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Should I go with a Eurail Pass?

Posted by (Minnesota) on

I am trying to figure out the best way to travel by train this 2014 summer. I'm going with two of my friends(both 17 years old; I'm 18) and another friend(who actually lives in Switzerland) is joining us halfway through. The countries that we plan to hit are Italy, Switzerland, and France over the course of a month.
Our itinerary, as of now, is as follows:

Rome to Cinque Terre (stopping in Pisa)

Cinque Terre to Florence

Florence to Venice

Venice to Zug, Switzerland

Zug to somewhere in France???(Any advice?)

We are for sure flying out of Paris, but have not filled in that space. Anyways, I am trying to figure out if we should go with passes, and if so, which ones are the best deal. I've been on the eurail website, looking up prices for these countries. The main thing that I am needing help with is whether or not a pass will be needed in Italy. Many websites say that Italy is cheapest by buying individual tickets. At the same time, combining Italy with another country for a pass is also an option. Here is what I have researched so far as possible options for our trip:

-France/Italy Pass($412 for 8 travel days during two months) and Switzerland transfer($153... I'm not quite positive on how this one works other than it is to a location in Switzerland and out. Any explanation about this would be grand.:D) totaling $565

-France/Switzerland Pass($427 for 7 travel days during two months) and Italy Pass($226 for 4 travel days during two months) totaling $653

-France Pass($209 for 4 travel days during a month) and Italy Pass($226 for 4 travel days during two months) and Switzerland transfer($153) totaling $588

Is $226 too much money to be paying for travel in Italy? Should I be looking into point-to-point tickets? Also, if I do go with any of the above passes, do I have to make a reservation to be able to ride? How much are reservations(approx.) and how early do reservations need to be booked? If reservations will probably be required for the trains in Italy, would that extra price tacked onto the pass be more than if I got individual tickets? If I go with individual tickets, do I need to get a reservation?

I'm sorry if I got a little bit confusing at the end. I just don't really understand the system quite yet. :) Thank you!

Posted by
21155 posts

I am ballparking about $350 for point to point tickets for 8 or 9 rail journeys. You might have to commit in advance for many of the trains, but if you're interested in savings, it is the way to go. Italy will hit you with a 10 euro reservation fee on each fast train. I got you with at least 3 of these (CT to Florence can be done with regional trains) Remember, there are still additional costs on each leg over and above the railpass costs. You will actually pay a substantial premium for the luxury of going wherever you want at the spur of the moment. You seem to have a good idea of where you want to go, at least at the start. Get your heads together and decide what you want to see and how much time you want to spend, add in a few slack days in case something juicy presents itself. Your Swiss friend is likely to have some sort of student half-fare card, so she (he?) will save a little as long as you are in Switzerland.

Posted by
12040 posts

Forget EUrail, Rail Euorpe, and any other 3rd party ticket and pass reseller. Here's the websites you should consult:

Trenitalia for Italy

SBB for Switzerland

SNCF for France.

Research each website to see if you qualify for youth or students rates (I don't know the specifics myself). If not, you can usually save the most by buying your tickets in advanced, even up to a few days before, although this varies depending on what kind of train you're taking and by country. Other than buying 1st class tickets, a 3rd party adult rail pass is usually the single most expensive method of rail travel. Even straight-out buying full cost 2nd class tickets is usually cheaper than a rail pass.

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