Eurorail Select Pass Reservations Required

Of those three countries, you only ever need a reservation on a French TGV train. If you are making day trips you probably won't be using TGV's. Unless you are making a day trip to Paris. Basel-Paris is the only TGV's that call at Basel.

In Germany you don't need reservations. You can only get reservations on IC/ICE/EC trains, and they are only useful if you are travelling in the rush hour (otherwise you may have to stand), or you are a big group who wants to ensure you can all sit together.

In Switzerland, reservations are never needed and in most cases not even possible.

You can make reservations at Basel station.

I absolutely agree with Chris F - if I were in Basel and thinking of day trips I certainly wouldn't be expecting reservations.

In France it will be easy to get anywhere in Alsace and most of Lorraine by regional TER trains, any further is really beyond a day trip.

There are dozens of easy day trips in Switzerland from Basel - no reservations needed, and all sorts in Germany along the Bodensee and Rhine. Lindau is a bit far .

Lisa,

where have you seen "Many of the trains explain that they require reservations. " ? What routes?

When you view train schedules through the DB link at How to Look Up Train Schedules and Routes Online, you will see that they match what Chris described. Don't use Rail Europe for this data, since they have a serious glitch in their system which misrepresents some optional reservations as "required."

However, once you've determined that you are taking a TGV train, then Rail Europe is the best place to reserve that, preferably before you leave home, since the number of places is limited for pass holders. We understand that the TGV reservations are not even sold in French stations in the last three days before departure of the train.

Thank you all for the input, it is extremely helpful! I am so glad to hear that I do not need reservations with my railpass! I think my problem was that I was looking on the raileurope website and it stated there that many of these trains required a seat reservation, even with a railpass. I understand now that that is incorrect information. I am planning a day trip to Dijon, France, which looks like it is a TGV train so it looks like that is the only train that will require advance reservations.

While I have all of you knowledgeable people available, I am also looking for some advice on the most worthwhile places to visit for day trips in Switzerland from Basel. Right now I am thinking about Zurich, Bern, Lucerne, and Interlaken, but most likely won't have time to visit all of these cities. Does anyone have any advice on which are the best places to visit?

Thanks again for all of your help!

"Zurich, Bern, Lucerne, and Interlaken". Forget about Zürich.

1) If you have only one day for a trip into Switzerland, and the weather is clear, take a day trip up Titlis. See: http://www.titlis.ch/en
This is the nearest mountain to Basel with a permanent snow cap. Train via Luzern (Lucerne) to Engelberg, then cable car up the mountain. Small glacier at the top with a cave you can go inside, and a chair lift across the glacier (look down into crevices). Superb views. AFAIK your pass is good to Engelberg, but not on the cable car, though your pass may get you a discount.

2) Luzern, including a boat trip on the lake. I think your pass is valid for the boats.

3) Train round trip: Basel --> Luzern --> Brünig Pass route via Brienz to Interlaken --> Bern --> Basel This is a "poor man's glacier express". Good views on the Brünig Pass railway. If you start early you can stop off at one or even two places; Luzern, Brienz, Interlaken. All trains are once per hour, so you can have one hour in a place and catch the next train.

4) Bern. Don't forget to say hello to the bears!

Chris, this is great information! I will definitely do Titlis! Thanks SO much!!