My husband and I are planning a two month Europe trip, but I'm a little confused about the how the trains work. Do you need reservations for all of your train rides? Which areas would it be okay to go to without train reservations? I realized that if we buy the Global Eurorail pass, and make reservations for all of our planned train trips, that would be about an extra $1,000.00! Perhaps point to point tickets may be my best bet. Any help you can offer would be great appreciated!!! Thanks. =)
Posted by
Los Angeles, CA, USA
80 posts
Elizabeth,
As far as I know, reservations don't cost extra if you have a rail pass, they simply guarantee you a seat. Use Rick Steves web pages about rail passes to help make your choice. If you will be using the train a lot for long trips, a rail pass is generally cheaper, but check the chart he has on point-to-point tickets and you can add up all of the costs.
Gook luck!
Posted by
Redding, CA, USA
1568 posts
Read the "getting train reservation" on the previous thread.
You should read all the Railpass information Rick Steves' has provided. The link is noted above under Railpasses.
Once you have a tentative itinerary go to this site and enter all the pertinent data, correct European spelling of the cities, etc. It will recommend the Rail Pass you will need if any or if you should buy point-to-point tickets.
Posted by
Redding, CA, USA
1568 posts
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
If you have a railpass, you only need to make reservations on trains that require them. That includes high-speed trains like the TGV and Thalys and all night trains. On night trains you buy a supplement whose price depends upon the kind of sleeping accommodations you choose.
Unless you're taking a lot of long-distance rides, point-to-point tickets are often cheaper than a pass. That's especially true if you are able to book discount fares well in advance on any of the national rail companies' Web sites. For example, PREM'S (discount) fares booked at sncf.com, the French national rail site, can be as little as €25 for a ticket all the way from Paris to Nice.
Posted by
Newburyport, MA
683 posts
P-to-P tix are, in our experience, easy to ontain and cheaper. You do NOT need reservations for all trains, only Eurostars and night trains. In almost every Western country, you may get tix from machines as well as at windows and travel agencies. In France and Italy you must have your ticket stamped at a small machine near the platform. This is known as "validation". Dont remember if Spain or Germany do this,too
Trains are very good and easy to use and the tix machines can help you plan your next trip as well as get you tix for the one you are taking