The Eurail pass celebrates its 50th Birthday this year. The prepaid multicountry ticket is still the easiest way to see Europe. Take a look at the numbers.
5,000 passes sold in 1959
500,000 projected passes to be sold in 2009
21 countries included in the Golbal Pass
12 Millon Eurail customers to date
160,00 miles of train track covered by Eurail
There are 4 different kinds of passes: Global Pass, Select Pass, Regional Pass and One Country Pass.
Prices are based on three catagories: Youth, Adult and Saver. The prices in these groups are based on usage--number of days or months. The Saver catagory can be used when 2 or more people are traveling together.
For many years, traveling by train in Europe was the cheapest way to travel. With the introduction of discount airlines, this is not the case today. The greatest benefit for traveling by train is convenience and speed. Since there are many fast trains in Europe, you can get to your destination as quickly by train as by airplanes with less hassle. Most train stations are located in the center of the city which makes it easier to get to your hotel.
I have used the eurail pass often in Europe and find it to be easy to use and often cheaper since there is very little or no charge for baggage. The pass must be purchased in America and validated at a train station the first time it is used. It is recognized by most train personnel in all 21 countries. If you are using it for 1st class or taking a fast train, you must have a reservation. Unless you must have a specific departure time , you can purchase your reservations in Europe at a much cheaper price than buying them through Eurail. Remember that the listings on the departure destination board at the train statiaon only lists the last stop which may not be your stop. If you have questions, go to the information booth--someone will be able to speak English.
Enjoy the countryside and have a meal on the train--this is a great way to see Europe.
For more information, go to www.eurail.com.
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