Validating 3 country select rail pass in UK?

You can and actually must have it activated at the Eurostar office at St. Pancras. Allow a little extra time, beyond the 45 minutes check-in time that's associated with the pass holder reservation.

You can get a fare from London to Brussels for as little as $59 without spending an entire day of your "Pass".

The pass requires a "Passholder" reservation on Eurostar for which they will charge you a staggering £26.50 (€30) in Standard Class or £33.50 (€38) if you have First Class. PLUS a £10 booking fee per transaction . Try to book well in advance, it won't affect the price but some trains do get full. You can't do this online, phone them when you have the pass serial numbers etc. +44 1233 617 575 if you’re not in the UK, replace +44 with 0 if you are.

Bearing this in mind, if you haven't already ordered the pass do a trial online booking of a normal ticket at https://www.eurostar.com - you can book through to Amsterdam on one ticket and the price could be reasonable if you do it early. Then check what else you really need the Pass for, these days they aren't the value they used to be.

"...these days they aren't the value they used to be." How right you are!

You don't need to reserve Eurostar through the British office. If you book it through a US agent when you buy the pass, for instance at https://ricksteves.raileurope.com/us/rail/point_to_point/triprequest.htm, the price is $35 in Standard or $44 in Standard Premier. You can also book the Thalys reservation in the same bundle.

Thanks Laura and everyone else! I did the math not too long ago and the pass made sense as we are doing a 4 fairly long travel days. Having a little flexibility is important to us also, but not at too much of a price:)

If you are interested - the long travel days will be -
1. London to Amsterdam
2. Amsterdam to Luxembourg City
3. Cochem to Bad Wimpfen
4. Bad Wimpfen to Appenzell

Then - a couple of slightly shorter days
Appenzell to Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen to Zurich

We will also take a train from Luxembourg City to Metz France, but that is fairly short and the only trip including France so that one I planned on buying there on the day.

We will also take a train from Luxembourg City to Metz France, but that is fairly short and the only trip including France so that one I planned on buying there on the day.

But, the trip on Eurostar from London to Brussels travels through northern France. What countries do you have on your "3 country select pass including Benelux". I don't know the rules for these passes, but if you don't have France, are you sure it is valid London to Brussels?

Chris, my understanding is that it only needs to include Benelux.

ETA: This is a quote from this website "London–Paris/Brussels train: The "Chunnel" train is now covered by most Select Passes that include France and/or Benelux (the exception: two-country France–Italy Select Pass). Keep in mind that using your pass to cover that trip may not be the best option for you — see my tips for booking Eurostar seats."

Says and/or - so hoping that is correct...

What site did you use to price out your trips?

Emily,

Mostly DB and SBB. NOT rail europe! Can't figure out how to check price for Amsterdam to Luxembourg. Estimating 85 USD per person for that one. Just checked the price of the pass, and I believe it's gone up since I last checked. I guess that makes sense since the exchange rate has been deteriorating.

You only need Benelux on the pass to use Eurostar coverage to Brussels (or France on the pass to use Eurostar coverage to Paris). It doesn't matter that the Brussels train passes through a bit of France. Yes, exchange rates have been raising the pass prices and I expect another small adjustment on Thursday.

Amsterdam-Luxembourg connections tend to go through Brussels and you'll have to decide whether you want to reserve the Thalys or possibly make an extra connection to avoid it. The rate I've estimated for Brussels-Luxembourg in past research is $50. You can also connect through Germany with similar timing and full fare value for that is €116 in 2nd class or the usual advance-purchase discounts.