Eurail Passes
 

So I am just starting to plan my trip and I have decided to use the Eurail selectpass. One thing is really confusing me about it though. My question(s) is can I use the Eurail selectpass on night trains? If so is there an extra charge and how much? Also how many days does an over night train take of my pass? I want to do 5 countries for 5 days but dont know if overnight trains use 1 or 2 days?

Thanks in advance for any feed back

You really need to familiarize yourself with all the terms and conditions for that specific pass, particularly with regard to reservations and fees for same.

Have you compared point to point fares with the pass?

Since Europe comprises many countries with different regulations on their train service there is no way to give you a blanket answer to your questions.

Your questions depend on the countries you'll visit. Some night trains have seats, some do not. For trains that do not have seating you will have to pay extra for sleeping accommodations. Some trains (day or night) require seat reservations which are extra.

Normally if you begin your journey toward the end of the day (10:00, 11:00, etc.) then the pass will only be used for 1 day but you need to view the T&Cs on either the Eurail site or the train site of the country(ies) you'll be in when you take a night train.

If you would give more definitive information you could get better answers.

Why did you decided the Select Pass was the best way to go if you don't know pricing structure for Europe. It may be that point-to-point tickets are much less expensive than buying a rail pass.

the 7pm rule for Eurailpasses on overnight trains - if you board after 7pm on an overnight train and you have a flexipass then you put the next day's date in as your unlimited travel day - thus traveling from 7pm to midnight free. Once you reach your destination your pass is valid the whole next day - this can be utilitarian if say you end up in Munich and do a day trip to Fuessen or Salzburg or whatever - all on one day, including the overnight train. Or just using the pass for the whole day on the S-Bahns in Munich and other German cities - often very useful for the tourist - with a pass just hop on - S-Bahns being run by the railways so the pass is valid.

The pass covers the basic rail fare on overnight trains but not the often, but at times required, sleeping options - so you can on many trains pay extra for a reclining seat (not on that many trains) or a couchette - about 25 euros p.p. in a multi-person berth or about twice as much or more p.p. for a private single or double compartment (but still less than the typical night in a hotel!)

For lots of details on passes and conditions of use, etc check out these fab IMO sites - www.budgeteuropetravel.com (I have used them for years for passes - call Byron there for expert answers to any such questions even if not buying anything IME); www.ricksteves.com - some of the best discussions of railpasses; www.raileurope.com - the largest purveyor of railpasses in the U.S. - many agents, like the two I mention above, work thru RailEurope - prices are universal but mailing fees can be added so check that - passes are sold at Eurail Aid Offices in Europe but typically at 15-20% higher than U.S. prices so buy ahead.

Remember the pass is first class if over 25 so when comparing fares keep that in mind - the cheapest online discounts are 2nd class and typically cannot be changed nor refunded and to get them you often have to book weeks if not months in advance - cementing yourself into a specific train far in advance - the pass in most countries lets you hop on any train anytime - fully flexible fares, even 2nd class, can cost a ton - first class ten tons. Do not judge a pass simply by price IMO.

I am a retired travel writer who specialized in European train travel and have used zillions of passes for decades - if have any other questions I will try to answer.

fewer and fewer night trains have regular seating as the 'hotel train' has taken over - now the oft minimum cost is to do a reclining seat - a k a Pullman - and trains that still do have regular seating where with a pass you pay nothing extra I would advise strongly against that as there are real problems with theft as these are open cars with folks coming and going and also sleeping upright in a seat is not comfy and constant noise of folks coming and going, etc. IMO and IME pay for some kind of sleeping berth on trains that have regular seating and eschew these - i have witnessed thefts more than once in open seating overnight trains.

>>>My question(s) is can I use the Eurail selectpass on night trains?<<<

It depends on where you are traveling.
Paris–Dijon–Milan–Venice night trains do not accept railpasses in 2012!

>>>Also how many days does an over night train take of my pass?<<<

You have to pay attention to departure time AND whether there are any train changes in the middle of the night (some trains do require a change).

