Tool for comparing train cost with and without Eurail
 

We will be in Spain and Holland for the month of September. I am wondering what's the best way to compare the cost of the train with and without the pass assuming the following: Madrid - about 4 day trips w. train, train from Madrid to Barcelona, about 3 day trips from Barcelona and about 4 day trips from Amsterdam. We do not yet know the destinations for the days trips. What's the best method to do the comparison, is there an application for doing that? Thanks.

Tool? Difficult to say, but the only options I am aware of for train travel in Spain are Renfe.com, Petrabax.com and, for some, Rail Europe, for all it's worth.

The tool is a pen, and paper (and a calculator if your maths. is not up to it).
:-)

It will be highly unlikely any pass for Spain will beat discounted advance purchase tickets, if you have a firm itinerary - only you can do the maths. based on your travel style, dates, time of day, worries on budget, whatever.

Thanks for your help.

Go to http://www.railsaver.com/ and play with the options: Always rail passes/If more convenient/If less expensive.

This is one place where Rick Steve shines! Here is his link:

http://www.ricksteves.com/rail/

You can even call them and talk to someone in person and if you buy the pass they will ship free to anywhere in the US. But either way they can help you make a better assessment IMO

Well the only pass you could consider would be the Global Eurailpass as gthe Select Pass will not work since you cannot have Spain and Holland on it without a country that borders them both - like France and France pulled out of the Eurail Select Pass this year so that pass which could have been good perhaps will not work and the Global Pass is much more expensive.

day trips can't cost too much so you only have a few long trips like from Madrid to Barcelona and you don't say but Barcelona to Amsterdam - which you probably will be better off flying.

www.railsaver.com compares full price fully flexible tickets with the pass prices but it does not take into consideration the discounted tickets talked about above for Spain (also in Spain railpass holders must pay about $14 or so on top on their pass for mandated seat reservations.

Thus I would think there is no railpass viable for you and if there would be believe me as a huge supporter of railpasses when warranted I would recommend one!

For lots of great info on European trains and passes, etc. I always spotlight these IMO superb sites - www.seat61.com (great info on discounted tickets); www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com. So just buy your day trip tickets as you go along and perhaps book on renfe.com the Madrid to Barceona ticket (and flying can be cheaper than many fares on this route too).

ttt