anonymous
Traveller
2469 comments
Posted 13 years ago
Hi I am very new to the European rail system and am finding all the information a bit confusing. :| We are not European residents we shall be holidaying in Barcelona and then are planning to take an overnight train to Paris, then go onto Venice and finally Milan, also by train.
I am unclear on how much a EURail pass would save us? If we purchase a Eurail pass for 3 countries and 6 days which I estimate at €764.00 what does this include? On looking into the overnight train from Barcelona to Paris it appears without a pass this costs €175 and with €108? Am I misunderstanding that? We are only travelling for a couple of weeks so are we better to buy point to point tickets only?
Many thanks
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hi!
If you are under 26, you can buy the EuRail Select Pass for 3 countries and 6 travel days for 240€ (this is 2nd class).
If you are above 26, you can buy the EuRail Select Pass for 3 countries and 6 travel days for 314€ (this is 1st class and the saver option for a party from 2 - 5 people).
If you are under 26 and want to travel 1st class you can buy the more expensive Saver pass as well.
The direct night train BCN - Paris can be found here :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/barcelona-paris-night-train/f1040[/u]
To use the club class (or preferente) double bed cabins, you'd need a 1st class EuRail pass. If you think that this train is too expensive, you might think about using the Petit Train Jaune and a domestic French night train instead; have a look here :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/blog/little-yellow-train-video/[/u] I can fully recommend this option, crossing the Pyrenees in a spectacular way with a nice vintage train with open-air carriages. :)
Best option for Paris - Venezia probably would be a night train again :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/paris-milan-venice-train/f3674[/u]
But if you have time left you could also go via the Swiss Alps which is a quite memorable journey again. Think of a route such as Paris - Zürich - Göschenen - Andermatt - Disentis - Pontresina and Pontresina - Tirano - Milano - Venezia the following day. This would be the route of Glacier and Bernina Express trains :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/glacier-express/f1750[/u] [u]https://rail.cc/en/bernina-express/f1749[/u]
As I see know you want to go to Milano as well, so it might be better to go there before Venezia, unless you have your flights back booked from there. Either way it is no problem, as train connections are frequent and fast between the two - but the fast connections do have compulsory reservation of 10€!
You can still save a little on the ticket, as you might only need 5 travel days, depending on the route you choose. If you tell me which pass you would intend to buy (youth > 2nd class or saver > 1st class) I can draw up a rough comparison to regular tickets. :)
Flo 8)
anonymous
Traveller
2469 comments
Hi Flo
Thanks so much for you help with this, as we are both well over 26 :( we shall be using the Eurail 1st class saver. We are flying into Barcelona and out of Milan as this is a work trip with a holiday add on these are the non negotiable bits. The Petit Train Jaune sounds amazing so is something we would definitely consider.
Thanks again Lindsay
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Ok, no problem. I honestly quite dont understand why the EuRail passes are only offered in 1st class (except for Youth) but well, it is a nice and comfortable way of travelling.
However, if you want to go this route (inlcuding the Petit Train Jaune) one option could be to use a regular ticket to go BCN - Latour de Carol (this trip is by regional train with 2nd class only) and then use a EuRail regional pass for France and Italy for the rest of the trip which could be a little cheaper, depending on the route you choose between Paris and Italy.
anonymous
Traveller
2469 comments
Hi
Following on from the earlier discussion We have pretty much decided not to bother with a Eurail pass but to take the regional train from Barcelona Sants to Latour de Carol and then take the le Petit Train Jaune to VILLEFRANCHE DE CONFLENT - PERPIGNAN followed by the night train to Paris as you suggested.
However whilst I can find the timetable for the regional train (R3) I cannot find anything that gives me a timetable for the le Petit Train Jaune I have found a website that mentions a price for the whole trip return but not any info on the cost for just the bit we want. Can I reserve for this part of the trip ?- I understand for the Barcelona to Latour de Carol a reservation it is not needed but we could reserve for the night train through railcc?
Many thanks Lindsay
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hej Lindsay,
ok, are you now going completely without a EuRail pass? Or just go to Latour de Carol with a regular ticket and then EuRail?
Anyway, here are the schedules: :arr:
[u]https://rail.cc/en/train/barcelona-to-latour-de-carol[/u]
[u]https://rail.cc/en/train/latour-de-carol-to-villefranche-de-conflent[/u]
[u]https://rail.cc/en/train/villefranche-de-conflent-to-perpignan[/u]
[u]https://rail.cc/en/night-train/cerbere-paris-icn-3730/77[/u]
You only have to reserve for the night train - this can be done as described here :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-night-train/france/fr[/u]
Flo 8)