>>7 p.m. rule: A direct overnight train uses up only one flexipass travel day (not two) if you board after 7 p.m. and do not change trains before 4 a.m.<<<

>>>If so is there an extra charge and how much?<<<

Yes, but amount depends on train and accommodations you select. Some trains the accommodations are only considered 2nd class.

It's likely budget flights might be a lot cheaper since you seem to want to travel long distances. If you know your itinerary and dates, check www.whichbudget.com or www.skyscanner.com as often you can get flight for 30-50€.

flights are not cheaper if you figure in you save a night in a hotel by using overnight trains and also getting out to the airport and in can be expensive - flying takes up a half day - time you could be sightseeing if taking overnight trains.

I have taken a million overnight trains and they are for me at least a utilitarian way to relocated and saves me a ton of money to boot.

Fling you see only airports and tarmacs and big tourist cities and nothing in between.

Note what bourbon says about the Paris to Italy Thello Night trains not accepting Eurailpasses anymore - so if using a pass consider taking the day train which is fully covered by a railpass, except a 10 euro seat reservation fee, according to Man in Seat 61 posting.

I'm not aware of any passes that include a bed on an overnight train - they are extra and typically quite expensive. Some (but not all) overnight trains have cars with seats only - but this is NOT recommended - due to the risk of theft - unless yu plan on staying awake and watching your belongings all night. (A friend of mine in an economy craze did this and had her camera stolen - even thought it was stuffed between her body and the side of the seat. I gues when you're exhausted you don't notice the small movements of trained thieves. Luckioy it wasn;t her purse.)

- they are extra and typically quite expensive>

depends on what kind of sleeping accommodation you want - a couchette can run $25-35 or so depending on country and that compared to a hotel cost means big savings.

I'm not aware of any passes that include a bed on an overnight train>

me either but some boats such as between Stockholm and Finland and between Italy and Greece have at least in the past included a free Pullman (couchette type) berth to Eurailpass holders.

. Some (but not all) overnight trains have cars with seats only - but this is NOT recommended - due to the risk of theft - unless yu plan on staying awake and watching your belongings all night.>

Heed this great advice! But more and more overnight trains no longer have regular seating and are more and more called Hotel Trains where you must buy, in addition to using the pass for the train fare, some kind of sleeping accommodation - and they are not always that expensive as more and more have reclining seats for a few euros - these IMO are safer than open-seating cars because there is an attendance watching who boards to make sure they have the proper reservation, etc. But still in any open-car type sleeping arrangement keep your valuables on yourself - in a money belt - and this applies to multi-person couchettes where you may be sleeping with strangers as well and where others may leave the door unlocked when the return from the loo, etc.

>>>me either but some boats such as between Stockholm and Finland and between Italy and Greece have at least in the past included a free Pullman (couchette type) berth to Eurailpass holders.<<<

The Italy/Greece passes used to cover deck passage, not a pullman seat, that was an additional cost. I don't believe it's the same anymore. I think you can only get a discount off the price of the ferry tickets whether you choose deck passage, pullman or some type of cabin. In high season, the discount is only about 20% on most ferries.

>>>I want to do 5 countries for 5 days but dont know if overnight trains use 1 or 2 days?<<<

I don't think you will find a pass like this unless your five countries border. For some trains, you can book discount tickets in advance for the price of the supplement you would pay with a railpass.

I don't think you will find a pass like this unless your five countries border. For some trains, you can book discount tickets in advance for the price of the supplement you would pay with a railpass.>

Oh come on that is a handful of trains - on a typical overnight train for 25-30 euros you get a couchette with a pass - which overnight trains can you book in advance for 25-30 euros - very very few.

I don't think you will find a pass like this unless your five countries border>

No on the Eurail Select Pass the 5 countries do not have to border - even though the pass says 5 bordering countries I
believe in its description - but not a physical border - rather there has to be either train or boat travel between the two countries and the boats have to honor Eurailpasses at least for a discount. Thus Italy and Spain are indeed considered to be 'bordering' countries for pass purposes as do Ireland and France - so 'bordering' does not mean physical borders - Sweden and Germany are bordering countries for pass purposes as well as Greece and Italy because they are linked by boats that honor Eurailpasses (your pass has to be valid in each country for the boats to honor it).