d2roberts

Well, I'm just starting to get a handle on this whole Eurorail pass...but then yesterday I realized that there is a fee for reservations.

So, is it best to pay the $11 from the states and reserve the needed reservations from here? Or wait until we get to Europe? Some of our itinerary will require reservations on the fast trains in Italy.

Thanks!

GeoffHamer

If you look at Italian schedules, you'll see that trains on most routes are at least hourly, so in most cases you don't need to get reservations in advance. If you are booking sleeping accommodation, or really must get a train at a specific time, then it may be worth reserving from abroad - otherwise, you can sort out trains when you get to Italy.

d2roberts

I guess this is where I'm confused. According to eurorail's website, they just changed the "rules" so that fast train, first class seats must be reserved. But, I also heard there is an $8/penalty fee if you don't reserve, which is cheaper than the $11.00.

My travel agent did confirm this, but left me a choice of reserving here, or there. By reserving in Europe, the amount comes to about $5.00. I know it seems obvious to reserve there, but I'm concerned about the language barrier.

ira

Hi d2,

Have you bought a Railpass yet?

If not enter your itinerary at www.railsaver.com and click "only if it saves money".

d2roberts

No, we have not. Still determining how many days I really need to purchase.

Thanks for the info!

cls2paris

I would wait and make them when you arrive. I think you only need to make them a day before and you can get them all at the same time. I usually have the schedules printed out and can show them to the ticket agent if I have to. Or, write it out with the time you want to leave. I always get non-smoking so if you want that, be sure to ask. You can get the schedules from the Trenitalia website (they have a link for English) or I usually use the German site because I think it is easy to use and it has train schedules from many European countries. Here's the URL:http://www.reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

You might find that buying point to point tickets is less expensive than buying a pass. Check the link above for the railsaver link.

LoveItaly

Hi d2roberts. The trenitalia website is www.trenitalia.com. I just went on it to check out if there is rail service to a beautiful small nontouristy town with lots of hiking areas for you southeast of Florence but sadly there isn't.

PalQ

Your travel agent doesn't know what he or she is talking about - you may well pay the $10-15 penalty fee for not having the reservation and then the reservation fee as well - if there are any seats on the train you board - if not you may be put off in the middle of nowhere. Very bad advice from a supposed travel professional. Boarding without a reservation should never be advised - at least that's my advice in 30+ years of traveling on European trains.
that said - i always reserve as i go along in Europe - reservation fees are often about 3 euros, or a bit less than $4. Trains that don't require reservations i just board and never have not found an empty seat in 1st class at least. If you want to reserve ahead of time, and some do because they don't want to hassle with lines, foreign language and the doubt of actually getting the reservations then i'd go thru RailEurope and pay $11 (vs $4-5 in Europe) and then just show up at the train. Negative- loss of flexibility. I sometimes reserve night trains that are keys to my itinerary - i always recommend BETS for this (800-441-2387)a RailEurope agent who doesn't charge their $15 mail fee i think and who are absolute experts who will answer all your questions from years of personal experiencde. Call for their free European Planning & Rail Guide that has tons of info for novice Eurail travelers - including answering questions you've been asking. You cannot reserve online with a pass or even in station automatic machines - have to go to ticket window and often wait, at times long waits in line. Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands and UK only in rare occasions have trains that require reservations. however most hi-speed trains in Italy, Spain, France, Ireland and Scandinavia do require them and you have to make them. In France you may well be fined $15 and then have to buy reservation if boarding without them. Treat buying a railpass as you would buying anything worth hundreds of dollars - ditch your travel agent who gave you bad advice based on ignorance of European trains! RailEurope did not 'just' change the rules - these fast-train reservation requirements, only in countries i mentioned, have been in effect for several years.

PalQ

d2roberts: Are you sure you're buying the right pass - travel agents often oversell Eurailpasses when in fact most people are better off with Eurail Select Passes or none at all - or France-Italy passes, etc.
What's your itinerary - run it by me and i'll tell you my opinion and give you tips on trains on your route where you may have to or want to reserve. Some days you may want to buy locally. If you're buying a 5-day Eurail Select pass - if you buy before tomorrow night you get a free day of Hertz or Avis car rental for each name on the pass to use in any country your pass is valid in! Sincerely - Hope Bonhoff.

Matrexx

I'm not sure what your itinerary is, but you mention Italy so I'll give you my exeprience there.

We did all our travelling by train - some fast intercity, some slower local trains. Before going I compared pricing for buying individual tickets vs a pass by putting our itinerary into the eurail website. I found that it was cheaper and more flexible for us to buy individual tickets. We never made any reservations. We bought our tickets shortly before boarding trains and never had problems finding seats.

While in Italy I consulted the trenitalia website and printed out the schedules so I knew our traveling options.

