Eurail

Traveling with a Eurail Pass is the only way to see Europe, as far as I’m concerned.  Train travel, especially in Europe, is quick and convenient, and, if you’re planning to see several countries, then the Eurail Pass is also the most economical way to travel.

Once you have purchased your Pass in the US, all you need to do in Europe is board a train, sit back, relax and enjoy your holiday through unlimited travel in an elegant, quiet and comfortable way.  What’s best about the Pass is you avoid the often agonizing process of standing in line to buy a ticket and you have the flexibility of traveling on virtually any train going in any direction when you’re standing in the train station—a virtual “free pass” to hop on a train when your plans suddenly change.

There are four main types of Eurail Passes: the Global Pass (valid in 20 countries), the Select Pass (valid in 3, 4 or 5 countries), The Regional Pass (available in various country combinations) and the One Country Pass. There are 3 versions of the Global Pass: Adult (26 years or older), Youth (25 years or younger) or Saver (for groups of two or more people). There's always a Pass which fits your wishes and budget. You can find more details on pricing and travel options on the Eurail website at www.eurail.com

You’ll discover that the Eurail website answers all your questions clearly and comprehensively.  I recommend that you start there, and, if you haven’t traveled by train in Europe before, you’ll be well prepared to go once you’ve perused this site.  Here you will find all the info you need for your rail trip in Europe with Eurail.   You will learn the basics about stations and trains. Read more about timetables, train reservations and can download a railway map. Take a look at the overview of special trains, find out how to get from the airport to the station and where to find a Eurail Aid Office.

And here’s more good news!  Eurail passes are not only valid on trains.  Some ferries and shipping lines also offer free or reduced services. On their website you will find an overview of some major shipping lines which have a partnership with Eurail.   For more details about discounts on boats and other benefits per country, visit the section Extra Pass Benefits.

Night Trains  Imagine gently rocking to sleep to the rhythm of the rails and arriving at your destination the next morning relaxed, refreshed and ready for a day of sightseeing.  European night trains serve Europe’s major cities and offer a variety of sleeping accommodations to suit all budgets.  Most overnight trains offer sleepers and couchettes, and some also have reclining seats.

The most memorable train trip for our teenage son was the overnight journey we took from Thessaloniki, Greece to Istanbul, Turkey.  Although Turkey is not included in the Eurail Pass system, the lengthier portion of travel in northeastern Greece was included in our Pass. (There was a supplement to pay for the sleeping compartment as well.)  Before boarding the train departing from Thessaloniki in the early evening, we found a small supermarket and loaded up on cheese, salami, crackers, chips, bread, soft drinks, water, cookies, and fruit for our thirteen hour journey.  Before leaving the US, we planned to bring along a couple of our favorite movies on DVD for times like these, and slipped one of them into our laptop for family viewing after we enjoyed our evening meal in our sleeping compartment.  That night we slipped into our bunks, enjoying the Great Adventure of riding what we imagined could have been the Orient Express.  A few hours later we arrived in Istanbul, ready to see the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace on that magical city located on the historic Bosphorus. 

With every Eurail Pass purchase you receive a free Eurail Traveler's Guide with a railroad map of Europe and a Eurail Timetable with the main rail connections in Europe. You can safely order your Eurail Pass online with various payment methods.  Eurail.com currently accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express (Amex) and Discover Card.

For more information and to order online, go to http://www.eurail.com/eurail_home