So my sister and I will be travelling to Munich, Salzburg, Vienna, Budapest and Prague. Although we have been to Europe before, this will be our first time in these countries.
What I am trying to make sense of is whether the "Select Pass" option (for 2,3 or 4 adjoining countries) also covers travel within these cities? We are staying anywhere from 3 to 5 days in each city and normally use public transport (trains and/or buses) to move around the cities. Appreciate any guidance!
Eurail passes only include transportation between cities. They may include include S-Bahn trains in Vienna, but you'll have to look closely at each country's rules. In Munich, you can buy a number of single, group. multiday passes to use the transit system, and they are priced how far out in the suburbs you want them valid for.
Rail passes might not be the best deal. You can get from Munich to Salzburg using a Bayern Ticket, 31 EUR for 2 of you. If you did buy it in the morning, it would work on Munich transit for the day after 9 am and get you to Salzburg in the afternoon or evening. Once you arrive in Salzburg, it does not work on the city transit there.
Salzburg to Vienna you could use the Westbahn train that has cheap anytime tickets, then buy local multiday transit passes.
Budapest public transit passes are inexpensive, as is the train to Prague because you will be paying in Hungarian Forints.
Any type of pass between these locations will be a total waste of money. Buy individual tickets as instructed on the Man in Seat 61 website.
With your travelling plans advance buying of train tickets is the way to go, and the guide to get them is the totally trustworthy above-mentioned Man in Seat 61. And don't make the popular mistake that you need 1st class for a comfortable ride. No European takes 1st class unless the boss pays for it.
These 4 trips can be done for 74.50 Euro TOTAL, per person. How does that compare with the Select Pass?
Rail passes don't typically cover transport within cities, but the German and Austrian cities are exceptions where the suburban S-Bahn system is covered on your counted Eurail pass travel days. U-Bahn, tram, or bus are not.
Direct trains between Budapest and Prague cross Slovakia, which would be a 5th country.
A cheaper rail pass option is the European East Pass covering 5 days of travel in Austria, Czechia, Slovakia, and Hungary for $238 per person in 2nd class. It's still more days than you need, therefore still doesn't save money over buying tickets as you go, even at full fare. You'd do the Munich-Salzburg trip with the above mentioned regional day ticket.
You all sound like seasoned travelers. I'd like to add on to this discussion. I am considering train tickets from Edingburgh to London well in advance to save money. However, the ticket provider's website (via Rick Steves' site) includes "This ticket is not guaranteed on any train and availability may be limited." Does that mean buying the ticket is pointless and we may not get seats?
djonrhic, You wrote "I am considering train tickets from Edingburgh to London well in advance to save money. However, the ticket provider's website (via Rick Steves' site)". But that IS NOT the ticket providers. It is a reseller in North America which is probably adding a markup and/or not showing all the trains.
As always, go direct to the company running the trains. For Edinburgh to London that is Virgin East Coast: https://www.virgintrainseastcoast.com/
That way you will get the cheapest fares, which come with seat reservations automatically.
For other routes in Britain, go to the National Rail site. This will automatically send you to the correct company once you put in your route: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/
