Bob, guess I don't get the difference. I access the Deutch Bahn website, switch to English or I access the railwurope site and get a central window which is the exact same DB website. What is the difference??

I think people are talking about two different things here.<BR><BR>There's www.eurorail.com, which has a window to the English version of the DB site. Complete schedules for most of Europe, and good pricing information for train travel in Germany (but no pricing information outside of germany).<BR><BR>Then there's www.raileurope.com, which has incomplete schedules for all of Europe and exorbitant prices.

Jahoulih, you are right. As I originally posted, I use the www.eurorail website which across the top actually says European Rail System. Sorry if I confused people by calling it the European Rail website. Inside the center is the actual DB website (it even has the DB insignia). It is great and easy to navigate. It seems like when I used to have the actual DB website bookmarked, it often failed to open or I had other problems with it, such as taking forever to switch to the English version, but it is always perfect by accessing it via the www.eurorail route. I still think that DB system is sooooo much easier than any of the other individual country systems, although the British Rail one is pretty easy.

Best site I've found is <BR><BR>http://www.raileurope.com/us/rail/fares_schedules/index.htm<BR><BR>Barry

I priced on on the website that Barry showed and it came up $58 dollars for Rome-Florence. If you go directly to the Italian Rail website, it was only 42 Euros. So there is some big differnces.<BR><BR>As a first time traveler to Europe, I will buy my tickets before we leave, just as a peace of mind.<BR><BR>Michael

So is Rail Europe the only site to order tickets in advance for delivery to the U.S.? I'm planning on taking the TGV from CDG to Avignon at a peak time where a reservation is required. We arrive at CDG at 9:30 am and need to catch the 11:24. <BR><BR>I just recall last September we arrived in Rome and picked up the train to Naples. We had our tickets and reservations ahead of time and were thankful as the train was full. I had known that Rail Europe had a mark up, but did not realize how hefty. So any alternatives to purchasing tickets and reservations ahead of time?

I believe it's possible to order tickets directly from the www.sncf.com website (French Rail) and pick them up at a train station in France.

Indeed, Jahoulih. I mistook Raileurope for Eurorail. I'll try to pay a closer atttention next time....

Patrick,<BR><BR>I use the train exclusively when traveling in Europe. I find pricing train tickets similar to betting on the horses. Just when you think you got it all figured out, it changes. Here is how I do it. If I'm going to be using the trian almost everyday, I buy a pass that will work for whereever we are traveling. If I'm going to stay in one place to sightsee and then move to another, I just buy them as I go. That works out quite well for determining if I should buy a pass or not. When I return, I look back at how it all worked out. <BR><BR>Happy travels.<BR><BR>Greg<BR>

Nancy, why don't you compare the fares to see whether they are really different enough to make it worth the trouble. I have compared fares of SNCF vs Raileurope and they weren't always that different, maybe only $10-20 which, for a large ticket, may be worth the convenience. Sometimes when people compare the prices, the reason they are different isn't just the markup but because they are comparing advanced purchase to regular fares, and you can't always get many of the advance purchase fares by ordering over the internet due to the date restrictions of when you must pick up the tickets. It is especially difficult or impossible if you want a ticket for your first day of arrival, I think -- you must pick up a ticket within a certain number of days of ordering it online, that's the problem, and it's only a few days, so you can't get the cheap APEX fares that require you buy, for example, 30 days ahead. The SNCF website has instructions somewhere on these rules as to when you must pick up the ticket after ordering it. You should be able to order it about 3 days or so before you go, though, if that would help. I forget the specific time frames and don't have those rules accessible right now.

Thanks, Christina. I reviewed the requirements for picking up the tickets if ordered through SNCF and did decide to go with Rail Europe. The convenience to me is worth the higher cost. (Plus I just happened to book my flight before Delta airfares went back up so "saved" $300 on the 2 airfare tickets!)