Eurail pass or not?
 

Okay, I have looked and looked and just want to know what you all would do/advise on this.

Do my prices look accurate? I looked them up on DB Bahn and Trenitalia (but not sure if I understood it correctly). Any advice on the train sites would be helpful, too.

Arriving in Bern, taking a train to Zermatt $170
Next, train from Zermatt to Milan
Train from Milan to La Spezia (Cinque Terre) $100
Train from La Spezia to Rome $126
Day trip to Naples (while staying in Rome)
Rome to Ancona $86

Please help me!!

Another place to try your analysis is to input your itinerary at Railsaver.com. You can toggle back and forth between "Always railpass," "If more convenient," and "If less expensive." Then click to see details of specific ticket suggestions.

I don't think you calculated correctly as your prices for Italy are quite off. Even 1st class isn't as expensive as some of your prices.

Use the Swiss website for you Switzerland prices.
www.sbb.ch

Milan/La Spezia - 25-30€ ($33-40)depending on type of train - some trains on this line may not have a class choice (no 1st or 2nd cl distinction).

La Spezia/Rome 36-45€ ($48-60)

Rome/Naples/Rome round trip - fast trains 88€ ($117)

Rome/Ancona 31€ ($41)

Bern/Zermatt 83-99chf ($86-102)

Zermatt/Bern 78chf ($80)

Where are you going from Ancona? If to Greece, the Italy/Greece passes gives discounts on some ferries.

http://www.raileurope.com/rail-ticke...l-bonuses.html

At kybourbon:

Thanks for the info. I figured out the Swiss train site to get prices/schedules etc... Where did you find the Italy prices?

Do you think we need to book the train tickets before we go or just buy them once we arrive? We are going during May.

Thank you so much for your help! My husband and I haven't traveled to these parts of Europe before and haven't been to Europe in 10 years!

Also, we will take a ferry from Ancona to Split. Spend time in Split, Dubrovnik then fly up to Zagreb and rest a car for travel to Plitvice, Ljubljana, Bled and Bohinj.

My prices were for 2 people... forgot to mention that.

Also, I think the Eurail Italy 4 day for 2 is $412... did I get that part right? If so, then wouldn't it be cheaper to buy that pass and just pay the extra fee for rome-naples?

I really appreciate your help and time.

Thanks

You know the Eurail pass is far more expensive than if you just show up at the train station and purchase a 2nd class ticket. I just got back from Europe, and in every site I found the ticket from Salzburg to Munich at different prices, I had resigned myself to purchasing each ticket for 39 euros each, but when we got to the station I asked if there were any specials, and they found me a train that was leaving in 30 minutes for 31 euros for the two of us - that 15.50 euros each. I'd buy the tickets there and ask the person at the counter to please find you the best prices.

Eurailpass is first class for those over 25 and IMO first class is the way for the average tourist to go - much more relaxed, more spacious seats, more empty seats, more room for luggage, etc. So compare ordinary first class prices to the pass price IMO. That said it seems a railpass, at first glance, may not be better than ordinary tickets - now if you are going by ferry to Greece then the Eurailpass would cover the trip so that would be a factor. Anyway for lots on planninbg a rail trip and passes, etc. I always highlight these fantastic IMO sites - www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com (on their home page look for special tips on using the www.bahn.de German rail site that seems to perplex you in your OP_; www.ricksteves.com and for Switzerland - www.swisstravelsystem.com

>>>Also, I think the Eurail Italy 4 day for 2 is $412... did I get that part right? If so, then wouldn't it be cheaper to buy that pass and just pay the extra fee for rome-naples?<<<

The pass prices fluctuate a bit as the $/€ does. Right now the 4 day Italy SAVER pass (Saver pass is for 2-5 people traveling together so you would qualify) is $192 each or $384 for both of you. This does not include your mandatory seat reservations. Point-to-point tickets purchased from Trenitalia do include your seat reservation. Passes do not and you must book and pay for them. On some of your routes you have may have to change trains so that means two seat fees for that route. The faster trains are 10€ ($13.30)each seat per person. Slower trains are 3€ ($4).

>>>Where did you find the Italy prices?<<<

On Trenitalia. For all prices to show for all trains you must enter a date within 7 days. You can also look at seat reservation fees by selecting global pass under fares after selecting your train and class.

Re: renting a car in Zagreb and taking it into Slovenia, we found a big surcharge for renting in Croatia, dropping in Slovenia.

You could pick up your car upon leaving Split. But I really enjoying taking boats between Split and Dubrovnik, with a stop at Korcula en route. (Loved Korcula!) But we lucked out with the Jadrolinja schedule.

And, yes, include the expense of seat reservations into your railpass cost.

In Italy you can buy your train tickets at a travel agency (look for the Trenitalia logo, no surcharge). Sometimes the lines are long at the station. Whereas you can just stop at a travel agency during your sightseeing.

Lots of great thoughts... I am still not sure about whether or not we would need to book ahead of time or not. Do you guys book trains ahead of time? Is it necessary?


Is it easier (to board trains) with the Eurailpass? Are these trains generally pretty full, meaning, would it be hard to get a seat on the trains that we need??

I guess I want to know if we just wait until we get there, do you think we will have a hard time getting the trains that we need??

Is it easier (to board trains) with the Eurailpass? Are these trains generally pretty full, meaning, would it be hard to get a seat on the trains that we need??

With or without a pass is exactly the same - you need to get a seat reservation, which comes with a ticket on trains that require them - all but regional and commuter trains. so having a pass makes it not one bit easier in that regard.


I guess I want to know if we just wait until we get there, do you think we will have a hard time getting the trains that we need??>

No you will rarely if ever IME have any trouble getting the trains you need - first there are so so many trains - hourly or more and the worst scenario if second class were sold out then first class probably would not be.

