Eurail pass or pay-as-you-go?

Old Dec 28th, 2010, 02:57 PM
  #21  
 
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On my 3 month trip in Europe a few years back, it was better to buy point-to-point as we went. Sometimes it was a budget airline, or a bus, or a rental car, or a ferry instead of a train.

No way would a railpass have been a good deal. Not in our 30's at least.
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Old Dec 28th, 2010, 05:33 PM
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No way would a railpass have been a good deal. Not in our 30's at least.>

Just exactly what were your train tips (r boat trips) because this is important in judging the transfer of your experience to others.

I would say in 3 months that some kind of railpass would have been benefeical unless you were taking the train only a handful of times, which I assume you were.
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Old Dec 28th, 2010, 05:33 PM
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No way would a railpass have been a good deal. Not in our 30's at least.>

Just exactly what were your train tips (r boat trips) because this is important in judging the transfer of your experience to others.

I would say in 3 months that some kind of railpass would have been benefeical unless you were taking the train only a handful of times, which I assume you were.
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Old Dec 29th, 2010, 09:39 AM
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Good point, PalenQ. I didn't consider my advice carefully. Since the OP may be traveling back-and-forth and really not on a traditional European tourist trip, a rail pass might be a good deal in this case. We also spent a lot of time in Croatia, and that country's transportation is hardly typical.
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Old Dec 30th, 2010, 07:02 AM
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christy - if as I assume, perhaps wrongly, the OP is under 26 then they can get the bargain IMO Eurail Youthpass - if over 25 passes are much more expensive and thus can be less cost-effective - so hard to tell with such a nebulous plan right now.

But with a 5-day block in which to travel each week the OP may take many longish train rides - and by using overnight trains he/she can save on accommodation cost and relocated practically anywhere in Europe overnight - like from Amsterdam there are ovenright trains to many German towns like Berlin and Munich and Zurich in Switzerland and Basel, gateway to Switzerland and Italy, etc. So the potential is there - but a 3-straight month pass would not be cost-effective no doubt but he/she should consider other flexipass options IMO.
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Old Dec 30th, 2010, 11:28 AM
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A 15-day/2 mo Eurail Youth Flexipass costs just 32 euros a day - a calendar day for unlimited hopping on trains in dozens of countries - no need to decide where you will use it - and from Holland so many countries are within easy reach by train - Germany, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Denmark, Czech Republic, etc.

but OP will be there 4 months - well either consider getting 2 back to back 15-day Flexipasses or for the other two months buying a cheaper Eurail Select 3- 4- or 5-country Youthpass, narrowing the geographic scope down. Or a 2-country Youthpass like the Benelux-Germany pass good in Belgium, Luxembourg (a real gem IMO!), Germany and The Netherlands.
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Old Dec 30th, 2010, 01:33 PM
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No, OP says in the original post: "...past experience has shown me that I'm older than the typical student / youth cut-off in Europe ( > 30 y.o.), so I can't take advantage of most student deals." So the under-26 passes are out.
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Old Dec 31st, 2010, 04:08 AM
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The Thalys reservation fee for passholders is 13 euros in 2nd class, and a whopping 28 euros in 1st asthis then includes the complimentary wine and and pastries.

RailEurope.com can be useful where (for example) you really can't get your credit card to work on the rail operators site, or for those wo have a real phobia about buying in euros on a foreign site (though they'll pay extra for that reluctance!). Strangely, RE is not far different from the rai operator price on soime routes, but way adrift on others - a commercial decision on their part, I think. Anyway, I try to list all the options, point out the pros and cons of each, and let people make an informed choice.
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Old Dec 31st, 2010, 07:26 AM
  #29  
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Thanks, everyone, for your replies.

Christy is correct, I am >30, so the youthpass is not applicable for me. If it were, I probably would have gotten it without thinking twice, since the difference in fare is so great.

As an update: I am leaving on Saturday (tomorrow) and at this point I haven't purchased the pass. Since I'll be there for 4 months, I'll spend the first month just getting to know Rotterdam and taking a few day-trips throughout the Netherlands. Then if I decide I need a pass (for the remaining 3 months), I'll have a friend purchase it here in the States and forward it to me.
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