WHAT IS A EURAIL PASS?

A Eurail Pass enables you access to free and flexible train journeys all across Europe in a single ticket. It permits travel within 33 countries in Europe. A Eurail Pass can provide the necessary freedom to city-hop throughout Europe at your whim. This is a huge plus for someone who doesn’t want to be confined to a strict schedule. Trains in Spain, Italy, and Switzerland can be incredibly expensive and the Pass is set at a fixed price which can become very cost-effective for a budget travel style.

PROS OF A EURAIL PASS

• Allows access to 33 countries in Europe with minimal planning required – go wherever you want, whenever you want!
• There are a range of different pass types from One Country Passes to Global Passes so you can choose from a variety of options and determine what suits you best.
• You are not only limited to city hopping, the Eurail network connects over 30,000 destinations. This means you can travel from Paris to a remote town in Spain in under 12 hours!
• You can take multiple trains per day because Eurail Passes operate using ‘travel days’. For example, if you have 10 allocated travel days for your Pass you are not limited to 10 trains. Instead, take as many trains within 24 hours as you can. You can connect anywhere in Europe if you try hard enough!
• Flexibility is a huge feature of the Eurail Pass. If you change your mind you can cancel a travel day until 11:59 pm the day before Or, if you need to spontaneously catch a train, don’t worry – you can activate your travel day whenever you need!
• The high-speed train networks in Spain, Italy, Switzerland, France, Germany, and the UK are a great way to optimise your limited time.
• Ferries are included across the Baltic, Adriatic and Aegean Sea. These journeys are often overnight and can save you accommodation and time.
• For those aged 12-27, there is a 25% youth discount.
• A Eurail Pass entitles you to over 30 different benefits, like a 5% discount for Hostelworld, a 20% discount for Stasher Storage, and a 15% discount for AVIS Car Rental.

CONS OF A EURAIL PASS

• The network does not include all train companies in Europe. Some journeys are unavailable with your Eurail Pass meaning you may be restricted to predetermined times and layovers.
• Not all of Europe is covered by the Eurail network, the pass does not permit travel through Montenegro, Kosovo, Bosnia, Albania, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, and Russia.
• Train networks are not well developed in Eastern Europe. If you plan on travelling lots in Croatia, Slovenia, Greece, Romania, Turkey, or Bulgaria it is difficult to find suitable routes.
• Buses may provide cheaper and more direct journeys than trains in Eastern Europe and some parts of Western Europe.
• For many trains within Europe not only do you need to purchase a ticket, you need to buy a seat reservation. These reservations cost anywhere from 5 to an additional 40 euros. They are not covered by the Eurail Pass and in the high season, it can be a struggle to find trains with any seats for purchase at the last minute.
• Additionally, in rare cases (like trains in Austria) there is a small additional fee called a supplement that needs to be paid at the ticket office.
• You can not cancel your Eurail Pass, you are only eligible for an 80% refund if circumstances change (you can purchase extra protection to ensure a full refund).

What are the pass options?

You either opt for a Pass specific to one country (One Country Pass) or the Global Pass valid for two or more countries. Both of these options are great and you can choose from a variety of durations that suit you. Passes can be valid continuously, meaning you have an unlimited number of travel days within a predetermined period. Alternatively, Passes may be valid for a limited number of travel days within a predetermined period. Examples include ‘3 Days within 1 Month’ and ‘3 Months in a Row’.

HOW TO DECIDE IF A EURAIL PASS IS RIGHT FOR ME?

WHAT COUNTRIES DO YOU PLAN ON TRAVELLING TO?

• If you plan on travelling to countries where Eurail is not applicable for train services this transport option is not the best idea for you.
• If you plan on travelling to countries very far away from each other, e.g., Spain and Croatia, it is best to fly between nations instead of navigating tiring 36-hour travel days.
• If you plan on travelling to countries that border each other, e.g., Italy and France, a Eurail Pass is a fantastic option!

DO THE COUNTRIES ARE YOU TRAVELLING TO HAVE CHEAP TRAIN AND BUS SERVICES?

• If you plan on travelling to a region of Europe that offers cheap local train and bus services then operating directly with the provider is a more effective way to save money.
• In some countries, like Spain and Italy, the Eurail Pass drastically reduces the price of high-speed trains (like AVE and Renfe) to make your travel days cheaper and faster.

HOW LONG ARE YOU TRAVELLING FOR?

