Rail Passes Europe

Author Message   Barry Cantor Senior Member Username: Barry_c Post Number: 961 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 65.210.169.2 Posted on Wednesday, February 03, 2010 - 02:21 am:    Neal: The best site for finding out how to ride the rails in Europe is: www.ricksteves.com 1. There's usually a luggage rack above your seat. Depending on which country your in/how old the train is/there are several configurations. If there's a rack above, you stow it there. Bring along a bungie cord or one of those bicycle chain locks and secure your bag to the rung on the luggage rack. 2. There are 3 types of sleeping arrangements...most expensive private room & toliet//locked door semi-private room, shared toliet a little less expensive and couchette 3-6 bunks shared among travelers same sex...toliet at the end of the car. You can check luggage on most long distance trains. Rick Steves' site explains in good detail all you'll need to know on rail travel. Good Luck.   neal floyd Intermediate Member Username: Nfloyd Post Number: 134 Registered: 09-2007 Posted From: 67.233.187.247 Posted on Wednesday, February 03, 2010 - 01:28 am:    I have a couple of real stupid questions about rail travel in Europe. 1. If you are sitting in a coach type seat where do you put your suitcase and carry on bag? 2. If you go to the toilet or if there is a dining car do you just leave your bags where others could get to them. 3. If you get a sleeping compartment do you have a key to it so it can be locked? 4. Can you check your luggage? Thanks for any answers Neal   Barry Cantor Senior Member Username: Barry_c Post Number: 799 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Friday, April 03, 2009 - 11:24 pm:    Stan: I also highly reccomend Rick Steves' website. You might also consider getting a "selectpass saver" pass. That's for 2 or more people traveling together (cheaper). Go to http://www.ricksteves.com/rail/select.htm and educate yourself. I've usually opted for 1st class, especially in former eastern European countries. The compartments and seats are more abundant and more comfortable....its worth the extra money. Do your research. Eastern Europe has not progressed as quickly as Western Europe. Be prepared to accept conditions not much better than pre-cold war era situations. Rick's site is a wealth of info on visiting all of Europe...he's been doing it over 20 years now. Good Luck.   Irwin Rovner Advanced Member Username: Irovner Post Number: 240 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Monday, March 23, 2009 - 12:46 am:    If you qualify as a "senior citizen", there are heavily discounted train fares in (some) European countries. My wife and I recently traveled by train from Belgium to Frankfurt (2nd class) for 78 euros for both -- the walk up fare was 208 euros. I booked the tickets on-line. There are some differences in obtaining them. Belgium lets you print your own tickets and pick them up at an in-country train station. Germany requires 8 (or more) days in advance to mail tickets to you -- and doesn't tell you about a senior discount option until you are well into the search and purchase process. Less than 8 days and Germany won't sell you tickets on line and they don't sell senior discount tickets if you walk in to buy them on your day of travel. However, even compared to rail passes, Senior Discount tickets are worth checking out.   Eddie L Owens Member Username: Eowens2 Post Number: 29 Registered: 08-2007 Posted on Sunday, March 22, 2009 - 01:23 am:    A railpass may NOT be your best optiion, but the nice thing about Rick Steves' web site (www.ricksteves.com) is that it has lots of information so that you can make that decision for yourself. His site is an authorized reseller of Eurail passes, and he says that he charges the same price as the Rail Europe site, but to entice you, he throws in some bennies like a free map of Europe with the rail system highlighted and gives discounts in his travel store (for luggage, books and other travel accessories). I have bought 3 rail passes from him, and been satisfied with the service. His web site has an ENORMOUS amount of information, not merely about travel by rail, but a host of other things regarding travel in Europe. www.ricksteves.com is well worth exploring, and his guide books are worth their weight in gold. I have stayed in his recommended lodging sites, and his assessments are right on target.   Cherry C. Senior Member Username: Cherry Post Number: 4967 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Saturday, March 21, 2009 - 01:56 pm:    Last line below should be "discounts on guidebooks OR travel accessories"   Cherry C. Senior Member Username: Cherry Post Number: 4966 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Saturday, March 21, 2009 - 01:55 pm:    The reason many of us recommend getting a railpass from Rick Steves is that his site and guidebooks are so helpful in explaining the various kinds and options, and assisting travelers to decide if a railpass actually is their best solution (vs. point-to-point tickets). Also they have not charged the extra fees that some vendors do. The Steves site also often has special discounted offers -- e.g., if you buy a railpass you get a free map, or discounts on guidebooks on travel accessories and luggage, etc.   dinotars Senior Member Username: Dinotars Post Number: 5312 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Friday, March 20, 2009 - 08:13 pm:    Eurail Passes: http://www.eurail.com/   William Standage Senior Member Username: Charlie13 Post Number: 729 Registered: 07-2004 Posted on Friday, March 20, 2009 - 05:51 pm:    Eurail passes can be purchase in person at some travel agencies in the USA. A few years ago my wife and I bought ours at a travel agent near Ft Sam Houston in San Antonio.   forrest Brandt New member Username: Effbee Post Number: 1 Registered: 05-2008 Posted on Thursday, March 19, 2009 - 12:05 pm:    I was assigned to instruct in Munich in 84 - 85. At that time you couldn't buy a rail pass on post, had to be purchased ahead of time in CONUS. However, there were often specials for off peak travel by rail posted in the post newspaper and available trough the post travel office.   Mike McCrystal Advanced Member Username: Stinkin_badges Post Number: 362 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Tuesday, March 17, 2009 - 03:34 pm:    Try ricksteves.com for railpasses. His site gives comparisons between car travel and train. He claims that his prices are the lowest. Mike   Chanel Beebe Member Username: Mouse_62 Post Number: 10 Registered: 07-2008 Posted on Tuesday, March 17, 2009 - 02:15 pm:    Discount rail passes usually have to be mailed to you.   Stan Ink Member Username: Stanink Post Number: 11 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Tuesday, March 17, 2009 - 11:25 am:    Can rail passes be purchased as a walk up at Aviano or Ramstein ITT? We 4 hope to get there via SpaceA and then explore Eastern Europe by train in late April into May.. Any suggestions will be welcome.