rpking
Traveller
5 comments
Posted 11 years ago
Hi, my wife and I are planning to backpack in europe for about 3 months. We have decided which countries to go but not sure about which rail pass we should be getting, any suggestion?
the plan will be :
5.6-5.17 greece, this will be 4 days around Athens then island hop, so dont think we'll need a pass
5.18-5.30 Italy, from what i read the eurail pass only covers slow train? so we are thinking of buying separate tickets, or is there a pass that covers all high speed trains?
5.31-6.12 Switzerland - this is the hard part. shall we buy swiss pass ([ux]https://rail.shop/acprail/switzerland[/ux]) or include it in a eurail global pass ([ux]https://rail.shop/eurail[/ux]) ? i heard swiss pass is much better becuase it covers scenic trains and buses etc, is that true and does that make a big difference from the global pass?
6.13-24 Austria&Czech
6.25-7.5 Spain (fly to Madrid)
7.6-19 France
7.20-8.3 Germany
now i have 3 plans:
1 buy a 3 months continues pass --- problem with this one is that we'll waste italy and greece part and spend a lot extra money in switzerland?
2 swiss pass+ 15 days in 2 months global pass. this sounds like the best choice but most expensive..
3 2 months continuous pass---in this case we'll just buy separate tickets for the last a few days in germany, but main concern is still that we'll have to spend a lot of extra in switzerland if we dont have a swiss pass.
any help is greatly appreciated!
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Hi.
Greece: it makes no sense to use an Eurail pass for Greece - check point to point tickets ([ux]https://rail.shop/ose[/ux]), use ferries or buses.
Italy: Eurail covers as well high-speed-trains, but you have to pay a reservation for them (EUR 10). There are also IC train (reservation recommended EUR 3) and of course free local trains.
Reservations Italy: [u]https://rail.cc/en/eurail-train-reservation/italy/it[/u]
Routes Italy (including free options): [u]https://rail.cc/en/search-train-route[/u]
Is there a reason why you fly to Madrid?
You can also travel Germany - France - Spain by train.
Also important: the routes you plan to travel in all these countries - how many days ...? If you want to stay flexible, an Eurail Pass might be worth.
Switzerland: here is a map with routes you can use with an Eurail pass (scroll down)
A Swiss Pass ([ux]https://rail.shop/acprail/switzerland[/ux]) is definitely a nice option - but I can't help you much, as I never used it personally.
Peter :)
rpking
Traveller
5 comments
hi Peter thanks a lot for your help, its greatly appreciated! sounds like we should get a 3 months global saver so that covers Italy as well. So for Italy if i have a eurail pass all reservations will take 10 Eur, regardless of its original fare?
the Prague-Madrid train plan sounds right but problem is that most search tools wont support such a long travel... shall i just divide it into several shorter trips or is there a good tool that can help me figure out whats the best train to get (i guess i can take a night train to save one day accomodation as well!) p.s im currently travelling in Japan and i guess i'm spoiled by their system, the search tools is amazing and u can just hop on any trains with ur JapanRail pass
on the flexible part -- you can see i've put how many days we are planning to travel in each country in the original post but some flexibility is def better, the concern is that, if i have to book most trains several weeks prior to travel, its not really helping with flexibility? I've read some post saying that most trains only leave a small portion of seats to eurail pass holder, so u end up have to book everything in advance, sometimes weeks in advance. is that true? or because we'll be holding a 1st class ticket and that makes reservation much easier?
last -- the reason im asking about Swiss pass is that i checked this webpage www.eur*railways.com/... its saying with a swiss pass you'll only pay $40 and with a eurail global pass you'll have to pay $140... Im just worried that there'll be a lot of scenic trains like this in Switzerland that we'll have to pay a lot extra with a eurail pass to get on
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Hi.
[b]Italy[/b]: just follow the links I gave you above. If you have an Eurail pass, you can use free trains or the high-speed-trains with EUR 10 per train. We list free alternative routes here on railcc to save your money. Use the links!
[b]Prague - Madrid[/b]: there is no direct train on such long distances. Remember you are crossing at least the half continent of Europe in one step. But my question is more: why do you travel from Czech Republic to Spain to turn back then via France to Germany? Is there a special reason why you do it this way?
It would make much more sense and save time and money if you would travel Czech Republic, Germany, France and then Spain.
If you want to travel by train Prague to Madrid, travel Prague-Munich, night train to Paris, Paris to Madrid.
