My husband and I our going to be traveling throughout Europe for 21 days at the end of June through July 2012. We are planning and about to purchase the Eurorail global pass for 21 days. We have a set itinerary and I am trying to plan and budget for train reservations on our trip. We begin in Paris, then travel to Amsterdam for one day, followed by Berlin. After Berlin we plan to travel to Prague, Salzburg, Venice, Rome, Florence, Cinque Terre, and Nice, France. We are hoping to take a night train from Nice/Monaco to Paris (so that we may enjoy as much time as we can before we must leave) and were also hoping to take a faster train between Paris and Amsterdam to maximize time. My main question is how to I figure out all the extra fees and if there is even a discount for those who hold global rail passes? Also where and how do I make the reservations for these trains? Thank you for all of your help!
Posted by
Tilburg, Netherlands
2829 posts
You should check carefully whether a rail pass would really be a good deal. This is some of the cheapest prices you can get in some routes: - Paris-Amsterdam with high-speed Thalys: € 35 - Amsterdam-Berlin with ICE: € 39
- Salzburg-Venezia: from € 49 - Venezia-Roma, Roma-Firenze: anyway from € 9, most likely € 19 or € 29 each route. - Firenze to the Cinque Terre is a short hop that is reasonably cheap - Nice-Paris: the night tran is crap. Take a daytime TGV I really don't see the economics of a RAil Pass working for you.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
Andre has some great comments. As for reservation fees, please note that the ones on the Thalys train are the highest for Eurail passholders. 33E-39E. That's about the same as a special point-to-pont fare on the same train. Plus, I believe that there are limited seats on the Thalys for pass holders.
Posted by
Whittington
984 posts
'My main question is how to I figure out all the extra fees and if there is even a discount for those who hold global rail passes? Also where and how do I make the reservations for these trains?' Sorry - only you can do the maths. based on your itinerary and schedules. If you do not understand the product you should read the terms and conditions until you do. As advised, you are very likely making a mistake with this purchase. You may want to read - http://www.seat61.com/Railpass-and-Eurail-pass-guide.htm#Should you buy a railpass or pay-as-you-go
Posted by
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
4051 posts
Eleven destinations in 21 days (counting Paris twice)? Your memories are going to consist mainly of hotel lobbies, train stations and staring out windows. If you have any flexibility left at this point, at least consider flying home from Nice instead of spending a day and night returning to Paris.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Like Southam, I think you're trying to do too much in the time you have. I love Nice and spent five nights there several years ago. Nevertheless, I suggest that you skip it. It takes from 5 1/2 to 6 1/2 hours to get from the Cinque Terre to Nice. Instead, take a train from the CT to either Pisa or Milan and fly from either city to Paris on easyJet. Take the time you would have spent in Nice and add it to one or more of your other cities. However, if you're an art lover (like I am), then going to Nice may be well worth it to you. The Chagall and Matisse museums are absolutely wonderful and the Picasso museum is well worth the short train ride to Antibes.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
seriously, have you really looking at all the time you will spend getting to train stations, on trains, then getting to hotel to drop bags,, then repeating it a day or two later!? When you alllow two nights you actually only get one full day in a destination..and remember you can't count the day you leave either.. so its 20 days. I would cut out a few places, and then look at point to point tickets.