I've been hearing a lot about rail europe on this website. I've researched all of the tickets through my trip on Eurail.com, and was planning on buying the tickets from there. Free shipping, and $12 insurance on the Select Saver pass. What is the different between the two websites? Aren't they both selling the same thing?
Posted by
Lincoln, NE, USA
390 posts
Yes, they're all selling the exact same pass. RailEurope also has free shipping on purchases over $399. Rick Steves' site charges you $15 for shipping, but includes some freebies like a travel DVD, maps, and 20% off anything in the his online travel store.
I've used RailEurope, but only because they had free shipping and I didn't need any of the "freebies". Either one will be fine.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
Lindsey, Eurail is a consortium of European national rail companies, ship lines, and others banded together to market railpasses to non-european areas. If you buy from Eurail.com, you are buying directly from the supplier. Eurail used to set the prices for their railpasses, but they no longer do; resellers are free to charge what they want. It pays to shop around.
RailEurope is a company, owned mostby French Rail. They are a "reseller", but not the only one, of these Eurail passes in No. America. They also sell other, non-Eurail travel products. One thing I did notice that RailEurope sells, but Eurail doesn't, are the German Rail passes.
You should be able to get a better deal (bonuses, discounts on other products) on this website (ricksteves.com).
Posted by
Newport Beach, CA, USA
769 posts
Get it from Rick & Co. - they can help you out - and offer that great extra 20%!
Posted by
OP
Atlanta, GA, 30096
30 posts
Thanks for all of your help! I ended up getting the passes from Eurail.com, since I didn't need the RS discount, they were the same price, and we got free shipping and an extra day free (had to purchase by today). The explanations of raileurope vs. eurail made a lot of sense though, and helped me feel better about the decision!