PalenQ

France after dropping out of the Eurail Select Pass at the start of 2013 France will once again be a participating country as of April, 2014 - making the Select Pass, where you select 3-5 countries where your Eurail Select Pass will be valid, a much more viable option now for many folks whose train travels includes Paris and France.

bvlenci

Other than the fact that they're ridiculously overpriced, of course.

PalenQ

Other than the fact that they're ridiculously overpriced, of course.>

this is a statement that just makes no sense - I've had zillions of railpasses and always got tons of use out of them - saved tons of money.

such blanket =statements are pure nonsense - for some they may be but for many they are not - if you want the flexibility to hop any train anytime in most countries and you want first class (I know from previous threads IYO there is only a very negligible difference between classes but my experience of taking trains all over Europe in many countries there is in many a sizable difference between classes - like in those countries where you can just hop on trains - finding empty seats or two seats together is a lot easier in first class than 2nd.

And Eurailpasses for anyone over 25 are automatically first class - now Youthpasses for folks under 26 are indeed real bargains.

For lots about railpasses and European trains check out www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

So the statement that railpasses are ridiculously overprices is just nonsense as there are many factors to a pass besides prices and for many people who want first class and flexibility to hop any train in most countries they can be a real boon.

PalenQ

The reason that not having France as an option on the Select Pass was that someone going to Italy, Spain and France could not use it in France - thus negating the efficacy of the pass often.

Ditto for France and neighboring countries like Germany, Switzerland, etc.

PalenQ

Well the big change in Select Passes in 2014 is that they are now only 4-country passes and not the 3 to 5 country option I mistakenly put in OP - any 4 'neighboring' countries - and this means that they do not all have to touch each other but one has to touch another which has to touch another which has to touch another!

Or countries that have boats between them that accept railpasses for fare or a discount on fares - thus Italy and Spain can be on a flexipass without France.