Here's my question: We are actually visiting five countries (Czech Rep, Austria, Germany, Switz. and France). However, if we take an overnight sleeper from Zermatt to Paris we will have to enter and connect in Milan/Italy, adding a sixth country. How can I price out how much additional this will be to add Italy? Does our Eurail pass cover everything but the brief time we're in Italy? Is it worth it to not count Czech Rep. (Prague to Salzburg) and start our passes once we reach Austria to save money? Any direction here would help...
Could you please tell me where you found the link with train prices? The ones I find say call for amount.
If your only Czech travel is from Prague to Salzburg, get your pass for Austria, Germany, Switz., France and Italy. There is a 9:10 regional train, EX354, out of Prague that goes to the German Border at Furth im Wald and on to Landshut, then another regional train, RB 27091, to Salzburg. The total time, 7h41m, is about as fast as you can get from Prague to Salzburg. The fare to Furth, in Koruna, is the equivalent of about €10 per person. If you validate the pass in Prague, you could use it from there through Germany to Salzburg. If you don't want to use a rail pass day, you can get a Bayern-Ticket online from the German Rail website for €28, and it will take both of you through Bavaria from Furth to Salzburg.
Use the Bahn (German Rail) website. Put in Prague to Salzburg. Also put in 2 adults so you get the right fares. You should see the 9:10 to 16:51 connection with one change. Click the '>' on the left hand side of the line and it will expand the connection to show the 18 min change in Landshut. Click on the train number from Prague to Landshut, EX354/ALX354, and it will show you stops along the route. The train crosses the German/Czech border at Furth i Wald (Furth im Wald, Furth in the forest) at 12:10. Put in Furth i Wald to Salzburg departing 12:10, and the Bahn will show the same train with a Bayern-Ticket savings fare of €29 from Furth to Salzburg. You can even purchase that ticket for home print out from that point by clicking "purchase". The Czech Rail fare from Prague to Domazlice, which is near Furth, you can find on the Czech Rail website. It's 218 Kc, which is about €9,-. The Czech website does not give the fare to Furth because it is outside the Czech Rep, but Furth is about 12% farther, so figure €10 per person. You'll have to buy the Czech ticket, to Furth or to the border, at the counter in Prague.