Comments on: Europe Rail Pass: value for money? http://www.501places.com/2011/04/europe-rail-pass-value-for-money/ Sharing the world with you Sun, 10 Apr 2011 00:12:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Jools Stone http://www.501places.com/2011/04/europe-rail-pass-value-for-money/#comment-32053 Jools Stone Sun, 10 Apr 2011 00:12:24 +0000 http://www.501places.com/?p=5129#comment-32053 When I was planning my aborted Balkan trip last year I had a stupidly complicated spreadsheet set up to compare rail pass vs singles and came to the conclusion that there was very little in it, especially when you factor in reservations and sleeper supplements, and that was a journey with at least 6 separate legs. Unless you have a fair bit of flexibility built into your trip I'd say it's probably not worth getting a rail pass. Maybe if you're sticking to western Europe and doing 5 trains or more, but even then it's worth doing the maths. When I was planning my aborted Balkan trip last year I had a stupidly complicated spreadsheet set up to compare rail pass vs singles and came to the conclusion that there was very little in it, especially when you factor in reservations and sleeper supplements, and that was a journey with at least 6 separate legs. Unless you have a fair bit of flexibility built into your trip I’d say it’s probably not worth getting a rail pass. Maybe if you’re sticking to western Europe and doing 5 trains or more, but even then it’s worth doing the maths.

]]> By: Sonja http://www.501places.com/2011/04/europe-rail-pass-value-for-money/#comment-32024 Sonja Fri, 08 Apr 2011 02:08:16 +0000 http://www.501places.com/?p=5129#comment-32024 I'm working the numbers on rail pass v.s. regular booking right now too, for a group of 11 I'm taking to Switzerland this winter. The pass might be worth it because I've got 8 kids - we'll see. I’m working the numbers on rail pass v.s. regular booking right now too, for a group of 11 I’m taking to Switzerland this winter. The pass might be worth it because I’ve got 8 kids – we’ll see.

]]> By: Nellie http://www.501places.com/2011/04/europe-rail-pass-value-for-money/#comment-32009 Nellie Thu, 07 Apr 2011 08:38:09 +0000 http://www.501places.com/?p=5129#comment-32009 hey Andy - sorry to veer off your rail pass topic - you'll be passing through Spain! Are you stopping any where - maybe Ciudad Real?? I'd love to meet Sam and hang out for abit! hey Andy – sorry to veer off your rail pass topic – you’ll be passing through Spain! Are you stopping any where – maybe Ciudad Real?? I’d love to meet Sam and hang out for abit!

]]> By: Eurotrip Tips http://www.501places.com/2011/04/europe-rail-pass-value-for-money/#comment-32006 Eurotrip Tips Thu, 07 Apr 2011 02:25:26 +0000 http://www.501places.com/?p=5129#comment-32006 I used a Eurail pass myself and I like to think that it was worth the price - mostly because I had a student discount and also because I didn't have to worry about a thing. And in my case, the worry-free price is always worth it (ask my fiancé about that!). I thought it was incredibly easy to use and overall a great deal. In the end though, I think that if you are older than 26 and have a little time on your hands, it's definitely worth taking some extra time for research and just buy single fares instead of a Eurail Pass. I used a Eurail pass myself and I like to think that it was worth the price – mostly because I had a student discount and also because I didn’t have to worry about a thing. And in my case, the worry-free price is always worth it (ask my fiancé about that!). I thought it was incredibly easy to use and overall a great deal.

In the end though, I think that if you are older than 26 and have a little time on your hands, it’s definitely worth taking some extra time for research and just buy single fares instead of a Eurail Pass.

]]> By: Alex Berger http://www.501places.com/2011/04/europe-rail-pass-value-for-money/#comment-32003 Alex Berger Wed, 06 Apr 2011 16:40:07 +0000 http://www.501places.com/?p=5129#comment-32003 I've found similar results. I think they're a good deal if you're traveling in specific countries, but places like Spain and Italy don't merit their use. You also have to be very careful, as with budget airlines and the like they're really not that good of a deal any more. I’ve found similar results. I think they’re a good deal if you’re traveling in specific countries, but places like Spain and Italy don’t merit their use. You also have to be very careful, as with budget airlines and the like they’re really not that good of a deal any more.

]]> By: Penne Cole http://www.501places.com/2011/04/europe-rail-pass-value-for-money/#comment-31999 Penne Cole Wed, 06 Apr 2011 12:27:15 +0000 http://www.501places.com/?p=5129#comment-31999 I did a 6-week trip across Europe in Dec of 2009 and we planned to travel mostly by rail. We had quite a set itinerary of places to visit and I was quite surprised to find that buying point to point tickets was much much cheaper than buying a rail pass. I did a 6-week trip across Europe in Dec of 2009 and we planned to travel mostly by rail. We had quite a set itinerary of places to visit and I was quite surprised to find that buying point to point tickets was much much cheaper than buying a rail pass.

]]> By: Mark Mayo http://www.501places.com/2011/04/europe-rail-pass-value-for-money/#comment-31992 Mark Mayo Wed, 06 Apr 2011 08:56:26 +0000 http://www.501places.com/?p=5129#comment-31992 I read this with interest as I'll be going across from London to Riga next month and am still debating between trains and buses. There's something fun about backpack travel on a bus, but trains do free up more time to actually spend at destinations. But they're certainly more expensive. Very interesting, thanks for the post! I read this with interest as I’ll be going across from London to Riga next month and am still debating between trains and buses. There’s something fun about backpack travel on a bus, but trains do free up more time to actually spend at destinations. But they’re certainly more expensive. Very interesting, thanks for the post!

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