Positive or Negative experience using the Euro-rail??!?

Question

My brother and I are finishing up a semester in London this December and then are planning on traveling for just under three weeks. We have heard the Euro-rail is a pass that allows you to see many countries and is a very nice way to see Europe. We are planning on starting in Italy and going to Austria, Switzerland and finally Spain. If you have any advance as to whether this is a good way to travel please let me know!

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

It can be a good way to go. It might also be cheaper just to get individual tickets from the various national railroads. It depends on how and where you travel. When you get a Eurail pass, tou still have to make reservations on most of the fast trains, international trains and night trains and pay a supplement for each train. The pass does not generally require an additional supplement for the slower regional trains that make a lot of stops.

See: http://www.eurail.com/eurail-reservation… , http://www.eurail.com/eurail-reservation… , http://www.eurail.com/eurail-reservation… .

There are often discounts for early purchase of individual tickets on these same trains. For example, right now you can get 15% to 60% off on Alta Velocità trains here in Italy - http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.js… . However, it is extra work to deal with all the individual railroads and you need a fixed schedule to really take advantage of the discounts.

There's a lot more information here: http://www.seat61.com/ than there is room for in this answer.

Train travel is a great way to see Europe. I've been going out and exploring most weekends and holidays for about ten years now and use the trains most of the time.