For most European travel, the train is the most reliable and economical option. But there are so many kinds of train tickets and packages available that trying to find a good deal can sometimes be overwhelming.
Here are the best train ticket options for every type of traveler. See which one suits you best.
All amounts listed are in USD.
The marathon man
Does your ideal European trip consist in cramming in as many countries as you can? Do you dream of hitting a new capital every week and seeing everything you can along the way?If so, then you are a true marathon man, and in need of a Eurailpass. The Eurailpass gives its holder almost unlimited travel on trains in every one of the Eurailpass countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Ireland, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Unfortunately, England is off the list.
Eurailpasses are available for use over multiple time periods: 15 days, 21 days, one month, two months, or three months of travel. Prices for the passes run from $588 to $1654. It's best to buy them in America through RailEurope (RailEurope.com); if you wait until you get to Europe to get them, they can cost you more.
With the Eurailpass, you can hop on and off the train wherever and whenever you like. The only exception is on some high-speed trains, where you'll have to pay a small reservation fee in advance. The true convenience of the Eurailpass is
that you won't have to worry about buying tickets all the time.
The Eurailpass even gets you discounts on other travel services, such as ferries and the Eurostar train from London to Paris.
The man with the plan
Do you plan your trip down to the last detail, with unalterable schedules set weeks in advance?Well, you can reap the fruits of your diligence if you get a Eurailpass Flexi or Eurail Selectpass. With the Eurailpass Flexi, you can travel anytime within two months for a maximum of ten days (at a cost of $694) or fifteen days (at a cost of $914).
The Flexi is valid in the same way that the regular Eurailpass is, although you'll have to fill out coupons for each day of travel. You'll hand these over to the conductor instead of tickets.
If you really know exactly where and when you'll be traveling, you might consider investing in a Eurail Selectpass. The Selectpass is valid over two months for anywhere between two to five contiguous Eurail countries, for five to fifteen days. The cheapest, a three-country, five-day pass, will run you $356.
The leader of the pack
You've strong-armed some of your closest buddies into joining you on an epic trek across the Continent; you are a true leader of men. As such, it is your responsibility to see to it that your crew saves as much cash as possible. The Eurailpass Saver works the same way as a regular Eurailpass, but since you're traveling with friends (between two and five of them), you can all get a group discount.The Eurailpass Saver starts at $498 per person for fifteen days, while the most expensive costs $1408 and is good for three months. The Saver also comes in Flexi and Selectpass versions, at a further savings of around 15% to 20%, but with some restrictions.
The young adventurer
Are you a recent graduate who'd rather backpack across Europe than contemplate your future? Well then, young adventurer, the Europeans have plenty of deals for tourists just like you. If you're under 26 and you don't mind going second class, you can get a Eurailpass Youth at a significantly lower cost than a regular Eurailpass.With prices that range between $414 and $1160, the Eurailpass Youth is an even better deal than the Eurailpass Saver. It permits the holder to travel with old friends or go solo, and still max out the savings. Furthermore, the Flexi and Selectpass options are also available at rock-bottom Youth prices.
Mr. Immersion
Is this the time you'll be doing Italy right? Maybe it's a thorough exploration of the country you have in mind: a stay in Rome, followed by Florence, a tour through the Tuscan towns of Fiesole, San Gimignano and Siena, and finally wrapping things up in Venice. Well, whether it's Italy or another country you're going to, you can mix train travel with driving around the countryside and still get a deal.EurailDrive Pass allows you to take the train and rent a car for less than it would cost to do so separately. You'll also avoid the pricey daily rates for car rentals less than a week long. For four first-class train travel days and two car days, prices range from about $400 to $500 (depending on the class of car). You can add more car days for a few extra dollars.
The expatriate
Planning to hang around the Continent for a long time, or living there already? Sadly, European residents aren't allowed to buy a Eurailpass. The good news is that there are other options that offer comparable value.If you've been living in Europe for at least six months and are thinking of doing some exploration, an InterRail Pass may be right for you. The pass covers up to 29 countries, including Turkey, Morocco and some parts of Eastern Europe, as well as the Eurailpass countries (although, once again, England is off the list). Depending on how long you travel for and how many InterRail zones you cross, a pass can cost from about $320 to $660.
The homebody
Only going to London, with a side trip or two to Windsor Palace and Stonehenge, or maybe a quick dip at Bath? There's no shame in taking a shorter vacation and staying close to the big city. For incidental travel, you're likely best off with individual tickets. But there are still ways to save money.For example, you can get deals on regional day passes. For example, the Bayern Ticket allows unlimited travel for one day in Bavaria, Germany, for about $18 per person. It's perfect for making a day trip between Munich and the famous Castle Neuschwanstein -- especially since the traditional one-way fare is about $22.
If you're a senior, student or youth (under 26) you can still get discounts on individual tickets. Some places will give you a deal upon presentation of a regular ID; others require that you purchase a special discount card, which can pay for itself after two or three trips. You can also buy passes for individual countries, or passes for two contiguous countries. Ask at any major train station.
cheap train travel
No matter what your European travel plans are, there's a ticket option to suit your needs. Whether you're backpacking across the continent or just looking for a relaxing day trip, the railway is one of the best ways to do Europe.Resources:
Europe Travel Guide
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