Coolgirl

Hi all,

I just had some questions about EUrail pass,
cause im hoping to travel this summer,

Is it better to get a 2 country pass ticket or get a full Euro rail
pass?
Will the ticket only last 15 days or is that 15 travel days(days
traveled)?
Is it true that a ticket is cheaper abroad in the US than in Europe?
which is the best site to by off?

thanx

Martin Bienwald

coolgirl schrieb:

    > I just had some questions about EUrail pass,
    > cause im hoping to travel this summer,
    >
    > Is it better to get a 2 country pass ticket or get a full Euro rail
    > pass?

That depends: are you gouing to visit just two countries or more?

    > Will the ticket only last 15 days or is that 15 travel days(days
    > traveled)?

AFAIR there are both versions: a regular Eurail pass valid for 15
consecutive days and a (more expensive) Eurail Flexi Pass for 15 days
out of two months. Other time periods are also offered. www.eurail.com
should have the details.

Anyway, you might want to compare the pass price with individual one-way
and return fares (http://www.jizdenka.cz/IT.aspx might help with that -
there is an English language button at the bottom of the page). Some
European countries offer their own passes which might also be worth
considering.

    > Is it true that a ticket is cheaper abroad in the US than in Europe?

Don't know about passes, but it's the other way round with one-way tickets:
they are generally more expensive if bought from a US agency.

... Martin

Pat in TX

"> I just had some questions about EUrail pass,
    > cause im hoping to travel this summer,

www.ricksteves.com explains all of this. >

B Vaughan

On 23 Feb 2006 05:16:18 -0800, "coolgirl" <[email protected]>
wrote:

    >Hi all,
    >I just had some questions about EUrail pass,
    >cause im hoping to travel this summer,
    >Is it better to get a 2 country pass ticket or get a full Euro rail
    >pass?

We have no idea where you want to go while you're in Europe, nor how
long you're staying there. How could we possibly answer your question?

    >Will the ticket only last 15 days or is that 15 travel days(days
    >traveled)?

There are various kinds of passes. Some count only travel days, others
are valid for just a certain number of days (15, 30, 60, etc.),
whether you travel or not.

    >Is it true that a ticket is cheaper abroad in the US than in Europe?
    >which is the best site to by off?

It's much better and easier to buy in the US. The prices are the same
everywhere, although some vendors may throw in a free daypack or
something.

--
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup

Alan Harrison

"B Vaughan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

    > It's much better and easier to buy in the US. The prices are the same
    > everywhere, although some vendors may throw in a free daypack or
    > something.

The Eurail.com site contradicts you on the latter point, Barbara: "Do
realize, however, that the price in Europe is higher than at the regular
sales outlets outside Europe. Therefore, we advice you to buy your Eurail
Pass before departure. "

Buying in the US may also prevent difficulty with the following clause:
"Note that Eurail Passes and Eurailtickets may not be sold to residents of
Europe, Turkey, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia or the Russian Federation (the
former Soviet Union)." Note that it is RESIDENTS who are debarred, not
citizens, and therefore presentation of an American or Australian passport
at a European ticket office will not suffice to prove non-residency. (The
American or Australian might be living in Europe.)

Alan Harrison

Phil Richards

ALAN HARRISON wrote:

    > Note that it is RESIDENTS who are debarred, not
    > citizens, and therefore presentation of an American or Australian passport
    > at a European ticket office will not suffice to prove non-residency. (The
    > American or Australian might be living in Europe.)

An entry stamp in the passport will normally suffice as proof that the
person arrived inn Europe within the last six months. The problem is
usually those holding two passports - a non-European and European. Normally
they prefer to enter Europe on their European passport to avoid longer
immigration queues. In cases like that it's pretty much impossible to prove
one way or the other.

