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Eurail Pass or Buy as I go?

Posted by (Lake Geneva) on

Hi,
I have an extended question if anyone wants to help. I am trying to decide on train tickets for a trip this June. I am traveling with 3 other people and trying to stay cheap(ish) and easy! I've read the Rail Europe is expensive and that train travel in Italy is cheap sooooo....what to do?
I am taking trains from:
Geneva to Chamonix

Chamonix to Montroux

Montroux to Interlaken

Interlaken to Stresa to Milan

Milan to Varenna

Milan to Cinque Terre

Trains in Cinque

Cinque to Pisa

Cinque to Verona

Verona to Desenzano

Verona to Bolzano

Verona to Venice

Venice to Marco Polo Airport

Should I get a rail pass saver or just buy tickets at each station? What would be cheaper and/or easier?

I'm still confused about reservations on trains. Can I get by without them? I don't know the exact times I want to leave so I'm leery about making a reservation. I cannot speak any other language but English. :( I'm trying to be efficient and stress-free (if possible!) Any help or insight on any point of travel would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!!

Michelle

Posted by
6898 posts

Two suggestions. First, you don't need a railpass for Italy. P2P works great and is the least expensive. Most of the runs that you describe above will be on Regionale trains. These are the least expensive. You might be on a Eurostar here and there. The Regionales are usually under 15Euro. Short distances are about 5-7Euro or so. You really don't need the pass.

Second, are you in Lake Geneva, Switzerland? If yes, you know all about the Swiss pass. If no, I would suggest a real Swiss pass or card for Switzerland. It's much better than the Eurail pass from Interlaken into the Lauterbrunnen Valley and up to the mountain tops.

Posted by
8 posts

Thanks for the quick response! I live in Lake Geneva, WI, sorry....

If I buy P2P tickets, can I get them from an automated ticket machine?

Thanks again!

Posted by
8700 posts

Listen to Larry! He knows the Switzerland and Italy train systems. Reservations are not possible on regional trains. On fast trains that require them, they are included in the price of the ticket which will be for a specific departure date and time. Even for trains that require reservations you can buy tickets up until shortly before departure. You will have an assigned carriage and a specific seat in that carriage.

In stations that have them you can buy tickets from a machine. The machines have an English option and accept North American credit cards.

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