Choosing the Best Rail Passes
Is a Rail Pass or Train Ticket cheaper? Please Help me choose...
UK/Europe
As a general rule, if you are doing more than 2 longer journeys
(in excess of 45mins) within Europe, rail passes become better
value. You may choose between the following passes:
Train tickets can be better value if you are doing 1 or 2
shorter journeys in Europe. International Rail has access to over
65,000 point to point journeys throughout UK and Europe.
Here are some useful tips to pick the right pass for
your itinerary:
- Identify the countries you will be traveling through.
- Pick a Pass that includes the countries you are visiting. Note,
that for Eurail Select and Regional Passes, the countries must be
adjoining by rail or ferry. (see maps)
- Calculate the number of days you will be traveling by
train.
- Select the corresponding rail pass.
- Note, even if you have 1 or 2 spare days on a rail pass, it is
often still better value than purchasing individual train tickets.
Spare days can be used for side trips or additional journeys.
When choosing your pass, please note the
following:
- The Eurostar service between London and Paris/ Brussells is not
included on a European Rail Pass. This may be purchased in addition
as a passholder supplement, which is a special reduced fare for
rail pass holders.
- British Rail is not included in the Eurail Program. BritRail
Passes can be purchased separately.
- If you are passing through a country to reach another, you must
include that country on your Eurail Select Pass.
- Reservations and Passholder supplements apply on most High
Speed European Trains, and need be factored in to the cost of a
rail pass.