Palenque

You simply go up to a ticket window in any German station, show your pass and explain you need a supplemental ticket for the Austrian portion but yes best to know the border points so you can write down the stations between which you want to buy the ticket - so there is no language barrier.

You should not need to know the exact towns if you explain your pass does not cover Austria - but nevertheless i would.I'd say Mittenwald, Germany to Brennero, Italy would be the border stations - these are marked with red dots on the Eurail Map you should have gotten with your pass.

tinab52

Thanks so much! I guessed at Mittenwald and Brennero, but didn't know for certain. We can do that when we get to Garmisch.

As we say in Florida, muchas gracias!

Dukey

The only thing the station/ticket agent needs to know is the ROUTE you are going to take across Austria...and if he knows your starting and ending points then the route is a non-issue.

And as with your pass validation you can buy that "across Austria" point to point ticket anywhere.

scatcat

In the past I never went to Europe without a Eurail pass. Now I go point to point because I usually stay in one area or I fly if my next destination is hours away. I really enjoyed the pass. If I decided to go to another town, I would just jump on and go. And with the pass, I would do day trips that I wouldn't justify paying the ticket price and return. Just the convenience was worth it to me. But I am sure it was not the most economical way.

Palenque

But I am sure it was not the most economical way.>

that depends - I have had at least 100 passes and they have ALWAYS been an economic boon to me and my travel style and plans - for what you did it may well not have been but the key to me also is what you like - just hop on any train anytime - in the countries like Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Holland, Belgium and the U.K. that still allow this. In countries like Italy, Spain and France however that full flexibility is practically gone as most fast trains there mandate reservations before boarding - meaning you must go to the ticket window and wait in line, etc. So it also depends on the country now.

Palenque

Country passes are much more viable on an average than the Eurail Pass, which used to always be a good value when folks took longer and more wide-ranging trips - now they tend to concentrate on one or two countries

The German Pass can pay off in just two full fare longish journeys.

The Swiss Pass is almost always a great deal, even for limited travel plans, etc.

Guenmai

For a good decade, I got a Eurail pass, but I was in Europe for 11 weeks straight. Although I had a permanent place that I rented the entire summers, In Denmark, the Eurail pass was convenient for me to be spur-of-the-moment and jump on a train and go to other countries...like when it would start pouring raining in Denmark and I'd leave and go to a friend's villa in the South of France for a week or so. Then I'd go back up to Denmark. I'd also do other trips, to visit friends, so my pass would more than pay for itself. But, I would never buy a Eurail pass for 15 days. It's not cost effective. Happy Travels!

tinab52

Palenque. interesting note: I compared ticket prices to Brennero from Mittenwald and Garmisch and it's about 4x's as much from Mittenwald. I guess we'll purchase those tickets in Garmisch and just overlap a bit. We would've bought a 4 country pass, but we got a great deal, buy one, get one free on the 3 country, 5 day pass, and it's worked out perfectly for us, except for that one gap, which we can fill for about 22 euros. I know we've saved a bunch of money over point to point.

I think Eurail passes are the bomb, especially if you don't have a set itinerary, and now days, there are so many more options, with the flexible passes, than when I started using them in the early 80's.

Thanks again!! You've been so helpful.

Palenque

We would've bought a 4 country pass, but we got a great deal, buy one, get one free on the 3 country, 5 day pass, and it's worked out perfectly for us, except for that one gap, which we can fill for about 22 euros>

tina- thanks for nice comments - can you tell me where you found this special - i usually catch wind of such deals and an interested in knowing more about for two for 1 - an incredible deal IMO - thanks

Palenque

Would still like to find out about that 2 for 1 railpass special -never ever heard of it and am very keen to know about it.

thanks

scatcat

Me too!

Palenque

ttt

Sarvowinner

I'm looking at train fares in Italy in September and can't find any discounts.
Rome-Naples 58 Euro (Sept 1)
Naples - Lucca 76 Euro (Sept 4)
Lucca - Milan 57 Euro (Sept 25)

I'm very surprised by the prices. I can buy a 3 day Italy Pass in Australia for $A180.00 or 118 euro. Am I missing anything on the Trenitalia site?

PalenQ

Not really because it appears any discounts on trenitalia.com are virtually impossible to book with American or Aussie credit cards - lie the Amica fare that gives 20% off i believe. But even then 191 euros at 20% off is still more than the 3-day Italy Railpass i would think.

