Euro Rail passes question
Jul 23rd, 2006, 06:34 PM
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Please read last sentence
Author: treble
Date: 07/23/2006, 04:29 pm
I don't think Milan is a good base for Florence or Venice. Just go to Venice and then to Milan. (and Florence if you want) A three hour train ride coming and going plus a full sightseeing day is a bit long. We really enjoyed Milan, used two and a half full days of sightseeing there, also took a half day to see Como/Bellagio, and spent 4 total nights. We spent six nights, five sightseeing days in Vienna, and did not run out of interesting stuff to do. We don't spend much time shopping. Also, Venice could use up 3 days, 4 if you get lost!!! If you want to fall in love with any city, and treasure your trip, then stay long enough to do all the sights you feel you must see, then have an extra day to discover the city off the beaten track. You could also consider Verona, and day trip to Venice (though it is not the same as staying there!) and Milan. I had good service from BETS re train questions and reservations
Author: treble
Date: 07/23/2006, 04:29 pm
I don't think Milan is a good base for Florence or Venice. Just go to Venice and then to Milan. (and Florence if you want) A three hour train ride coming and going plus a full sightseeing day is a bit long. We really enjoyed Milan, used two and a half full days of sightseeing there, also took a half day to see Como/Bellagio, and spent 4 total nights. We spent six nights, five sightseeing days in Vienna, and did not run out of interesting stuff to do. We don't spend much time shopping. Also, Venice could use up 3 days, 4 if you get lost!!! If you want to fall in love with any city, and treasure your trip, then stay long enough to do all the sights you feel you must see, then have an extra day to discover the city off the beaten track. You could also consider Verona, and day trip to Venice (though it is not the same as staying there!) and Milan. I had good service from BETS re train questions and reservations
Jul 24th, 2006, 07:42 AM
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Author: fun4all4 ([email protected])
Date: 07/06/2006,.
Anyway, we were able to make the 8:47 train from the airport to Luzern which was an hour earlier than we thought we would make. Before leaving, I worked with BETS (Budget European Travel Service http://budgeteuropetravel.com/index.html ) to purchase Swiss Rail passes as well as point-to-point tickets for Italy. They were great and I highly recommend them. They spent a ton of time with me working out the best routings for a fee of just $15 and that included mailing all the tickets to me with clear directions attached. We bought 1st class Swiss saver passes for the 2 adults and requested a free Swiss family card which allowed the boys to travel with us for free – awesome deal.
Date: 07/06/2006,.
Anyway, we were able to make the 8:47 train from the airport to Luzern which was an hour earlier than we thought we would make. Before leaving, I worked with BETS (Budget European Travel Service http://budgeteuropetravel.com/index.html ) to purchase Swiss Rail passes as well as point-to-point tickets for Italy. They were great and I highly recommend them. They spent a ton of time with me working out the best routings for a fee of just $15 and that included mailing all the tickets to me with clear directions attached. We bought 1st class Swiss saver passes for the 2 adults and requested a free Swiss family card which allowed the boys to travel with us for free – awesome deal.
Jul 24th, 2006, 07:54 AM
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We purchased all our point-to-point tickets from BETS two years ago, when we needed to buy tickets in advance, and when we needed a resource to help us figure out the Prague Pass. I can recommend them highly. Each time I spoke with him, Bob spent lots of time patiently explaining everything, answering all my rather stupid questions, and giving me ideas beyond just rail service. Shop around, but I believe their prices are the best you will find from anyone, and their customer service is outstanding.
Jul 24th, 2006, 08:28 AM
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Author: jgg
Date: 04/11/2006
I used Budget Europe Travel Service (BETS) (1-800-441-9413)to buy our Eurostar tickets from London to Paris and get our 7 day travelcards for the tube in London. I worked with Byron who was extremely helpful and very patiently answered all my questions, even those that had nothing to do with trains! I cannot recommend them highly enough.
Date: 04/11/2006
I used Budget Europe Travel Service (BETS) (1-800-441-9413)to buy our Eurostar tickets from London to Paris and get our 7 day travelcards for the tube in London. I worked with Byron who was extremely helpful and very patiently answered all my questions, even those that had nothing to do with trains! I cannot recommend them highly enough.
Jul 24th, 2006, 08:57 AM
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Author: telemark
Fodor’s turned us on to Budget Europe Travel Service(www.budgeteuropetravel.com), and they were wonderful. I spent a lot of time on the phone with Linda and Byron and they were very knowledgeable and helpful. I definitely recommend them if you are interested in travelling by rail in Europe.
Fodor’s turned us on to Budget Europe Travel Service(www.budgeteuropetravel.com), and they were wonderful. I spent a lot of time on the phone with Linda and Byron and they were very knowledgeable and helpful. I definitely recommend them if you are interested in travelling by rail in Europe.
Jul 24th, 2006, 09:21 AM
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Author: escargot
Swisspass through BETS. I tried the online rail and the number Swiss Rail has with english speaking reps, but not having done this before was experiencing some confusion and getting some “whichever you prefer” when I needed someone to filter out my options and tell me what would be best, so on recommendation of a Fodorite called BETS and gentlemen was SO helpful, and we ended up wtih 15 day Swisspass for us, 15 day Swiss youthpass for kids, all first class, and with Pass Protection Plan of $10 each and Golden pass Reservation.
