Eurorail Warning

[mahkara]

I just wanted to warn all other travelers about my experiences with Eurorail to warn everyone else from being totally ripped off like I was...

My "inclusive", $510 pass cost this much in fees over the course of my three week trip to Europe:

Schedule of Fees:

Charles de Gaulle Airport to Lyon: 3 E
Lyon to Chambery: Free
Chambery to Milano: 10 E
Milano to Anacona: Free
Anacona to Patras: 16 E
Patras to Corinth: 5 E
Athena to Patras: 6 E
Patra to Bari: 16 E
Bari to Roma: 23 E*
Additional 8 E fee after being told by station attendant that I could “just hop on a train”. After boarding train, told that needed to have reserved a pass despite what station attendant said, and was charged an additional 8 E above the 15 E of the ticket.
Roma to Naples: 5 E
Naples to Roma: 5 E
Roma to Firenze: 15 E
Firenze to Paris: 25 E
Paris to Rennes: 3 E
Rennes to Paris: 3 E

135 Euros total (about $175)

Beyond that, the rail tickets were not all the expensive purchased separately (between 5 and 70 Euros), and plane tickets are really cheap as well. I cannot imagine a case in which a Eurorail pass would be a good idea.

I was also displeased with my experience on the trails. I found the trains to be filthy (a cab I was in stank, many of the bathrooms were smeared in fecal material), the trains were slow (the supposed "high speed" trains that I was billed supplements for traveled at about 25 mph), and when I complained about this to Eurorail headquarters, I did not even receive a response.

This doesn't mean that all national train lines stink. When, prior to my trip to Japan, I purchased a J-Rail pass, I was pleasantly surprised. For the cost of about $200 U.S., I had free travel in immaculate trains (both high speed and otherwise) throughout Japan for the length of my stay. The pass was all inclusive, covering everything from the local commuter rails to the shinkansen, and to book a ticket, all that I would have to do was talk to the front office, get a seat, and hop on board a train. Pity that Eurorail doesn't work that way.

[WillTravel]

I agree that much or even most of the time the pass does not save you money at all, particularly in Italy. And the reservation fees are really starting to bite. Dustoffmom (Ging) posted a similar experience with the fees.

[MuvverRussia]

Yeah, the reservation fees can be quite substantial (although €3 from Rennes to Paris isn't bad at all). That said, I'm not sure about your experiences. The fast trains are normally very quick (TGV in France, Eurostar Italia in Italy, ICE in Germany etc) - far, far quicker than 25mph. Also, I wouldn't say all the trains are 'filthy' either, certainly not in mine (and other's) experiences.

Eurail doesn't work that way for a simple reason. There isn't a Eurail carrier, so of course you're going to get discrepancies with service. Also, Europe is just a little bigger than Japan (I'm being sarcastic here), so again the costs aren't really that comparable.

Personally, the trains can be good. Depending on your route you can get some pretty good deals and can definitely save money with a pass. Generally, the only people who don't find this are those who think buying a eurail pass is the 'done thing' and dive in without considering their route (e.g. buying a eurail pass for Eastern Europe - the equivalent of financial suicide .

[LHR02]

As WT noted, I have posted quite a bit on the growing expense of reservation fees, even with a pass. Virtually ANY train considered 'high speed' these days will set you back a minimum of 10 euro for a reservation, in France I paid generally 20-25 for said reservation. Actually, looking at some of the fees you paid they seem quite cheap compared to what I found earlier this year.

As for 'filthy'....well, I will agree that trains in Spain were generally quite nasty overall, but those in France, Germany and Italy were fine. Of course, if you find yourself on a local or milkrun train...well, you get what you get.

As Muvver said, passes are no longer the 'best deal' for many travelers. Much depends on where you are going, what countries, what high speed trains you plan to use, how many days you will be 'on the road'. We regularly caution folks here to check into PTP tickets and/or cheap flights. And yea....Europe does encompass quite a bit more mileage than Japan...although I have always heard wonderful things about their rail system. But to compare the two....doesn't quite compute.

Sorry you had such a bad experience.....

ging

[patrickt]

To be honest, I never made reservations. Risky, yes? But I never had a problem finding a seat... given, I traveled in off\early-shoulder season.

There was one train trip where I had to move seats... but it's easy! Just look at the reservation cards and find a seat that isn't reserved for that leg of the trip.

It's daring, but it's not immoral or illegal...

[LHR02]

Puzzled....

Any ICE train I used or similar high speed...the conductor wanted to see not only my pass but my reservation 'slip'. And he always carefully punched that reservation. How did you manage to get around trains with an "R"...reservation required???

[jennifer]

Hum, that's weird, i never reserved anything either and just hopped onto any train, ICE or not. Never had a problem. I guess you can "kinda" play the stupid card, but you also risk paying some extra fees. I at that point wasnt playing the stupid card, i really didnt know that you had to reserve ICE, i found out later hehhe!

xoxo
Jen

[mango]

I've never had a problem travelling without having reserved a seat.

[LHR02]

Well, hmmm. Maybe because I am 'older' and had to get a first class pass, or maybe coz I tend to follow the rules, for whatever reason...if the train I wanted was listed as an 'R'-reservation required I always got one. Perhaps I could have gotten away without one? Not sure. And thinking back now that this has come up, can't say for certain that the conductor ever specifically 'asked' for my reservation...I just handed it to him with my pass when he came around.
And he always punched it. Not sure what would have happened had I not had it.

But still seems odd to me that reservation required trains do not, in fact, require one. If not, gosh, I paid a goodly amount extra for them that I perhaps did not need to spend?

[rchua]

i was suprised that i did have to pay reservation fee w/ my eurorail. of course the cost wasn't to much but i expected with the price i paid for it that there wouldn't be any add-on cost. but like what muvver said there is no eurorail railway company. the pass is still worth the money one pays for it.

[commie]

i only used trains in germany, sweden and norway so far, so i dont know how it is compared to france or south and southeast europe, but some other people in a hostel already told me that the people in italy dont really care about customers.
i never heard that you really need a reservation, they are only for people who think they dont get a free seat. however, in germany you can sit wherever you want (but you must be in the same class as your ticket) until someone with a reservation wants your seat. worst thing that could happen is that you have to sit on the floor if there is no seat left.
toilets in trains are not really a pleasure, its a better idea to use on at a trainstation and pay the 50 cents or so.