WillTravel

Remember that the pass does not typically cover the full cost of the tickets. For Italy, you'll still need to stand in line, and pay for reservations and seats. (Don't count on me for this detail, but it's roughly correct.)

kybourbon

Rome/Naples is 44€, not 58€. If you are tacking on the 14€ Leonardo Express from the airport, it is not covered by the pass you are pricing. The pass will be around 127€ (saver pass assuming you are traveling with someone else and qualify for this discount pass), not 118€. You will have to pay 30€ for seats plus $18 (14.30€) shipping (assuming the mailing fee to Australia is similar). Cost of pass plus fees 171€. Cost of point-to-point tickets without any discounts 177€. You would still need to purchase your other train tickets not covered by a pass (from airport and between Naples/Sorrento). Some discounts only need 7 day advance purchase so you might save money buying all tickets upon arrival in Italy if you can't get Trenitalia to accept your credit card.
http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...003f16f90aRCRD

PalenQ

Rome/Naples is 44€, not 58€. If you are tacking on the 14€ Leonardo Express from the airport, it is not covered by the pass you are pricing.>

The Leonardo Express is covered by a railpass but since it is a first-class only train you would have to pay the difference between the normal 2nd class and 1st class fares - about 40% or about 6 euros or if you have a first-class pass then it is fully covered.

Many agents do not have any mailing fee so the $18 is only if you buy from RailEurope, which i believe charges the $18 for orders under $400 - but many agents do not charge anything and you can pop into STA Travel in Australia and pick up your pass without any fee. They are not sold in Italy to my knowledge.

And when buying in Italy tack on 3% for credit card foreign transaction fees and do not use the official rate in papers as banks make money on foreign exchange.

The 7-day advance discounts are sold in limited numbers i believe so they being available once there could be problematic - kybourbon can correct me if this is not so.

Naples to Sorrento, CircumVesuviana trains cost all of 3 euros so not a factor worth mentioning IMO

kybourbon

Sarvowinner was not talking about a 1st class pass or prices of 1st class tickets. To have the Leonardo Express covered, sarvowinner would have to buy a 1st class pass AND add a day to the pass as the Leonardo Express costs one full days use of the pass.


Overview
Travel Bonuses
FAQ
Pricing and Discounts
Travel Bonuses for Eurail Italy Pass

>>>>Please be sure to note that any bonus that is free will use a travel day on your rail pass. Discounted bonuses will not require the use of a travel day, but do require a valid rail pass. And all bonuses are handled locally and are subject to change.<<<

>>>>* Free transfer is available on the Leonardo Express between Fiumicino Airport and Roma Termini train station for 1st class passholders only. This transfer requires use of one day of travel on the pass.<<<<

AFAIK, a 2nd class pass is of no use at all for the Leonardo Express and sarvowinner would have to pay the 14€. Do you have a link stating otherwise?

>>>And when buying in Italy tack on 3% for credit card foreign transaction fees and do not use the official rate in papers as banks make money on foreign exchange.<<<

I don't know what credit card you use, but mine simply does not charge this. I get the interbank rate and wouldn't dream of using a card that tacked on 3%.

>>>>The 7-day advance discounts are sold in limited numbers i believe so they being available once there could be problematic - kybourbon can correct me if this is not so.<<<

While discounts are limited, I entered all of sarvowinners routes for random days next week and the discount was available for multiple trains I checked (all fast AV trains) for Rome/Naples AV at 37€, Naples/Florence AV at 60€, Florence/Milan AV for 44€. You can not include Lucca for the discounts to show on Trenitalia since that involves slow R trains between Florence/Lucca which is 5€(bus is sometimes better on this route anyway because of AC)and R train prices only show if you enter a date within 7 days. AV discounts must be more than 7 days.

PalenQ

Best Credit Card to use in Europe Posted by: apirone on Sep 6, 07 at 3:38pm
Posted in: Europe

I am traveling to Italy the end of this month. I have called all of my credit card companies:

BofA
Chase
Citibank
Wells Fargo

They all have a service fee of 3% and some have additional fees for using the card outside the US. I have no problem getting another card just for this trip if someone could recommend one that offers less fees.

'free transfer' yes only with a first-class pass - does this mean you cannot do the standard throughout Europe when you have a 2nd class pass or ticket and want to go first class - by paying the difference in fares - i do not have that in writing for this specific train but do you have it on authority that this standard practice on flat fare trains throughout Europe is not true?
bourbon - it seems most credit card companies do charge the 3% - i have several different types and mine all do too, like the person who posted this today on a different thread.

PalenQ

And with a 2nd class pass they could take the local train from the airport to Rome's Tiburtina station- it may be a 2nd class only train and transfer there to high-speed Eurostar type trains there- a much smaller and more manageable station in which to change than Rome Termini, with zillions of different tracks - and could be quicker over all, depending on schedules.