We had tickets in hand before leaving, and gentlemen also sent along all necessary rail books, time schedules, printed out individual schedules for me from point to point with all time options, rail numbers, and dug out an article he thought excellent from a few years prior, which he thought excellent on the Lauterbrunnen/Oberland area and included that also.
Swisspass through BETS. I tried the online rail and the number Swiss Rail has with english speaking reps, but not having done this before was experiencing some confusion and getting some “whichever you prefer” when I needed someone to filter out my options and tell me what would be best, so on recommendation of a Fodorite called BETS and gentlemen was SO helpful, and we ended up wtih 15 day Swisspass for us, 15 day Swiss youthpass for kids, all first class, and with Pass Protection Plan of $10 each and Golden pass Reservation.
We had tickets in hand before leaving, and gentlemen also sent along all necessary rail books, time schedules, printed out individual schedules for me from point to point with all time options, rail numbers, and dug out an article he thought excellent from a few years prior, which he thought excellent on the Lauterbrunnen/Oberland area and included that also.
Jul 24th, 2006, 09:32 AM
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Minor detail, but in response to a posting by ira, RailEurope does not set the prices, Eurail does.
Per the official website of Eurail (www.eurail.com):
"The Eurail Group G.I.E. is a legal entity, registered in Luxembourg under Luxembourg law, but with its head office in Utrecht, the Netherlands." "The Eurail Group is owned by a number of train- and ship operating companies..." "The Eurail Group G.I.E. offers Eurail Passes and Eurailtickets via authorized sales agents outside of Europe."
The Eurail website lists RailEurope as one of the authorized U.S. sellers of Eurail passes. You can also buy Eurail passes directly from Eurail.
RailEurope is a privately-held company of which French and Swiss Rail are the major owners.
But, ira is right that the price IS fixed, and the difference is S&H and freebies.
Per the official website of Eurail (www.eurail.com):
"The Eurail Group G.I.E. is a legal entity, registered in Luxembourg under Luxembourg law, but with its head office in Utrecht, the Netherlands." "The Eurail Group is owned by a number of train- and ship operating companies..." "The Eurail Group G.I.E. offers Eurail Passes and Eurailtickets via authorized sales agents outside of Europe."
The Eurail website lists RailEurope as one of the authorized U.S. sellers of Eurail passes. You can also buy Eurail passes directly from Eurail.
RailEurope is a privately-held company of which French and Swiss Rail are the major owners.
But, ira is right that the price IS fixed, and the difference is S&H and freebies.
Jul 24th, 2006, 10:13 AM
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Larry has it right - and there are at least five different Eurail-annointed outlets in the US - RailEurope just being the behemoth 800 pound gorilla on the block.
The Eurail Commission in Utrecht, Holland (home of the Dutch railways) is considering a revolutionary way of selling passes - becoming a wholesaler who lets each agent set their own retail price - thus as early as next year perhaps there will be reason to shop around - but for now as Larry says and ira too price is uniform - a cartel and only S&H can be tacked on. That said Raileurope apparently does market some of the two country 'Eurail' passes itself - but not totally sure of that.
The Eurail Commission in Utrecht, Holland (home of the Dutch railways) is considering a revolutionary way of selling passes - becoming a wholesaler who lets each agent set their own retail price - thus as early as next year perhaps there will be reason to shop around - but for now as Larry says and ira too price is uniform - a cartel and only S&H can be tacked on. That said Raileurope apparently does market some of the two country 'Eurail' passes itself - but not totally sure of that.
Jul 24th, 2006, 10:35 AM
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Another BIG thumbs up for Budget European Travel (BETS). I've been dealing with them for at least 12 - 13 years and they really are the best in my opinion. In fact I just spoke to Brian the other day. Nice folks.
Nina
Nina
Jul 24th, 2006, 02:55 PM
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You can buy the two country "regional" passes on the Eurail website. I also found them on Railpass.com. So apparently they are no longer just RailEurope.
These passes, by the way, have the advantage that they are available in 2nd class, so you are not "forced" into luxury.
These passes, by the way, have the advantage that they are available in 2nd class, so you are not "forced" into luxury.
Jul 25th, 2006, 10:12 AM
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thanks Larry for that bit of info - the big change in Eurailpasses and other passes marketed by the Eurail Group under the aegis of Eric Molin in Utrecht, Holland is that this year for the first time passes are priced in euros and not dollars. Thus RE's brochure prints only skimpy prices with the caveat that they could change anytime and some have, such as the French passes which increased marginally a few months ago. But as they are priced in euros the price could always go up whereas in previous years the price was virtually guaranteed for the calendar year and in 30 years or so of tracking railpass prices they have never increased during the calendar year - Eurailpasses that is - a few country passes have increased a few dollars during the year and RE has always reserved the right to do so - but now openly says prices are in euros and can change daily - though in 2006, probably due to the fairly static euro vs dollar exchange rate have not. And if the dollar goes up i would NOT suspect the price of passes to drop! This seems to be a one-way thing.
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