I have a few question on whether to buy a child (5 years old) eurail pass or not. Would appreciate if some knowledgeable experts can help me 

I am planning to buy the Eurail Select Adult Saver pass for 4 countries (Benelux, Germany, Switzerland & France)

The following are my planned train trips for which I will use the pass
Amsterdam (Schipol) --> Brussels (Not planning to use Thallys)
Brussels --> Munich (via Frankfurt) using ICE DB trains
Munich --> Geneva (via Zurich)
Some Internal trips within Switzerland
Geneva --> Paris ( Using TGV)

I have 2 children,(age3 & 5) travelling with me. I understand that for the 3 year old, there is no need to buy a pass. Now, for the 5 year old, I am planning *not* to buy a pass.

Question1: I am thinking that in Germany & Switzerland (under 6) kids are free, so he can just travel without a pass/ticket in those 2 countries. Is that true?

Question 2: I’m a little concerned about how will he travel from Amsterdam  Brussels; Can I just buy him a point to point ticket and we use our passes? How much will his ticket be?

Question3: For Brussels --> Munich; will there be a problem if I don’t buy him a ticket on the ICE train ( since the train originates in Belgium, and I believe only 4 and under travel free there)

Question4: From Geneva --> Paris, I understand that I will have to buy him a separate ticket on the TGV. Can I do that easily from Amsterdam, where we plan to reserve our seats too? Again my wife and I will have eurail pass, but my 5yr old & 3yr old will not?

Thanks in advance

I wouldn't buy a Pass for anybody. You most likely are much better off if you buy point-to-point tickets.

There are lots of discounted regional, day and family tiockets available. Just go to the station and ask.

For the long trips, like Brussels - Munich and Munich - Geneva, you can buy the tickets on www.bahn.de, with great discounts up to 92 days in adavance. You buy the rickets (and reservations) on the Internet and print our your own tickets, like you do your boarding pass for planes on your computer. .

Poke around the above webside and also - for more background - http://www.gettingaroundgermany.info/bahn.shtml

Thanks for the quick response. The thing is that our trip start in just little over 2 weeks, so we can't get great discounts. So unfortunately for my case pass might cost me the same as point to point tickets. Moreover we want to travel 1st class.

Just as a reference, the following is the cost for us to travel (point to point) in first class & the cost of 2 adult select passes in $900.(assuming both my kids are free)


Amsterdam airport to Brussels $158.36
Brussels - Munich Via Frankfurt $186.30
Munich - Geneva $186.30
Geneva - Laussane RT $146.37
Geneva - Paris (TGV) $375.90
$1,053.23

The confusion comes from the fact that Germany & Switzerland kids under 6 travel for free and in Belunux & Frace under 4 trave free.

The advance purchase, first class fare from Geneva to Paris is typically 59€. A first class ticket for this Friday costs 112.20€ so I am not sure where you are finding the $375.90. Possibly on Raileurope which never shows reduced price tickets and is not an accurate measurement for making price comparisons.

TGV trains will require your paying a reservation as a pass holder and seating will be limited.

The $375 is for all 4 of us to travel. 2 Adults & 2 children (5 Yr & 3Yr). The pricing is directly from sbb website for Mar 20. The total amout of $1053.23 is for all 4 of us to travel using point to point tickets.