--
Phil Richards
London, UK
Home Page: http://www.philrichards1.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

Calif Bill

"coolgirl" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] oups.com...
    > Hi all,
    > I just had some questions about EUrail pass,
    > cause im hoping to travel this summer,
    > Is it better to get a 2 country pass ticket or get a full Euro rail
    > pass?
    > Will the ticket only last 15 days or is that 15 travel days(days
    > traveled)?
    > Is it true that a ticket is cheaper abroad in the US than in Europe?
    > which is the best site to by off?
    > thanx

There are both types. Depending on where you are traveling, the pass may or
may not be a good idea. If staying in a small regional area, forget the
pass completely. If covering a large area, with some ferries included get a
pass. But get a 6 days in 2 months pass. You can save money this way on
the long trips, and just buy a local ticket for the short trips. And you
will not be traveling everyday. The ferries normally give a big discount to
pass holders so they help there as well as I think a 50% discount on the
Chunnel train. I think you almost have to buy it before you leave the US,
as is forbidden to sell to European residents, and you may have trouble
purchasing there. I have used rail pass and not used the pass over a couple
of trips. Concluded that you only need it if doing long trips.

Dave Smith

Phil Richards wrote:

    > > Note that it is RESIDENTS who are debarred, not
    > > citizens, and therefore presentation of an American or Australian passport
    > > at a European ticket office will not suffice to prove non-residency. (The
    > > American or Australian might be living in Europe.)
    > An entry stamp in the passport will normally suffice as proof that the
    > person arrived inn Europe within the last six months. The problem is
    > usually those holding two passports - a non-European and European. Normally
    > they prefer to enter Europe on their European passport to avoid longer
    > immigration queues. In cases like that it's pretty much impossible to prove
    > one way or the other.

Unfortunately, they don't always stamp passports. My passport has only been
stamped on one of three visits to Europe.

DDT Filled Mormons

On Thu, 23 Feb 2006 16:09:28 -0500, Dave Smith
<[email protected]> wrote:

    >Phil Richards wrote:
    >> > Note that it is RESIDENTS who are debarred, not
    >> > citizens, and therefore presentation of an American or Australian passport
    >> > at a European ticket office will not suffice to prove non-residency. (The
    >> > American or Australian might be living in Europe.)
    >> An entry stamp in the passport will normally suffice as proof that the
    >> person arrived inn Europe within the last six months. The problem is
    >> usually those holding two passports - a non-European and European. Normally
    >> they prefer to enter Europe on their European passport to avoid longer
    >> immigration queues. In cases like that it's pretty much impossible to prove
    >> one way or the other.
    >Unfortunately, they don't always stamp passports. My passport has only been
    >stamped on one of three visits to Europe.

I had trouble getting my Italian papers because I entered the EU from
Estonia. They had no way of knowing how long I had been in Italy for.
--
---
DFM - http://www.deepfriedmars.com
---
--

Hatunen

On Thu, 23 Feb 2006 19:18:44 +0000 (UTC), "ALAN HARRISON"
<[email protected]> wrote:

    >"B Vaughan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    >news:[email protected].. .
    >> It's much better and easier to buy in the US. The prices are the same
    >> everywhere, although some vendors may throw in a free daypack or
    >> something.
    >The Eurail.com site contradicts you on the latter point, Barbara: "Do
    >realize, however, that the price in Europe is higher than at the regular
    >sales outlets outside Europe. Therefore, we advice you to buy your Eurail
    >Pass before departure. "

Of course that's what they advise. They certainly don't want you
going to Europe and suddenly discovering how reasonable fares are
and realizing that a pass probably isn't your best deal.


************* DAVE HATUNEN ([email protected]) *************
* Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow *
* My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps *

Henry

ALAN HARRISON <[email protected]> wrote:

    > "B Vaughan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    >
    > > It's much better and easier to buy in the US. The prices are the same
    > > everywhere, although some vendors may throw in a free daypack or
    > > something.
    >
    > The Eurail.com site contradicts you on the latter point, Barbara:

I interpreted BV's remark somewhat differently.

1. It's better to buy in the US.

2. (Of the many places in the US where one can buy these things), the
prices are the same but some give lagniappes.

The reason I read it this way is that the idea of 'throw[ing] in a free
daypack or something' is so American and so un-European.


cheers,

Henry

Phil Richards

Hatunen wrote:

    > Of course that's what they advise. They certainly don't want you
    > going to Europe and suddenly discovering how reasonable fares are
    > and realizing that a pass probably isn't your best deal.

