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Cherry C.
Senior Member
Username: Cherry
Post Number: 6102
Registered: 06-2003
Posted From: 71.163.18.160
| | Posted on Friday, March 12, 2010 - 10:25 pm: | |
There are a lot of different kinds of rail passes these days. Which one are you considering -- unlimited travel anywhere in Europe for 30 days? X number of travel days within a 30 day period? Limited to certain countries? Or what?
And while you are looking at the offered types in the rail pass section on Rick Steves' website (or in one of his guides--all such guides strongly recommended), I do urge you to study his charts of estimated rail fares (and travel times) between cities, in order to decide whether you really should buy rail passes.
Second Class rail in Europe is excellent--clean, modern, and comfortable, with non-smoking cars available (and the 2nd class cars on any given train arrive at the destination at the same time as the 1st class ones). But did you realize that YOU would only be allowed to buy a FIRST class pass because you are an adult (your dau. would be eligible as a student, I think, for a 2nd class pass -- but since you'll want to sit together, you'd need a 1st class pass for her too).
You may well discover that buying point to point tickets in 2nd class will be much less costly than getting passes.
Furthermore, I suggest you consider 'budget' airlines, at very least for the leg between Paris and Rome, because traveling between those two via train will be a LONG haul.
Rail schedules can be found at http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en?ld=96150&rt=1&newrequest=yes&
and budget air info at various other websites (just enter <European budget airlines> in any search engine). Sometimes major airlines, like Lufthansa, also offer really reasonable fares between cities, without imposing some of the rigid baggage weight limits found on budget carriers like Ryan Air.
As far as procuring required seat reservations on certain special trains, getting yours the day before you intend to travel should be plenty of time. (We have never been unable to get a seat when reserving a day ahead.)
If you arrive at Ramstein (or Naples) via space-a from the US you will probably want to rest up for a day anyway, to get rid of the jet lag (or the exhaustion from sitting up all night in a webbed seat), so you can make the first reservation on that day. |
Ed Crews
Member
Username: Ed_crews
Post Number: 37
Registered: 09-2009
Posted From: 72.216.5.103
| | Posted on Friday, March 12, 2010 - 10:17 pm: | |
You might want to check point-to-point prices. For only three legs they might be cheaper than a pass. |
John G
Advanced Member
Username: Windjammer_john
Post Number: 270
Registered: 02-2008
Posted From: 97.112.178.137
| | Posted on Friday, March 12, 2010 - 07:28 pm: | |
Chaplaingil here is Rick Steves web site on rail passes.
http://www.ricksteves.com/rail/rail_menu.htm.
You can purchase them on line before you leave the states. |
Richard Troy
Member
Username: Bandit
Post Number: 11
Registered: 05-2005
Posted From: 206.251.30.115
| | Posted on Friday, March 12, 2010 - 06:42 pm: | |
I suggest you contact Ramstein RTT (On-base travel office). You can Google the site. Used them in 2005 for a last-minute train to Paris and return. They're up to speed on the issues and should be able to answer your questions.
Enjoy your vacation,
Dick |
Chaplaingil
Member
Username: Chaplaingil
Post Number: 21
Registered: 08-2009
Posted From: 206.39.250.30
| | Posted on Friday, March 12, 2010 - 12:24 pm: | |
I am planning a European vacation with my 16 year old daughter as a CAT III on 30 days leave during June 2010. Plan is to either fly BWI-RMS and then train to Paris, train to Rome, then train Naples for RTB journey to Norfolk, or do the loop the other way.
Plan on getting a Rail Pass.
My questions are; how do I make the required reservation? Can it be done online? I know I can do it at the train station. My major concern is the first leg can the reservation be made just before travel? And can I make reservation in say Germany for the French and Italian legs of the journey?
V/R and Blessings,
Chaps |
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