Travel
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Travel
Getting Around Europe On A Budget: Everything You Need To Know About Eurail Passes
What Is A Eurail Pass?
For budget travelers who want to get the most out of their European trip, a Eurail pass is a must have. In a nutshell, an Eurail pass is a train ticket that allows people to travel along the railways of the Eurail Group (a consortium of about 30 Europe-based rail companies, carriers and shipping lines) to any country on the European mainland.
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| Lisbon Train Station |
How Can I Purchase My Eurail Pass?
Non-European residents or those who have lived in a permanent residence outside of Europe for a minimum of six months can purchase a Eurail Global Pass. The most convenient way of purchasing a Eurail Pass is through the Eurail website at www.Eurail.com. Passes bought online are often priced cheaper than those bought from travel and sales agents. Also, buyers have the option to have their passes delivered straight to their current places of residences. No need to queue up to a travel office or agent just to buy one.
Different Types of Eurail Passes
Travelers should choose a Eurail pass that is suited to the kind of traveling that they are planning to do. Most passes offer unlimited travel among European countries within a specified time period. This duration vary according to the kind of train pass that you will buy.
Here's a quick rundown of the different kinds of Eurail passes available for purchase:
Eurail Pass: Allows the bearer unlimited first-class train passage to twenty-four European countries namely: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania,Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Turkey. The validity of the pass ranges from ten days to two months, depending on the price.
There are variations of the basic Eurail pass that allows people to travel at a discounted price:
Eurail Pass Youth: For non-European citizens, aged 26 and under. The Eurail Pass Youth is for second-class train travel, but the price is almost 50% off than the regular Eurail pass ticket. This is highly recommended for students.
Eurail Pass Saver: If you're traveling with a group of two to five persons, the Eurail Pass Saver allows discounts of 15% off for adults and 50% off for kids.
Eurail Select Pass: Pay for what you need. A Eurail Select Pass allows travelers to choose only the countries that they will be visiting. This is cheaper than the basic Eurail pass because it is limited to 3, 4, or 5 neighboring countries, depending on the price.
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| Liege Train Station, Belgium |
Eurail Tips
- A Eurail Pass is a great value if you're traveling to a lot of European countries. This is apparent especially in countries in Northern Europe like Netherlands, Sweden, and Norway, since ticket prices in these countries are relatively expensive.
- Some trains require reservation beforehand - make sure to inquire first.
- Take advantage of Eurail's travel benefits. A Eurail pass holder is entitled to a lot of discounts and benefits that are offered by the countries of their choice. Just check this information out on the Eurail website.
Photos by Jsome1 & Bert Kaufmann via Flicker Creative Commons
- 7 Interrail Tips To Fall In Love With Train Travel In Europe
Many people associate Interrail with backpackers, twenty-somethings, low budgets, and obscure hostels. But it doesn't have to be this way. Europe's modern rail network makes train travel easy, comfortable, efficient and environmentally-friendly....
- Vasa Museum, Stockholm. The Best Museum We've Visited Lately
It was the last day of sightseeing of our month long Interrail trip through Europe. The next day in the morning we were leaving Stockholm to embark on a 16 hours train ride to Frankfurt that would end 4 minutes before midnight when our Interrail Passes...
- Having Fun In Bergen: Hiking Mount Floyen (a Photo Essay)
Mount Floyen is one of those places where you can take a deep breath and the whole world becomes a happier place. On our 3rd day in Bergen we took the funicular up the Mount Floyen, where we enjoyed some amazing views over the city and hiked through the...
- Bratislava. A First Impression
Today we've started our 1 month InterRail journey through Eastern Europe and Scandinavia. During this month we plan to travel through 6 countries and visit 22 new places. It's gonna be tons of fun, but we know it's also gonna be a challenge....
- 7 Tips For Traveling Europe On A Shoestring Budget
"The truth is that we live out our lives putting off all that can be put off; perhaps we all know deep down that we are immortal and that sooner or later all men will do and know all things." Jorge Luis Borges Traveling is a lot easier today than it was...