Presumably "they" refer to the agents in places like the US who sell Eurail
passes? Do really expect them to loose business and say "Hey, don't bother
buying a pass from us, buy separate tickets when you get to Europe?"

Well in any case, 18 years of experience at selling International Rail
travel in London leads me to suggest different. Offer many non-Europeans
the options of buying point to points vs. a Eurail pass and often (but not
always) they prefer to stick to the pass to give them the flexibility.

--
Phil Richards
London, UK
Home Page: http://www.philrichards1.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

Timothy Kroesen

A short Eurail pass can be a great value if used wisely in relatively
rail expensive countries like Germany and France. I went Braunschweig,
Berlin (NZ), Koln, Bophall, free KD Ferry to Rudesheim, Interlaken, on
one Eurail day; starting just after 7pm and arriving 11:40pm the
following. Not as brutal as you think; 3hrs to bus about Berlin Zoo
station, night train to Bophall for 8am ferry, 4.5hr ferry trip and
until about 7 to catch the train to Interlocken... 25% discount on
Jungfrau private rails the next day.

Alternately you might consider country discount % passes for possible
value like the BahnCard in Germany and another I don't remember the name
of in France. Consider Sparpreis fares in Germany if you can plan ahead
3 days and travel over a weekend; they seem cheap enough even if you
throw away the return leg vs. std one way pricing...

Tim K

"Phil Richards" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Hatunen wrote:
    > > Of course that's what they advise. They certainly don't want you
    > > going to Europe and suddenly discovering how reasonable fares are
    > > and realizing that a pass probably isn't your best deal.
    > Presumably "they" refer to the agents in places like the US who sell
Eurail
    > passes? Do really expect them to loose business and say "Hey, don't
bother
    > buying a pass from us, buy separate tickets when you get to Europe?"
    > Well in any case, 18 years of experience at selling International Rail
    > travel in London leads me to suggest different. Offer many
non-Europeans
    > the options of buying point to points vs. a Eurail pass and often (but
not
    > always) they prefer to stick to the pass to give them the flexibility.
    > --
    > Phil Richards
    > London, UK
    > Home Page: http://www.philrichards1.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

Henry

Phil Richards <[email protected]> wrote:

    > Hatunen wrote:
    >
    > > Of course that's what they advise. They certainly don't want you
    > > going to Europe and suddenly discovering how reasonable fares are
    > > and realizing that a pass probably isn't your best deal.
    >
    > Presumably "they" refer to the agents in places like the US who sell Eurail
    > passes? Do really expect them to loose business...

Erm...no. The only antecedent in Harrison's message that Hatunen's
'they' could possibly reference is eurail.com, the official Eurail
website itself. It's true, of course, that Eurail sales agents anywhere
wouldn't want to loose [sic] business by letting it be more widely known
that the Eurail pass is not always and for everyone the most convenient
or cost effective way to travel on European trains.

cheers,

Henry

B Vaughan

On Thu, 23 Feb 2006 22:34:43 +0100, DDT Filled Mormons
<deepfreudmoors@eITmISaACTUALLYiREAL!l.nu> wrote:

    >On Thu, 23 Feb 2006 16:09:28 -0500, Dave Smith
    ><[email protected]> wrote:
    >>Phil Richards wrote:
    >>> > Note that it is RESIDENTS who are debarred, not
    >>> > citizens, and therefore presentation of an American or Australian passport
    >>> > at a European ticket office will not suffice to prove non-residency. (The
    >>> > American or Australian might be living in Europe.)
    >>> An entry stamp in the passport will normally suffice as proof that the
    >>> person arrived inn Europe within the last six months. The problem is
    >>> usually those holding two passports - a non-European and European. Normally
    >>> they prefer to enter Europe on their European passport to avoid longer
    >>> immigration queues. In cases like that it's pretty much impossible to prove
    >>> one way or the other.
    >>Unfortunately, they don't always stamp passports. My passport has only been
    >>stamped on one of three visits to Europe.
    >I had trouble getting my Italian papers because I entered the EU from
    >Estonia. They had no way of knowing how long I had been in Italy for.

In my case, the Questura invented a date of arrival for me that
clearly contradicted, by six months, the date stamped on my passport.
No one noticed when I was applying for my citizenship papers.
--
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup