Hey, everyone. I know that there's a long list of these kind of topics, but I really need help. I'm trying to determine whether or not I need a pass for a certain portion of my backpacking trip. I leave very soon (next Monday) and would have to order it by tomorrow and have it overnighted. I've already determined that most of my trip doesnt really need a pass. But there's a short portion where I'm debating on whether to get a pass or if it'd just be cheaper to buy point-to-point tickets.
After London I'm traveling to Brussels, Amsterdam, France, Venice, and Rome. (pretty much that order without any other points in between). As the pass doesnt really cover London to Brussels that bit if information doesn't really matter, I suppose.
A pass that covers Benelux, France, and Italy costs $295 + $20 for protection plan + $35 for overnight shipping coming to a nice $350.
I don't know if it's because I just really suck at math or just really suck at internet research but I can't seem to figure out what to do. Any insights or help? SOS, help!
Thanks! :)
Posted by
Lake Forest, CA, USA
1633 posts
Hannah, at the top of this page, there is a tab "railpasses". Once there, go to step #3, on the left side, and use the European map to figure out the estimated costs for your point-to-point tickets. When figuring total costs of your pass, be aware that any routes that require a reservation will cost more. Most likely, your Venice to Rome train will require a reservation. Not sure about your other routes. PM me if you need additional info.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
First of all, you've waited way too long to get the best discount fares for booking point-to-point tickets in advance on each country's national rail site. So at this late date a Eurail pass will probably be less than standard fare p2p tickets, even with the cost of seat reservations on trains that require them and supplements for sleeping accommodations on night trains.
If you plan to take the direct night train from Paris to Venice, buy your sleeping accommodation supplement from Rail Europe at the same time as you buy your pass. Popular night trains like that one can sell out weeks in advance.
For daytime trains that require seat reservations you should be OK buying those reservations as you go. However, be aware that national rail companies limit the number of seats they allocate to passholders. This seems to be especially true of SNCF, French national rail. People have reported being told that those seats are gone, even though the train is not sold out and standard fare tickets are still available.
Be aware that on Thalys trains between Amsterdam and Paris you will have to pay a special passholder fare, not a simple seat reservation fee.
With a Eurail pass you can pay a passholder fare of 50 GBP for London-Brussels on the Eurostar. That's more than the best discount fare, but a lot less than what you would have to pay for a last-minute p2p ticket.