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Train Reservation Help

Posted by (LA VERGNE, Tennessee, USA) on

I will be in Europe from April 2-17. I can go ahead and purchase my Euro [INVALID] pass if I want from Rail Europe or Eurail but from what I understand, I have to wait till close to time to get train reservations. Here are some of my questions:

  1. When can I get train reservations? Especially for overnight trains from Zurich to Vienna and Vienna to Venice?

  2. Where is the best place for me to get the reservations? Rail Europe or Eurail or somewhere else?

  3. Do I have to get the reservations from the same group that I purchase the Rail Pass from?

Thanks!

Posted by
32325 posts

Brandon,

If you're going to buy a Railpass for travel in April, I wouldn't buy it until next year. As I recall, the Passes have to be used within a specified time. You can also purchase Railpasses from this website - click the Railpasses tab at the top.

You may find it helpful to read the information in the Railpass section, or download the free PDF Rail Guide (click the "Go Green" section at the bottom).

To answer your questions:
1.) You can buy train reservations at whichever station you're departing from, either on the day of travel or a day or two prior.

2.) The "best place" is at the local rail stations.

3.) No. Regardless of where you purchase the Railpass, you'll be buying reservations from the rail system of whichever country you're departing from. For example, when purchasing reservations at a local rail station in Switzerland, these will be provided by SBB, and in Italy by Trenitalia / Ferrovie dello Stato.

Rather than using a Railpass, you might also look at the cost of P-P tickets if you're just taking a few rail trips.

Cheers!

Posted by
989 posts

Brandon - You mention a night train from Zurich to Vienna. I did the train from Basel to Vienna last summer. I could not tear myself away from the windows. This is some amazing landscape to travel through and you won't see anything at night. You might want to consider day travel for that leg....just an IMO.

You will love Vienna. HAve a grat trip.

Posted by
3580 posts

I just bought a rail pass for Italy thru ETBD. It must be activated within 6 months of the purchase date. You can buy a pass a couple of weeks before you travel; I buy mine thru this website (look in the Railpasses section).

If you have just a couple of train trips in mind and can purchase in advance, it might be more economical to buy tickets rather than a pass.

Posted by
26 posts

I have calculated the point to point tickets and getting the saver rail pass for my group is going to be cheaper. I plan on buying my passes through ETBD.

The 2 overnight trains are the ones that I am concerned with having a sleeper reservation that I can't miss.

Does this sound good concerning getting the reservations?

  • RailEurope is going to charge me much more to purchase the Reservatiosn here in the USA than buying them at the train station in Europe while we are there.

-But I am afraid that the sleepers will be sold out if I wait till April while we are in Europe to make Reservations at the train station.

-So, would it be best to call SBB Rail or DB Rail and say I have Passes but can I purchase Reservations for these overnight trains through you??? Assuming I will save money by going with them rather than RailEurope reservations.

-Or can I order only reservations through SBB or DB on the internet?

-Also, if I don't order Reservations through RailEurope, and I want to buy them ASAP, should I call or order them through SBB or DB, if I can?

thanks everyone for the help! :)

Here is my train itinerary:
Paris to Lauterbrunnen, Swiss
Lauterbrunnen to Zurich
Zurich to Vienna (overnight train)
Vienna to Venice (overnight train)
Venice to Florence
Florence to Pisa
Pisa to Rome

Posted by
2092 posts

Brandon, for US$50 for the entire transaction you can get reservations (and Passes if you don't need the 20% off from ETBD) from euraide.com.

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