• If you only plan on travelling for 2 weeks it is unlikely you will service enough use out of a Eurail Pass to say with certainty it was a worthwhile purchase.
• If you plan on staying flexible with your travel and are unsure of what your plans look like than a Eurail Pass could be a costly mistake. This is especially true if you do not make use of your allotted travel days.
• If you are travelling for an extended period, 1-3 months, in regions of Europe with great train connections a Eurail Pass can save you the stress of coordinating schedules while also allowing for flexibility and spontaneity.

HOW TO DECIDE WHAT PASS IS RIGHT FOR ME?

CALCULATING THE TRUE COST OF A EURAIL PASS

To calculate the true cost of a Eurail Pass you will need to factor in the cost of purchasing seat reservations too. Conduct some research on potential trains that you wouuld take (e.g., Amsterdam to Berlin or Barcelona to Madrid) and see how much the ticket price is. To find out this information head to the website of train companies that are parterned with Eurail, e.g., Renfe, OBB, SCNF, etc. You will need to compare the average cost of a Eurail Pass (including the reservation fee – found on the Eurail timetable) with the ticket price of these journeys. More often than not if you are travelling in Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, and Austria then a Eurail Pass will be much more affordable.

DETERMINing HOW MANY TRAVEL DAYS YOU WILL REQUIRE

To determine how many travel days you require in a set period, consider whether it is possible to elimiate one day (and hence move to a cheaper pass option). This can be accomplished by travelling an alternative way, such as by catching the bus or hitchhiking. An example of how I cut costs with this method is by elimating a travel day from Florence to Rome. Instead of travelling by fast train with the Eurail network, I booked a ticket woth Flixbus for 5 euros.

Consider how long you will need the Pass for. If you plan to travel Western and Eastern Europe over a period of 2 months it may only be necessary to purchase a Pass for 1 month whilst you are travelling in Western Europe. Instead of opting for the more expensive 2 month Pass that does not offer much validity in coiuntries like Croaita, Albania, and Romania.

IS A EURAIL PASS EASY TO USE?

Yes, although it can seem daunting to purchase a Eurail Pass the app is an easy platform to understand and navigate. Once you have bought a Pass you will recieve it in a digital format via email. You can download the Eurail app and start adding journeys from the search engine (labelled ‘timetable’) which allows you to compare different routes between destinations. After you have favourited certain trains you intend to take you may save these journeys as travel days within your Pass validity period. For example, you may find a journey between Milan and Rome, save it to your planner and log the travel day on the 6th June.

This search engine is also avaialble in desktop format on the Eurail website. The website is accessible to everyone, even if you have not purchased a Pass. This enables you to compare journeys and prices before making your decision.

A few things to note when planning include that travel days begin at 12:00 am and end at 11:59 pm local time. You may take as many trains as possible within this 24-hour period that counts as 1 travel day. An overnight train which departs before 11:59 pm will also only count as 1 travel day as long as there are no chageovers (in which case it will count for 2 travel days).

How do seat reservations work?

For most train journeys during peak tourist season (May – September) you will need to purchase a seat reservation as well as a ticket. A seat reservation is what allocates you to a specific seat on the train and it must be issued in conjunction with a rail pass. These seat reserations are unfortunately not included in the cost of a Eurail Pass however you can purchase them easily using the app.

Seat reservations not available through the Eurail app will need to be booked direct with the train company or at the ticket office. During the Summer it is a necessity to book seat reservations in advance! Juast because the journey is avaialble to add to your Eurail planner does not mean there are any more available seats. It is also a good idea to have a copy of your seat reservations (emailed to you) in print format as further evidence of your purchase.

DOES EURAIL INCLUDE FERRIES?

Yes, Eurail includes ferries! You are able to use your travel days to connect countries bordered by European bodies of water. Namely, the Adriatic, Aegean, and Baltic Sea.

• Ferries in the Adriatic Sea connect Croatia, Greece, and Italy.
• Ferries in the Aegean Sea connect mainland Greece, greek islands, and Turkey.
• Ferries in the Baltic Sea connect Sweden, Finland, and Estonia.

Eurail offers a range of different Pass options which include ferries specific to the Greek Islands. For a more detailed description head here.

IS A EURAIL PASS A GOOD OPTION FOR ME?

This is totally up to you! For those who love a bit of spontaneous travel on an extremely strict budget, skip out on a Eurail Pass. For those who know what countries they are travelling to and roughly how long they intend travelling for, Eurail is a fantastic option for cheaper and more efficient journeys! Hopefully this article has provided you a guide on how to determine whether you could benefit from Eurail on your adventure to Europe.