Often where there are options, confusion follows. In a bid to remove any guesswork and help travellers be cost effective with their train travels, Rail Europe has shared the following tips and comparison methods that demystify the wealth of information and options available on rail passes and point-to-point tickets.
Number of Cities
Generally, for itineraries that involve visiting more than three cities, a rail pass might be more cost effective. Note also, Eurostar services are included on the Eurail pass and each journey is equivalent to one “day” on the pass with seat reservations to be made separately.
Flexibility
Rail passes offer travellers a lot more flexibility than point-to-point tickets as the latter is attached to a fixed departure date and time. Passes do not require seat reservations on many regional trains, so travellers can simply hop onto any of these trains as and when it suits, and enjoy unlimited travel for each “day” on the pass within the 24 hours from midnight to midnight.
Families
Eurail passes offer free travel for up to two children from ages four to 11 years per adult pass holder, while children under the age of 16 travel for free with an adult using the Swiss Travel Pass.
Perks and Discounts
Unlike point-to-point tickets, rail passes have different discounts and bonuses attached to them. Depending on the pass, they may include discounts for tour attractions, restaurants, ferry rides, Wi-Fi connections, hotel stays and more.
Forward Planning
Travellers can save up to 70% off their rail bookings when planning ahead. Eurail passes can be booked up to 11 months in advance and three months in advance for seat reservations. Point-to-point tickets are usually available three months out due to the seat reservations attached to their bookings.
For more information and bookings, head to www.raileurope.com.
