3 country global pass or 4 country pass,Italy, Austria, Czech, & Germany?

You can route yourself either way. If you route through Germany, you must have Germany on your pass - if a pass is how you're getting around. But a railpass isn't the only way. I would suggest that you post your itinerary and travel dates. It's very possible that neither a 3- nor a 4-country railpass is best for you. For example, you can get a ticket from Rome to Innsbruck or Munich for 43 Euros on certain trains. A regular ticket from Innsbruck to Vienna is only about 50 Euros.

Russ is right. Post your route. Sometimes (like in Czech Rep) the bus is a better option in which case you would not need to spend so much $$$ on railpasses.

Yes, give us dates and dp/ar cities and the number of travelers (and ages if they're children or young adults). I'll bet Russ' car that point-to-point, advance purchase tickets will be a better deal ;-)

Tom, Are you asking if the train from Innsbruck to Vienna goes through Germany, it's no. It's a straight shot in Austria itself. But if you want to taylor your own ticket and go to Munich first and then transfer to Vienna, you can arrange that way too. From Munich to Vienna is direct. How much of the train travel are you doing in Germany? Ordinarily, if it's going to be transit in CZ, say Prague, Brno or Pilsen, I would omit CZ from the Pass and include only Italy, Austria, and Germany. If you're only going through Germany and doing most travelling in Austria and Italy, get a point to point ticket to cover the Ger, portion., omit Germany from the Pass. I need more info on whether the Pass would be worth it.

"I'll bet Russ' car that point-to-point, advance purchase tickets will be a better deal ;-)" Your little wager doesn't show much swagger, Eileen. I'm afraid it's not worth a new set of tires at this point. Looks like Tom values his itinerary privacy. I've never stolen anyone's itinerary, but he probably doesn't know that.

Thank you all again for your input. While I do value my privacy I can tell you this. This summer 2 adults and one 25 year old. (I am sure she considers herself an adult) or a total of three will travel from Rome to Venice to Innsbruck to Vienna to Bruno to Prague. This will happen in a matter of two weeks. I have heard we can avoid Germany, (I would love to go to Germany but don't have enough time this trip). From what I understand the global pass with 3 countries listed will be the best way to go. (Italy, Austria, Czech Rep.) I was told we can also get a Eurail pass(high speed)
supplement a few days before at the Rome station for the Venice destination. Does this make sense or will point to point until Vienna and then take a bus from then on make more sense.

NO travel dates. In July I found a ticket for 3 adults from Venice to Munich for 117, direct train leaving 1:34 on July 19. That seems like a good price. Just get off early in Innsbruck. Maybe you can search your dates yourself since you know them. http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

Standard fares per person pulled from national rail sites (except bahn.de) Rome-Venice: 76 (trenitalia) Venice-Innsb: 39 (bahn.de, as explained previously) Innsb-Vienna: 58 (oebb.at) Vienna-Brno: 26 (cd.cz)
Brno-Prague: 13 (cd.cz) Total: 212 Euros A global pass means all of Europe. You may be referring to a selectpass for 3 countries. At 5 days, a selectpass saver version for two is $409 each; one youth selectpass for 5 days is $313. Total = $1131 vs. 212 Euros x 3 = 636 = $927. Of course the two older ones could ride in first class.

There used to be trains between Innsbruck and Vienna that went entirely through Austria. I was on one of those trains last year between Stainach-Irdning and Jenbach. I can't seem to find trains like that today. They all seem to go from Innsbruck directly to Salzburg. Since there are no stops in Germany, it's hard to establish that they do go through Germany, but the ÖIC stops in Wörgl and Kufstein, so it has to be headed for Germany. Because these are Austrian Rail trains and they go from an Austrian city to an Austrian city without stopping, it is my understanding that you don't need Germany as a country on your rail pass. If you try to get a reservation on RailEurope for one of these trains from Innsbruck to Salzburg with just an Austria Rail pass, they will sell you one, but if you try to get a reservation from Innsbruck to Freilassing (in Germany just across the river from Salzburg, they won't sell you one). (With an Austria/Germany pass R/E will sell you reservations to Freilassing for a one change connection through Rosenheim). But, I agree with Russ. Before you get a railpass, check out the non-railpass options. You'll probably save money. BTW, I found an all austrian, direct connection from Innsbruck to Salzburg by putting in stopovers in Zell am See and Hallein (it goes "under" Berchtesgaden). However, it takes an extra two hours.