I always use a railpass when traveling in Italy - a Eurailpass because Italy is usually only a tiny part of wide ranging travels and I have never ever had any problem getting a seat reservation on a train that I wanted the day before the train.

I do not think Eurailpasses cover or give discounts on the ferry to Split but this could have changed as some countries just came into the Eurailpass scheme this year.

In Italy you can buy your train tickets at a travel agency (look for the Trenitalia logo, no surcharge). Sometimes the lines are long at the station. Whereas you can just stop at a travel agency during your sightseeing.>

Good advice - and you can also buy all your tickets at once rather than having to do so in each city - either at a travel agency or at the train station - and yes there are often long lines at train station ticket windows - another bane for railpass holders since they have to go to the ticket window to make the usually mandated seat reservation (I doubt travel agents in Italy would do free of charge a simple seat reservation without selling also the Trenitalia ticket) but I have found the automatic ticketing machines in stations, like the rafts of ones at Rome Termini and other main stations, are idiot-proof (since I could easily use them!) and take American credit cards (unlike Trenitalia does online it seems for some weird reason) so rather than waiting in long lines try the automatic ticket machines!

and if landing at Milan or Rome or Pisa international airports then you can in one fell swoop buy all your tickets at once and put any angst to rest - full fare tickets I believe can be changed (the mandated seat reservation part) with no or a very small fee (but not totally positive so ask when buying).

The only time when it may be a problem getting a ticket in some of the fast trains is in the summer time, when all the backpackers descend upon Europe (will that happen this year?) I would just wait till you get there. Don't get anxious and buy overpriced tickets.

The only time when it may be a problem getting a ticket in some of the fast trains is in the summer time, when all the backpackers descend upon Europe>

the backpackers who descend on Europe each summer is a drop in the bucket and actually summer can even be less crowded on trains as Europeans are on vacation and the normal commuting and business crowd that populates the majority of train travelers IME is at the beach. Getting on trains in summer IME can be easier than in non-summer - just put angst to rest about getting on trains where you want to go once there.

Also, I think the Eurail Italy 4 day for 2 is $412... did I get that part right? If so, then wouldn't it be cheaper to buy that pass and just pay the extra fee for rome-naples?>

Well you can buy a 5-day Eurail Italy pass for just $22 more for the fifth day over the 4 days so why buy a 4th day and pay more than $22 for a regular ticket Rome to Naples?

And actually right now the source I looked at (www.budgeteuropetravel.com lists a 4-day Eurail Italy Pass for two at $396, not $412 and a 5-day pass at $220 p.p.

But you can buy this pass in first class for relatively little extra over second class - like a 4-day Saverpass (two names on one pass) for $242 each - $44 total more or a 5-day for $271 each or $51 total more and for that minisucle IMO amount the rewards of first class are significant over 2nd class - I say that after having traveled on Italian trains annually for decades and strongly advise first class for the average tourist.

The OP only appears to have 4 days of Italy travel so no need to buy extra days if purchasing a pass, but it would still be cheaper to buy point-to-point for this itinerary even at regular price. If all tickets are purchased upon arrival in Milan, then it's very likely the OP will be able to get discounts on some of these routes. It's also likely the OP can use Trenitalia's website to purchase online in advance to get discounts as there have been recent reports that they will now process Visa and Mastercard.

>>>first class are significant over 2nd class - I say that after having traveled on Italian trains annually for decades and strongly advise first class for the average tourist.<<<

Significant? Not really, especially since some of these routes may be IC or R trains and many R trains have no class distinction at all so paying more would be a total waste. Additionally, Trenitalia has been upgrading their trains so if you haven't been on some of the trains recently then you will be pleasantly surprised.

Current advance purchase fares on Trenitalia (depending on type of train) which includes your seat.

Milan/La Spezia - only 9€ (IC) or 15€ (ES)
La Spezia/Rome - only 18€ (choice of ES or IC)
Rome/Naples - only 19€-35€ round trip depending on day (ES/AV fast train)!
Rome/Ancona - only 16€ (ES train)

For under 100€ per person you can book all your Italy train travel in advance with Trenitalia online. I entered random dates in May to get these prices since you didn't post exact dates, but currently Trenitalia booking is only through 5/17. These discounts can sell out and you would need to notify your credit card in advance you were making an online Italian purchase so they don't block it.

kybourbon:
Good info. I just went on Trenitalia's site and can't find the same prices that you did. Can you give me some step by step instruction in finding those rates?

I went on and under Timetables/Purchasing put in the train from Milan - La Spezia on 5/14 the rate was 41 and 29,50.

Please help me find the rates that you did.

Thanks!

You probably stopped at the first results page, showing full fares.

You need to select a train and click 'continue', then you'll see all the cheap deals available on that train on the bnext page.

Some trains may not have a sale fare or it might be sold out. The only train I see with that price (41€,29.50€) is the 13:10 ESCity train. If you select that train for your date and hit continue, the next screen shows 3 different fares - flessible for 37€, base for 29.50€ and mini for 12€. The IC trains that depart an hour earlier (12:05) or an hour later (14:00) show mini fares of 9€. The travel time is only 15-20 minutes longer than the ESCity train and none of the three trains require a change anywhere.

Trenitalia is supposed to allow booking up to four months in advance so you will have to wait a couple of weeks to see the rest of the late May fares.

I figured it out! Thanks!

We have decided not to buy the Railpass. Seems like the cost is so close to buying point-to-point tickets that it isn't worth it. Knowing we may find some lower rates will help, too.

I think our plan is to buy all of our Italy tickets when we arrive in Milan.

We are still debating about 1st and 2nd class. Luckily, we have a few months left to decide. :-)

Thanks again to all that helped us through this one!

Happy and safe travels.