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Post by Civ on Sept 5, 2002 12:41:04 GMT -5
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Post by nitsansh on Sept 5, 2002 13:38:35 GMT -5
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Civ
Full Travel Member
Posts: 26
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Post by Civ on Sept 8, 2002 16:54:00 GMT -5
Does anyone know if it's cheaper to buy the railpass I need when I arrive in europe? Thanks for all your helpful suggestions...  |
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Post by nitsansh on Sept 8, 2002 17:31:11 GMT -5
Which railpass?
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rex
Junior Travel Member
Posts: 2
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Post by rex on Sept 8, 2002 17:46:27 GMT -5
to civ I thought I had posted a "reply" to you here. but it shows up as a new post. Hopefully, you can find it. I don't know how to tell you how to locate it. (See below-I have reposted it here for you. From, Kim)and I agree with an earlier post that www.railsaver.com is a very valuable resource for those situations (rare) where the purchase of a pass would make sense - - for example, certain passes available for Switzerland. Best wishes, Rex Bickers Westerville, Ohio |
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Post by Kim on Sept 8, 2002 18:42:13 GMT -5
Reposting this for Rex under the correct original posting..In general, passes are not a better bargain than ordinary point-to-point tickets - - which you will likely want to buy "there" rather than "here". The passes that most people have heard of the most can NOT be bought "there" at all. A "classic" eurailpass can only be bought in North America. They would be be a very, very big bargain to "traveling salesman" and other European travelers who have business-related reasons to travel substantial distances EVERY DAY. But most "tourist travel" doesn't (or SHOULDN'T) travel so frequently as to justify a pass. If you're planning to travel an average of 250 miles EVERY SIGNLE DAY (or maybe even every single day that you are moving from A to B to C), then maybe you ought to re-think your itinerary anyhow. Travel around less; see where you are more. Best wishes, Rex Bickers Westerville, Ohio a "regular" on www.fodors.com/forums
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Post by LHR02 on Sept 9, 2002 18:19:51 GMT -5
Have to disagree with you somewhat Rex. I bought railpasses for my last trip.....and surely did not travel every day by a long shot. However, using my Britrail pass as an example.....I bought a continuous month pass, only actually traveled 13 days out of the month, and still got my money's worth and more. For the 3 month Eurrail pass, again, traveled at most 15 days in any one month and still came out ahead of buying point to point. Granted that on the days I did travel, many times it was a greater distance. still, depending on your itenerary and travel habits, rail passes can be a money saver. And one last thought, I am surely over 26 so was forced to purchase a 1st class pass......still, add up my journeys and buying point to point would have been more.
ging
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Post by Kim on Sept 9, 2002 20:54:50 GMT -5
Agree with Ging, we saved money getting a pass as well. You have to add up the individual journeys you will take and see what works for you.
I travelled with both a youth and adult pass as I turned 26 while in Europe and saved money on both.
If all you are doing is short trips, it may not be worth it to get a pass. Long journeys, especially country to country are pricey.
Kim
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Post by nitsansh on Sept 10, 2002 9:38:57 GMT -5
Did you calculate the adult pass vs 1st or 2nd class?
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Post by Kim on Sept 10, 2002 10:29:45 GMT -5
Well, we had both. For 7 months of travel, we actually had 4 different passes and all of them were a better deal than point to point travel as we did a lot of travelling.
We had 2 adult first class passes (the discounted rate for 2 people travelling together) and 2 youth 2nd class passes. We calculated the point to point fares for each time period to see what was best for us in each case.
For us, it worked out a lot better to have the passes. Having the passes got us 50% discounts on ferries too, which was a savings.
Kim
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Post by LHR02 on Sept 10, 2002 10:44:47 GMT -5
For adult passes BTW if you are over 26 you have no option.....1st class it is. Or at least was last October when I purchased. And I grumbled about it, believe me. ;D But once there I have to say I surely did appreciate my 1st class seat. Way more room, never near as crowded......bad thing was there were fewer 'travellers' there than in 2nd. And, on loads of the smaller routes, there isn't even a 1st class coach to use. Still, overall, I more than got my money's worth, and will surely use a pass again. But this December, I more than likely won't buy a continuous pass but will better try and anticipate how many days I will be 'on the road' and use a days per month option.
ging
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Post by me on Sept 11, 2002 23:30:28 GMT -5
often, passes for one country, or small group (benelux pass) come in 2nd class w/o an age restriction. at least that's my recolection.
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Civ
Full Travel Member
Posts: 26
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Post by Civ on Sept 15, 2002 16:00:03 GMT -5
I'm a little confused on the way the pass works for trips with train changes. For example, the railsaver site reads that the trip from Brussels to Cambrai(FR) will be covered by my 5 day flexi pass, however the schedule reads that the trip from Brussels to Cambrai has me changing trains twice (!!). So, the five days of travel allow me to take multiple trips on that day?
I think thats what I'm reading...
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Post by LHR02 on Sept 15, 2002 16:03:47 GMT -5
Absolutely! The 'day' is 24 hours, you can get on or off as many trains as you'd like in that 24 hour period. Conductor will stamp your pass with the date on your first journey of the day and others will check it. Just make sure your pass includes the countries you are in! ;D
ging
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Post by nitsansh on Sept 15, 2002 17:42:17 GMT -5
Dustoffmom is absolutely right. No matter how far you travel and how many times you board trains (it could be 10 if you like) on the same date. And it's even better if you take a night train: you could travel as many as 29 hours, from 7PM till midnight the next day.
BTW: Excuse my ignorance... where is Cambrai and what's there to see?
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