: "interesting" comments !

1). the Trip includes a Viking river cruise, a few days rest in the Swiss Alps prior to returning home, a ride on the Bernina Express, two days of rest at Lake Como, 4 days in Budapest, and a 2-week stay at a Tuscany villa (between Florence and Siena) which will include attending the 4-day Palio event in Siena. There will be one-night stays - but, fewer than a typical RS tour - two of which will be in Frankfurt just after and before the 10+ -hour, non-stop flights to/from home.

2). about the costs/savings: I have estimates for the entire trip including the first-class (where available) train travel legs based on the use of advanced-purchase of tickets to get the best prices, I know what passes would cost, and I can handle 5th grade math. Therefore, I know what the savings will be.

I’ll preface this with, I hate it when people tries to give advice without actually having used something….but, just an idea to throw out there….When we fly we each have the airline app and we put both boarding passes on both phones. My husband usually uses his to scan us both in at the gate. Mine is usually used for backup if he somehow messes up (it has happened). Can you each have both passes on both phones with one as back up? Might save the marriage if someone hits the wrong button….

Hi Margie: great ideas, thanks.
Pretty sure I can put the boarding passed on both phones; when I can, I usually print hard copy of them as a backup.

Will find out about loading both rail passes ob both phones.

Liked you comment about "...if he somehow messes up...." been there, done that many times over the 59 years the wife and I have been together "saving the marriage" :)

Thanks again for your thoughts.

I use the Senior Eurail Flex Pass, only the paper copy which is on my person in order not to lose it, or better still keep track of it. no copy on a phone.

Thanks Fred: Any concerns about security? Loss of your paper coy? Where do you keep it safe?

@ Jim....For me, at least, no concerns re: security at all. I see that as overrated. Never lost a paper copy of a train pass since !971, never even came close to that., being picked, my misplacing , forgetting it, etc.

I place the Pass in my waist belt ( I wear this underneath my pants' belt, almost front and center ), tucked inside a plastic "envelope" / cover, with a rubber band just snug or loose enough around that. I always put the Pass back into its proper place, never using any pocket as temporary holding, etc, ( ie, meaning I'll get to it later,...No, you do that right then and there. ) So, when you check if the Pass is still where it's suppose to be, you don't have to look, I use my fingers as the eyes, feeling the rubber band tells me the Pass is there...period.

Bottom line: the Pass goes back into the waist belt immediately after the train controller sees it (and hopefully, stamps it).

Fred:

Agree - we have been using money belts for 20+ years. Never a problem - aways with us in a safe place. Starting each trip, after the first few hours, I don't even know it is there.

Like your rubber band idea - will save some awkward "digging".

@ Jim...Exactly in regards to the "digging" , ie, where did I put that pass, it's somewhere here??? The moments spent doing that could make you target for some potential bad guy watching you (even though this last trip basically discounted that possibility for me) thinking that you're vulnerable.

The "rubber band" and using your finger tips as your eyes precludes the digging moments. That's another reason why I wear the waist belt around the pants.