barlk22

I'm going abroad to Denmark in the fall, and I plan on travelling a lot. I already know that I want to do weekend trips to Prague and Amsterdam, and on my 2 week program break I'm going to Switzerland, Ireland, and Italy (Venice, Rome, and maybe Pisa). Given this itinerary, would it be smarter to get a rail pass, or should I buy tickets as I go, OR should I just book last-minute flights? Thanks in advance!

jent103

I don't know the ins and outs of rail passes, but you want to go to Switzerland, Italy AND Ireland in two weeks? I see from your other post that you really want to see Ireland; if so, I'd allow that several days and then choose either somewhere Switzerland or one or two cities in Italy. I like to travel at a pretty quick pace, but that itinerary seems extremely ambitious.

(My personal opinion, but Pisa to me isn't worth including in that super-fast itinerary.)

adrienne

You'll have to do the math to see which is the most economical option. There is a site that compares rail passes with point-to-point tickets. Then you need to check airfares and compare plane to train prices. If flying, factor in the time and cost to get from the airport to the center of town. Train stations put you closer to the sights than airports.

http://railsaver.com/railsaver.asp

Agree with jent above - your itinerary is ambitious for 2 weeks. Check the distances and time involved traveling from Ireland to Venice or Rome. You'll see that you will want to fly rather than spend a day and a night on a train.

It will probably be easier to get to Switzerland and Italy from Denmark. Do you have any long weekends where you could spend a few days in Ireland?

BigRuss

You need to price this out. There are a good number of discount airlines operating in Europe and short flights may be far better options. A train from Denmark to Italy or Denmark to Prague will be a LONG ride.

Palenque

If doing all that by train a Eurail Youthpass is a no brainer IMO - for novices contemplating train travel and passes (there are over 100 different passes - one, two - three, four- five-country passes and the Global Eurailpass - these sites will tell you a ton about train travel in Europe and passes: www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com. For a Eurail Youthpass you need only to be under 26 when you activate it - no student standing required. If you want flexibility the pass can be used on most trains in those countries by just hopping on (except Italy where you will have to pay a reservation/supplement fee with the pass to ride the fastest trains - other countries on your list you just hop on any train anytime - so a pass has that advantage as well as those type fully flexible tickets can cost a ton.

Palenque

For budget airlines serving any two European cities:

www.whichbudget.com
www.skyscanner.net

ira

Hi bar,

>on my 2 week program break I'm going to Switzerland, Ireland, and Italy (Venice, Rome, and maybe Pisa)<

I strongly urge you to rethink that expedition. At least 2 days will be lost to getting to and from airports and train stations. That gives you only four days in each country.

Palenque

As some of the Eurail Youthpasses are good for a 2-month period - flexipasses - use your days whenever you want you can use a pass for travel both in your two week period away and on weekends, etc. in Denmark - say you want to go to Stockholm or Oslo or Arhus in Denmark, etc.

Palenque

Keep in mind that there is an overnight train that leaves Copenhagen nightly for Germany - you can end up in Basel in the morning and then go on from there - to start your 2-week travel period say if you want to go to Italy or southern France or Switzerland, etc. and overnight trains only count as one day on a flexipass - the so-called 7pm rule - leave on an overnight train after 7pm and the next day is your unlimited travel day - get off the Copenhagen to Germany night train then travel the whole next day if you want and still only use one day on a flexipass to go from say Copenhagen to Venice, etc.

nytraveler

Getting frm Denmark to a whole lot of laces is going to take way too long by rail. If you'll be rying to do weekend trips flying is the only thing that makes sense.

As for overnight trains - sleeping accomodations (and many overnight trains have only that - o regular seats) are not usually covered by rail passes.

Palenque

But a reclining seat on ICN - German night trains, costs just a few euros - and you do save a night's lodging costs.

Man_in_seat_61

No need to fly, and no need for a railpass, as cheap 'airline-style' advance purchase fares make 'budget train travel' possible.

Go to http://www.bahn.de, the German Railways official website

Here you can pre-book the Copenhagen & Odense to Amsterdam 'City Night Line' overnight train, leaving Copenhagen at 18:53, arriving Amsterdam 10:29 next morning, with couchettes (basic sleeper bunks) or more comfortable sleepers (1 2 or 3 bed rooms, some with showwer & toilet) from as little as 49 euro with couchette, 89 euro with bed in 2-bed sleeper, reservation included. You simply print out your own ticket.

City Night Line also have a Copenhagen-Basel (Switzerland) overnight train, depart Copenhagen 18:53, arrive Basel 10:27, with connctions by hourly or half-hourly InterCity train to anywhere in Switzerland. Then why not continue through the scenic Alps to Italy?

To see what these City Night Line trains l;ook like inside and out, see http://www.seat61.com/citynightline.htm

Palenque

Man Seat 61: these cheap online fares are regularly touted here but i wonder how many of these type fares are readily available - how far out must they be booked, etc.

Compared to full fares railpasses often are a good deal if traveling more than a few times by trains - and you have flexibility.