Eurail: A Beginner's Guide to Traversing Europe Via Rail Pass

Visiting the countries of Europe is an amazing experience for any traveler. For those who enjoy European travel via Eurail, the journey can be just as exciting as the destination. Eurail is the cheapest, easiest and most user-friendly way to travel between European countries. It is also a popular method of travel among native Europeans for holidays or even weekend jaunts. Whether you're looking to simply travel from one country to another, or make your way across Europe while enjoying the sights, Eurail offers options that will fit your needs.

Make Sure Eurail Is Right For You

So, when planning your trip to Europe, where do you start when including Eurail travel in your itinerary? First, make sure that Eurail offers service between all of the countries through which you wish to travel, whether it be two countries or ten. That's right, ten. Or even more, since Eurail offers travel to 25 countries in Europe. Eurail offers service to the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Whew! Due to its extensive range, travel via Eurail can cover almost be personalized to fit nearly any individual's needs.

Fixed or Flexible

The most popular and cost-effective way to use Eurail is to purchase a rail pass. Eurail passes can cost anywhere from $45 USD to $1300 USD, so it's important to have an idea of how you'll be using your Eurail pass. The most expensive passes allow continuous travel among 21 of the European countries for three months, and it gets less expensive from there. Eurail passes are also available for travel within one country or region. Check the Eurail website for an extensive listing of available passes, and find the one that's best for you.

Specific train reservations are not required for most Eurail travel, but a Eurail pass does not automatically guarantee you a seat on the train you want. The point? If you wish to travel on the fly, check to make sure that none of the trains you wish to take require advance reservations. With many trains, reservations are not a concern; but for more popular connections, reservations can be necessary. If they are required, you can likely make them a few days in advance when you're already in Europe. An additional fee is usually charged for reserved seating. If you're traveling on a fixed schedule, you will want to make reservations on as many of your trains as possible to minimize the risk of scheduling problems. Note that, on night trains, an additional supplement is charged for sleeping accommodations.

Navigating Eurail While Traveling

Eurail has helpful Eurail Aid Offices available in each of the countries to help travelers who are having difficulty with any issue regarding their Rail Pass. A list of Eurail Aid Office locations is available on their website. To make you feel more comfortable using your Rail Pass, there are several documents which can be downloaded or printed from the Eurail website. When arriving in Europe, you'll probably want to reach the nearest Eurail station to start your journey. Print up a list of Airport-Train Station connections to help you navigate this important part of the journey.

Purchasing Your Eurail Pass

Eurail passes can be purchased online, but they cannot be printed off of the computer or sent via e-mail. To reduce the occurrence of fraudulent passes, Eurail passes are printed on special paper complete with watermarks and mailed via registered post. To purchase your Eurail pass online, select the type of pass you want or customize your pass by selecting certain countries in the order screen. The site will then give you shipping information, including the cost of shipping to your country and when you can expect to receive your Eurail pass.

Another important tip: when traveling, be sure your travel insurance covers your rail pass - Eurail will not issue another pass if yours is lost or stolen. If your Eurail pass is lost or stolen, you will be responsible for purchasing another pass or passes to cover what was lost. Once you return to your home country, you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. It is best to keep your Eurail pass close, in a secure pouch with your money and passport is best.

Eurail is a wonderful way to explore Europe in an easy and economical fashion. If you live outside of a big city in the United States, you may not be used to travel by train, but it is the primary method of travel for many Europeans. So, purchase the pass that best meets your needs and enjoy the beauty of Europe your way, one train trip at a time.

Information obtained on May 18, 2010 via:

http://www.eurail.com/