drookemi

My friend and I will be leaving for Europe exactly a month from today. We have a eurail pass.
Here is our hopeful itinerary:

Fri/25: Flying
Sat/26: Arrive(Brussels)
Sun/27: Train to Paris, Train to Rome
Mon/28: Rome
Tue/29: Rome
Wed/30: Rome
Thu/1: Florence
Fri/2: Florence
Sat/3: Nice
Sun/4: Nice
Mon/5: Paris
Tue/6: Paris
Wed/7: Paris
Thu/8: Paris
Fri/9: Paris
Sat/10: Paris/Brussels
Sun/11: Brussels (Two Gallants Concert)
Mon/12: Amsterdam
Tue/13: Amsterdam
Wed/14: Amsterdam
Thu/15: Amsterdam/Brussels
Fri/16: Brussels
Sat/17: Brussels
Sun/18: Leave

Her Aunt/Uncle live in Brussels, but we are looking for hostels in the othe cities still.

Any comments, tips, etc. are very welcome. This is both of first times in Europe!

ellenem

Seems like there should be some kind of cheap flight between Brussels and Rome (or Florence, or some other place in Italy) to avoid the lengthy train trips on the 27th.

PalenQ

Passholder fares can be very hard to get on the Nice-Paris TGVs as there is an allotment of their numbers sold, even if the train is not sold out

That one you may want to reserve in advance, thru the agent who sold you the pass unless you are flexible as to date and hour of leaving and willing to improvise - take regular train to marseille than TGV if available to Paris, etc.

Also an overnight train Nice to Paris

Paris-Brussels Thalys trains similar can be problematic on pass fares but if you book when you get to Paris you should not have a problem - but don't just turn up and try to get.

StCirq

Have you thought about an open-jaw ticket, flying into Rome and out of Brussels? I sure wouldn't want to train all the way from Brussels to Rome right after landing.

Alternatively, check out cheap flights between the two at www.whichbudget.com

drookemi

We looked in to cheap flights from Brussels to Rome but couldn't find any cheap enough. Since we already bought our eurail passes, we just plan to take the Artesia de Nuit night train from Paris to Rome. We are young (19 and 20) so we'll tough it out.

PalenQ

For first time Europe rail travelers i always refer to two great sources of info: ww.ricksteves.com, which in addition to tons on train and pass travel has lists of cheap airlines to mix in for long journeys; and www.budgeteuropetravel.com has more and more great stuff on trains and passes for each country - request their free European Planning & Rail Guide as this is a fine primer on using European trains.