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Do we need a Eurorail Pass?

Posted by on

Hello,
We are taking our first trip to Europe, 2 families, party of 9 including kids, and we are having a hard time figuring out if we need a Eurorail Pass. We start out in London, to Paris (already bought our train tickets). We leave Paris and head to Interlaken, Switzerland. From Interlaken, we head to Rome.

We do not anticipate going on day trips to different cities as we are on a tight timeframe. Do we need to purchase point to point tickets, or will the Eurorail Pass be what we need?

Thanks for your time.

Posted by
20290 posts

And both your journeys will require seat reservations if you did have a Eurail Pass. They are included automatically when you buy point-to-point tickets. Depending on kids ages, they may get discounts, or even travel free if very young.

Posted by
7209 posts

Most people who think they may need Eurail Passes are new travelers just like you. Glad you came here first before wasting your money on those passes.

Buy your point to point tickets Paris to Interlaken on the Swiss rail website www.sbb.ch/en

For your travels in Italy tix are dirt cheap if you buy in advance on trenitalia.com

If these websites give you problems with your USA credit cards try Amex or buy from www.trainline.eu

PS: don’t stay in Interlaken. You’re going there to see the Swiss Alps so stay in the beautiful alpine villages of Murren Lauterbrunnen or Wengen...you’ll pass through interlaken to get to these places.

Posted by
11392 posts

Tim is right: go at least as far as Lauterbrunnen. How many nights do you have in the area? There may be a regional pass that would be worthwhile.

Your travel day to Rome will be on a train to Milan from Spiez and then a change to a train to Rome. (You have to get to Speiz from wherever you stay in the area and that is where a regional pass may come in, as well as for riding any lifts or trains to hike or just see the views.) There will be a discount for buying those tickets in advance.

Posted by
9423 posts

Another vote not to stay in Interlakken. Murren is our favorite, up in the Alps.

Posted by
4059 posts

The top answer for any question about European rail travel is this: Consult www.seat61.com

There you find advice on tickets, routes, comfort. Using the site's links, you can work out point-to-point prices for your itinerary and compare the pass deals. Yes, it is best to Do It Yourself, to understand how you are travelling once you get there.

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