anonymous
Traveller
2469 comments
Posted 13 years ago
Hi,
I am doing a 6 week trip this summer with my two children: 1 month train travel and 2 weeks quieter bus and ferry travel in Greece. The three of us have US and French passports but we reside in Belgium. Since we have US passports, I am considering travelling with Eurail since 1st class travel seems to be more cost effective than with Interail. I understand that residence - not nationality - is taken into account. But who, how and when do they verify residence ? Only at time or purchase ? When you first start using the pass ? On the train ?
Thanks a lot !
Christina
PS. By the way - this is a wonderful site ! So useful and up to date !
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hi!
I was never asked to prove my residency. It was very rare that my passport was checked but usually personel only checks if name and passport nr are correct. Does your US passport show any signs of your residence in Belgium?
Flo 8)
anonymous
Traveller
2469 comments
No it does not indicate any address at all. No place of delivery. Only place of birth is indicated.
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Hi.
If you travel with an US passport not showing that you lived in Europe, then the best solution is to buy an Eurail pass. Only then the train staff can unserstand the combination US-passport and Eurail. Because US-passport and InterRail pass makes no sense.
Peter :)
anonymous
Traveller
2469 comments
Hi,
Me again ... I was testing railcc to see how it works in terms of buying a pass and there seems to be a bug: when I indicate that I want a 1 month Global Saver Pass, I am asked to enter the ages of my 2 children. Once I proceed to check-out, it says that I am ordering a Saver Pass for 1 child and two adults ... instead of 1 adult and 2 children
Anyway, I suppose that 1 month Eurail Saver Pass 1st Class is my best option ... right ?
Thank
CS
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
I just tried it myself and it worked all well. Maybe just try once again?
I dont know what countries you want to visit, but if you are going to pass through more than 5, a global saver pass would be the best option I think. :)
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Hi Christina.
There will be the following problems.
1) You can not order an Eurail pass and get it send to Belgium - where you currently live - only to non-European countries like for example the US.
2) The EURAIL GLOBAL SAVER Passes are only available for FIRST class. And only ADULT or CHILD prices are available.
If one of your kids is between 12 and 25, the category is YOUTH.
But YOUTH is not available at the SAVER passes, so it moves to category ADULT.
In total: 2 X Adult and 1 X CHILD
If you want to use a YOUTH ticket for one of your kids aged between 12 and 25, you will have to select one package 1 SAVER including 1 ADULT + 1 CHILD plus extra 1 YOUTH.
But then you have the next problem: YOUTH tickets are only available for 2nd class.
If you buy a SAVER pass, you are 1st class. Of course you can downgrade and sit in the 2nd class. But I think that's not what you want.
So if your CHILD aged 12-15 wants to travel 1st class, you will need an ADULT pass for him. Like the shopping basket is showing you.
It is very complicated, but that's why we run this forum for.
Peter :)
anonymous
Traveller
2469 comments
Thanks Peter.
Yes Global Saver Pass is what I need. thanks for clarifying that my 12 year old is considered adult in 1st class and youth in 2nd.
The main issue: if I get a Eurail pass it won't be sent to Belgium. That's an issue ...
Mmhhh
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
If you have to possibility to proof your six months residency in Europe, think about the InterRail solution.
So it really depends on which official documents you have and therefore either have to use InterRail or EuRail:
[b]2nd class[/b]
1 x InterRail Global Pass - 1 month - CHILD: EUR 310
1 x InterRail Global Pass - 1 month - YOUTH (aged 12): EUR 409
1 x InterRail Global Pass - 1 month - ADULT: EUR 619
Total: 1338
[b]1st class[/b]
1 x InterRail Global Pass - 1 month - CHILD: EUR 465
1 x InterRail Global Pass - 1 month - ADULT (aged 12, also considered as ADULT in 1st): EUR 929
1 x InterRail Global Pass - 1 month - ADULT: EUR 929
Total: EUR 2323
Peter :)