All schedules here: [u]https://rail.cc/en/search-eurail-route[/u]
[b]Booking reservations in advance[/b]: the only problem is France. In all other countries you easily get reservations if required the day of travel or one day before. In France it might happen that the Eurail seats are sold out and you have to pay the more expensive fee: [u]https://rail.cc/en/eurail-train-reservation/tgv-alleo/sncf-alleo/172[/u]
Night trains are recommended to book in advance if possible. But you always have options to use day trains as well.
[b]Switzerland[/b]: sorry, I can't help you with this website - we don't work with their information. Better to go to an official source or use the railcc information we fill in with great care: [ux]https://rail.shop/acprail/switzerland[/ux]
Use the map as well I gave you the link above.
And I don't understand for what to pay 40 or 140? For the last part up to Zermatt I think? As you can travel as well a lot for free - have a look at the railcc schedules. The best example the one from Milan (Italy), crossing the Alps to Zurich (Switzerland): [u]https://rail.cc/en/train/milan-to-zurich[/u]
More information and photos in the railcc blog: [u]https://rail.cc/blog/zurich-milano-albula-bernina/[/u]
Peter :)
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hej,
the Swiss Pass would include public transportation as well...also, as Peter said, Eurail covers most of the train lines so there wont need to be much to pay extra. What option might be better for you depends on the route you want to go by train and whether you are planning to visit many cities (in Switzerland) and using public transportation or not.
BTW, Japan Rail Pass does not cover Nozomi and Mizhuo trains... ;)
Going to Madrid really is no problem; there is a direct night train and the trip is also possible during the day with a change of trains in Irún or Barcelona.
Flo 8)
rpking
Traveller
5 comments
Thanks peter and flo, these are very helpful, especially the Milan/Zurich part, looks great!
On the Prague-Madrid part. Wife wants to see the best lavender in south France in mid July- cant fight with that so had to plan schedule around that.
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Well, if you need help on planning, especially the part through the Swiss Alps, just tell us. ;)
If your wife wants to head to Provence (for the lavender), then it would be no problem to go to Spain and Madrid: From July 7th there will be two daily direct TGV services from Marseille to Barcelona, from where it is only 3h to Madrid (with a connecting service for the morning train or after a night in Barcelona when travelling with the evening train).
Apparently you could also add the Petit Train Jaune: :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/blog/little-yellow-train-video/[/u]
rpking
Traveller
5 comments
thanks guys these are very helpful!
i think i'll get the 3 months 1st class saver and try to play flexible.
a few questions on the booking:
1 in ur equipment section, it mentioned that a sleeping bag is handy for night trains. but in the night train section the sleeper/couchette looks pretty comfortable, do i really need a sleeping bag (we already have big backpacks)
2 to reserve a seat, can i always do it online and just take the reservation number, or some countries need paper-confirmation? its not that convenient to wait for paper confirmation whilst travelling....
3 the price on ur website -- i def want to help and support the work but cant really add much to the tight budget.... is ur price changing with FX rate or do u have a EUR price? There are some cheaper ones online in EUR(1235eur with free shipment so its $300 for 2 of us) so im guessing the difference could be from FX rate fluctuation? If i purchase the ticket away, can i still book reservation from ur website and does that help, or you are not really making anything from the reservation?
thanks!
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Hi.
[b]1[/b] - Sleeper and Couchette cars are comfortable and equipped with sheets, pillows and blanket. A sleeping bag is recommended if you stay overnight in normal seats. No need for you.
On some night trains, we added photos - to get an impression how it looks like. For example here:
[u]https://rail.cc/en/night-train/vienna-hamburg-en-490/5[/u]
[u]https://rail.cc/en/night-train/irun-lisbon-th-313/73[/u]
[b]2[/b] - The best place to make bookings is at a railway station. As you get them all there, at least for the countries you are traveling. The station don't has to be in the country where a train leaves. You can for example make a reservation for a Spanish train (night or day) at a German railway station and so on.
For day trains there is no need to pre-book them long time in advance. In France pre-booking for the TGV high-speed-trains is recommended as for the limited seats the offer for Eurail pass travellers - if you book spontaneously, it might happen that you have to pay a higher price than the standard reservation.
Do you know already which night trains you want to use? Then I can help you with details.
In countries like Germany, Austria, Switzerland you can travel without reservation (in 1st class you will always find free seats).
[b]3[/b] - If you order online from the US, Japan, ... the currency is in USD: [ux]https://rail.shop/eurail[/ux]
Eurail Glopal Pass 3 months: USD 2123 (1 person)
Eurail Glopal Pass 3 months SAVER: USD 3610 (2 persons)
I don't know where you found the other prices, but yes, exchanges might be a reason.
It's for you to decide where you buy your rail passes - and if you like to support the information you get here on railcc or not. With reservations no one ears money. It is an extra service to help, but not to earn money with - in contrary.
Peter :)