am786706
Traveller
0 comments
Posted 13 years ago
I am US citizen working in Spain. I have been here since the 28th of September and will be here until the 31st of May. My stay here will be over the 6 month requirement for the InterRail pass but as of this moment I fall a few months short. I have documentation that proves my current spanish residency, bank statements, passport and documents from the spanish government that clearly say I will be in spain until the 31st of May. Does this mean that I can successfully buy and use interRail or must I purchase Eurail instead. Friends of mine have purchased the InterRail pass already who are in the same program as me and plan to use it during the Christmas holidays in the coming weeks. However, I do not want to take the risk of losing my money and as time is running out I need to know what my best options are as of right now. Any advice? Do I qualify for the InterRail?
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Hi.
Sad news... you do not qualify for InterRail. You will have to buy an EURAIL pass.
The rule says that you have to collect the 6 months first before you can travel with InterRail.
The total stay - even having a documents proofing a total stay more than 6 months - is not the important thing. Important is only the months from your arrival in Europe until the first day of travel with a rail pass in Europe.
But it is absolutely no problem to travel together with Eurail and Interrail. You can use the same trains. And you have to advantage not to have a country of residence which is the case for InterRail (you have to pay extra in your country of residence).
Have a nice trip with Eurail,
Peter :)
makma001
Traveller
2 comments
This is a super-duper last minute question.
I am a Turkish citizen and have been living/studying in the US for the past 5 years (with a few vacations in Turkey). My girlfriend (US citizen) and I will be in Europe this winter. After reading through the post I went ahead and bought 2 EURail passes for both of us and got the tickets shipped to our address in the US. I only have a Turkish passport, and before I did buy an InterRail ticket. However this time I was under the impression that all it matters is the last 6months and where you lived. I lived in the US in the past 6 months.
Would this cause any issues with me using the EURail pass? Did I just make an expensive mistake?
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Hi.
You shouldn't have any problems.
You only need a proof (visa or residency permit) printed in or attached to your passport showing your stay for more than 6 months in the US.
Have a nice trip, Peter :)
makma001
Traveller
2 comments
Thanks for the reply Peter. I went ahead and cancelled my ticket as after contacting the angecy I was informed that I need residency ie. greencard, for the Rail Europe pass. Therefore I got my girlfriend's pass and not mine. I am planning on getting mine as Interrail pass once I get to Europe. Will it make more sense to order InterRail pass online and have it shipped to the hostel we will be staying in Italy or to just get it at Roma,Termini once we are there?
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Hi.
It depends on the hostel. If the staff is informed and it is a trustful hostel, get it send to the hostel, as it is easier.
If you don't trust the hostel, go the to train station - but take a bit of time with you and write down all necessary information (starting date of the ticket, type of ticket, ...) on a paper - so nothing will go wrong.
Peter :)