[Updated April 27, 2020.]
Train travel is one of Europe’s most fun features to me, and rail passes help make the most of it, enabling the rider to hop on and off trains going wherever they want to go. And they are affordable. A ten-day, multi-country Eurail flexi-pass is about $600 in first class (see #2 below), and compared to renting a car (which can be very stressful) or flying (stress plus time waiting, baggage hassles, etc.), this is my preference when my itinerary permits—and it usually does.
1. Make sure your itinerary is suited to train travel. Traveling long distances by train can eat up an entire day. I generally try to break up long distances in my plans—or fly them. That said, a rail journey of, say, four hours vs. flying the same distance may actually save you time, when getting out to the airport, checking in, waiting, flying, collecting baggage, and getting to your destination from the airport are factored in. Rail stations are typically centrally located. Airports, not so much.
2. Always travel first class. Now look, I’m no travel snob. Here, the splurge is worth the money: on often crowded trains, you’ll more consistently find seats in first, the seating is more comfortable, and the service is better.
3. When possible, make a seat reservation. Your rail pass entitles you to get on a train; it does not guarantee you a seat. At high-traffic times, you could end up standing for a portion of the journey, or sitting on your bag in the hall. Not fun. So, for longer trips, I make a seat reservation—usually in a quiet compartment (this is an option), or two seats facing each other across a table if I’m traveling in a pair. [Note: high speed trains in some countries (France) and the Eurostar service require reservations.] Cost is minimal (except on TGV trains) and well worth it. Keep your seat reservation handy (in print or on phone) in case someone’s sitting in your seat and you need to claim it.
4. Familiarize yourself with the options on RailEurope—or ask your helpful, friendly travel agent for help. The options have recently been simplified to just two, single-country and multi-country passes, so that if you get a multi-country pass, it permits you to travel in any of the 33 countries covered—almost all of Europe! If you’re staying in one country, a single-country pass is more cost-effective. It pays, too, to know what is/isn’t covered by your pass. Check RailEurope or the site for your destination’s train line for details. Notably, the Swiss Travel Pass gives holders entrance to most of the country’s museums, discounts to other museums, plus discounts on mountain railways and lifts not covered by the pass. It also covers boat trips, like those on Lake Luzern, Thun, or Brienz.
5. Apps! Download and use the rail apps for the countries you’ll be traveling to, from, or within. I’ve used the SBB (Swiss) and DB (Germany) apps extensively, and they’re easy to use once set up. With them, it’s possible to book tickets (if you don’t have a pass) or seat reservations easily, and add them to your digital wallet. Just make sure to book before you board the train. No ticket = big fine. The Rome2Rio app is also super-helpful for figuring out routes, travel times, and options.
6. Along that line, make sure your pass is with you, and the current day’s date filled in on it, before you board the train.
7. Learn how to use the signs in the station and those on the side of the train cars to find your train, time of departure, and the wagon you’re traveling in (and where it’ll be on the track). I’ll do a separate tutorial on this as soon as I can get back over there to shoot it.
8. Most announcements (both visual and loudspeaker) are made in both the native language and English (at least in the German, Dutch, and Danish-speaking countries). You should also find the staff in these countries ready and willing to speak English, especially if you greet them the local language. [I’ve had worse luck with this in France and northern Italy, where I’ve ended up having to use German instead of English on several occasions.]
Rail travel is one of Europe’s best features. Take advantage of it on your next trip!
And speaking of your next trip, let me help you make it happen: I’m a travel advisor specializing in Europe and European river cruises. Shoot me an e-mail. We’ll make that dream trip a reality.