Just my experience that the railpass was more hassel and cost than it was worth. No reservations needed and no restrictions on travel days etc.

donco

"You cannot reserve online with a pass or even in station automatic machines - have to go to ticket window and often...."

Just went in March 2005 (Turin, Umbria and Lake Como all by train) and we did get our reserved seats on Eurostars using the machine. Did we miss something or were we just lucky?

d2roberts

PalQ - I'm furiously trying to get this itinerary planned so that I might get the deal with the car - but, I don't think I'll make it.

Here's what I have so far:

Arrive in Zurich – Sept. 15th
Go straight to Interlocken – spend 3 nights in the area, including a stay in maybe Gimmelwald

From Interlocken to Salzburg – 3 nights

From Salzburg to the Dolamites area – not sure which town we’re staying in yet. – 2 nights

From the Dolamites to Florence area – 4 nights (Plans to go to nearby towns.)

Florence to Rome – 2 nights – then fly home. (Planning on visiting Rome more on the next trip.)


Thanks so much for all of your help - all of you. This site is awesome.

PalQ

d2roberts: The point-point fares for your trip would be about $370 pp in 1st class and about $290 in second class. Thus the first class Eurail Select five day saver at $316 p.p. is a no-brainer as first class is much nicer than 2nd class. Five days in all you need. Go for the car rental, one day free with each name on saver pass - AVIS or Hertz.
I wouldn't even think of getting reservations on trains in Austria and Switzerland - many in Italy require them such as Eurostar Italia high-speed trains (even with railpass you'll have to pay $15 extra to ride these) you can ride InterCity trains with no surcharges or reservations requirements but they take longer. (Florence-Rome on Eurostar 1.5 hrs; 2.5 hrs avg on InterCity)
As for the car, it must be ordered by tomorrow (7/28) - i'd suggest doing it with someone who actually has the railways computer in their office - regular travel agents often don't because they don't sell many passes - but to be sure it is actually issued by 7/28 - travel agent may just relay the order to RailEurope - again i highly recommend BETS (800-441-2387) and Linda there who does their booking for incredible competence - there are nuances to the car rentals. But the five day three country (Aus, Swiss, Italy) pass is perfect for your plans.
Enjoy your trip.

ben_haines_london

The reference library of a city near you may have the Thomas Cook European Rail Timetable. Table 900 shows the Pluto Night Train. For the longest night you board in Munchen Ost about 2200, leave at 2229, and reach Berlin Lichtenberg at 0755, where you leave. The train also picks people up at Munich main station at 2302 and drops them at Berlin Zoo at 0723 and at Berlin Ost at 0739. From May 28 the train will stop at the brand-new Hauptbahnhof- Lehrter Bshnhof. The train has a restaurant car, 1, 2 and 3 berth sleepers, 6 berth couchettes, and reclining seats

In case you decide to book in advance I am sending a list of agents. For your bookings, in Germany, Euraide or German Rail UK are good. I attach a list of agents. You can send e mails and phone calls to two agents for estimates and bookings. For international tickets, berths and seats Trainseurope are ten percent cheaper than German Rail UK or Ffestiniog Travel. For domestic Italian trains they are cheaper again. German Rail UK are cheaper than Trainseurope or Ffestiniog Travel for domestic trains within Germany and may be competitive with them for international trips with a big proportion of miles in Germany.

Euraide in Florida, E-mail [email protected]. Phone 1 941-480-1555. http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homep...e/homepage.htm, fax 1 941-480-1522

Trainseurope Ltd, of Cambridgeshire and London, E-mail [email protected]. Phone 00 44 900 195 0101 http://www.trainseurope.co.uk/ -

Ffestiniog Travel of Wales, E-mail [email protected], phone 00 44 176 651 2400 site http://www.festtravel.co.uk,

Inside France (Canterbury). E-mail [email protected]/. Or booking form on site www.rail-canterbury.co.uk/. Phone 0044 1227 450088.

German Rail UK in Surbiton. Phone 0044 8702 43 53 63, E-mail: [email protected] http://www.deutsche-bahn.co.uk,

Railwise Ltd. E-mail: [email protected]/. 3rd Floor, 26 Gray's Inn Road London WC1X 8HR Phone 0044 207-242-1490. Fax: 0044 207-242-1518. Site http://railwise.com/


Ben Haines, London
[email protected]

valtor

In http://www.gettingaroundgermany.info/bahn.htm I found the following : "Seat reservations: (Platzreservierung) are recommended on the busier routes, especially on Fridays, Sundays and holidays.
The cost is 3.00 Euro for each seat reserved (half-price if purchased ONLINE or at a self-service vending machine at the station). A reservation on one connecting train is included free (i.e. one flat-rate gets you a reservation for one seat on up to two trains)."

Does the above "ONLINE" mean via internet - so, if you reserve by internet the cost is 1.5 Euro?

ira

Hi V,

Yes. Most likely.