Traveling around Europe by train can be one of the best experiences you can have on this continent. Here is all you need to know about Eurail Pass!
Train travel is not only one of the most sustainable ways to travel but can also be a memorable budget-friendly experience for those who want a real adventure. One of the top ways to travel by train around Europe is by purchasing one of the famous train travel passes that allows you to discover any region hassle-free. Here is a quick run-down of what Eurail Pass is and whether it is worth the price.
What Is the Eurail Pass?
Essentially, a Eurail Pass is a rail ticket that includes a flexible and convenient way of traveling around Europe or a specific region or country by train. As a Eurail Pass holder, you can travel by any train any time you want (with some exceptions, of course). In some cases, you may need to make a reservation, however, most train rides do not require this and you can easily hop into any train simply by showing your Eurail Pass.
This is a very convenient way to travel because if your plans change or you miss your train, you can simply hop onto another train without needing to re-book your ticket. You can choose a pass for a specific time period of up to three months and a specific number of countries, depending on your travel plans and needs.
Currently, you can choose a continuous pass for 15 or 22 travel days or one-three travel months. If you don’t plan on using trains as much, you can opt for a flexible pass that offers five or seven travel days of travel within a one-month period or 10 or 15 travel days that can be used within a two-month period. These flexible tickets allow you to choose your own travel and non-travel dates, depending on the planned itinerary.
How the Eurail Pass Works
Since there are different types of passes, you can choose the number of travel days you need and the countries you wish to use the pass within. As of now, the pass covers 33 countries, including Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Turkey.
The way the pass works is quite easy. Once you purchase the ticket from the official distributor, you can then start planning your route and possible travel stops. The pass allows you to use any national or regional rail carriers throughout Europe. This includes fast, high-speed, and overnight trains as well, although these often require an additional reservation.
For an even better experience, now you can use the Eurail Pass on your phone, making it an even more hassle-free experience. The mobile pass means you no longer need to fill out a ‘travel diary’ while traveling to note the trips, it will be noted in your mobile app. Once on board, you will only need to validate your pass by showing the barcode to rail inspectors.
Is the Eurail Pass Worth the Price?
Since the Eurail Pass has several pass types to choose from, the prices range accordingly. For example, four days of travel within a one-month period cost €185, and a full month’s travel pass – €503 for a second class for those under 28 years old.
The idea of Eurail was to help people save money and make rail journeys easier and more convenient for international travelers. This means that the only way the pass is worth it is if you plan on using it frequently and if you value the comfort and easiness of using the pass over saving a few dollars.
If you are a traveler looking to explore Europe on a budget, you would first need to have a detailed itinerary ready that would allow you to research and calculate the full price of the trains that you plan on taking. Then you can compare that estimated cost with the price of the pass and decide whether it is worth it for you.
If you only plan on using a few trains, you most likely don’t need a Eurail Pass for that as the price you would pay for it would end up being way higher than buying separate tickets from official carriers. However, if you’re going to be visiting a lot of countries and taking overnight trains, then the pass might be a brilliant solution for you, especially if you value convenience.
Photo: ecstk22/Shutterstock
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