Train help
 

I am needing help understanding the trains. Seat61 really hasn't helped that much.

I think I will buy a pass, as I am going all over, for 2 weeks.

When I go from Paris to London via the chunnel, is that included in the pass or is that extra, I believe it is with Eurostar...not TVG or is that the same thing?

I then want to go from London to Brussels on Eurostar. Again, is that the same as the TVG and is it extra from the regular pass?

Not nearly enough information. What pass are you buying. Why don't the people you're buying the pass from know if the Eurostar is included? Have you asked them?

The Eurostar goes between London, Brussels, and Paris. The TGV is a different train line.

Tell us what pass you're considering buying and give a link to that pass.

A rail pass is no longer a good idea for France. Seats on TGVs need to be reserved, and only a limited number of seats is set aside for rail pass holders. TGVs may have seats available at the full fare, but none available for rail pass holders.

When you say you're "going all over," where exactly are you going? If it's just London, Paris, and Brussels, it's almost certain you don't need a pass of any kind.

TGVs are France's high-speed trains. They only operate in France.

Sorry, I guess not enough info provided.

We will land in Paris.
Take the train to Caen and then train to Bayeux (if operating)
Train back to Paris
Train to London
Train to Brussels and on to Bastogne
Train back to Brussels and then on to Prague.
So, yes...train all over...over the course of a couple of weeks.
I'll probably get a 14 day multi country pass. Does one of these even exist? Something like the Eurail Select Pass. If so, I don't think that pass includes London.
So, would the trip from Paris to London and the trip from London to Brussels be on trains not covered by the pass?

Eurostar through the tunnel is NOT covered by a Eurail pass. http://www.ricksteves.com/rail/eurostar.htm

I would go start in London if you can, then France, Belgium, Czech Republic in that order - start your Eurail pass when you leave Paris. Saves time and money and Stress.

Do you have to start in Paris? Why London on this trip?

Thanks for the ricksteves link.

Just figured it would be cheaper to fly into Paris, but don't have to.

I've never been to Europe, and this may be my only shot. Trying to see as much as I can.

So, fly into London...see it
train to Paris..see it
train to Caen and Bayeux
train back to Paris
train to belgium-------is this ride, paris to belgium longer than the London to Belgium? Is it covered on the pass?
train to prague

For specific answers to your questions I suggest that you contact Byron or Linda at B.E.T.S., http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/. For a general introduction to European rail travel see http://tinyurl.com/eym5b.

Paris to Brussels is covered by the Select Pass. Please look at some of these passes to see what is covered and what is not. You will not be able to make a considered decision on whether or not to buy a pass if you are not familiar with them. It's usually more expensive to buy rail passes then to buy individual tickets.

Here's a site to see length of train journeys.

http://www.bahn.de/i/view/USA/en/index.shtml

Sorry, I don't think I listed the pass.
Looking at the 4 country, eurorail select (got to include Germany to get to Prague).

Here's the deal with rail passes - they used to be great and offer some savings, but these days not so much. Keep in mind that the Eurostar "chunnel" train is definitely not included on the pass. For some trains - such as the TGV - you may be required to purchase a seat reservation for a few euro per person per trip. If you take an overnight train you pay additional fees for a couchette (shred space with three or five other passengers) or a private sleeper compartment for one or two.
So the only way to tell if the pass is a good deal is to check out the costs for the trips you will make and compare the total to the cost of the pass plus any additional fees that might apply. If that sounds just too tedious, the recommendation above from spaarne is good.

The Select Pass does not cover the Czech Republic so you will have to pay extra from the German border.

What I meant is that the Select Pass does not cover the Czech Rep if you are also trying to include France and Benelux in the pass. So you would want the 3 country pass and then pay from the German border to Prague.

But I don't think you need a pass at all.

While, as a resident of the USA, I am not the expert - the train from Brussels to Prague looks like a long, convoluted mess - at least 10-12 hours with 3-4 or more train changes. Yuck!

If this were my first trip to Europe, I would skip Prague and spend more time in places like London, Paris and maybe Bruges, Brussels, Amsterdam (with a side trips from those places). Frankly, I would just go to Paris and London and do side trips as time allows.

A common regret you will hear on this board from novice travelers is that they tried to see too many places and cover too much ground in too short a time. Paris or London alone could fill weeks of great travel by themselves.

I only see 2 changes in Cologne and Berlin or Cologne and Nurnberg. The faster route goes via Nurnberg where you get the bus to Prague. I did this (but certainly not from Brussels) and enjoyed the bus ride.

If this were my trip I would fly to Prague.

And it is too much travel in 2 weeks.

Prague is the main priority for me.

Maybe I'm missing something. Here's what I found about the rail pass: Seems the Czech Republic is included???
Choice of countries include: Austria, Benelux (includes Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands), Bulgaria/Serbia/Montenegro, Croatia/Slovenia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Ireland (includes Northern Ireland), Romania, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Also, I see a trip to Prague that only includes one stop (from Brussels) to Germany then on to Prague. It is a night train. Am I reading that wrong?

I don't know about the rail passes, but it looks to me as if there is a night train with one stop (in Koln), also. It leaves around 7:30, changes in Kohl 9-10 and then on to Prague for arrival around 9:30. It's a lot longer than other trains, but night trains usually are. see www.bahn.de and then list the full detail.

How long IS this trip? Is London a priority? Lots of places to go in a short length of time.
Have you considered a car for part of this?

Here's my full trip ideas...maybe this will help. My husband and I are both in our 30's. This may be my only trip to Europe, trying to see as much as I can. We move at a pretty fast pace and don't need much down time. I can get a pretty nice discount on my rail pass versus buying point to point trips.

Day 1....Land in Paris in the morning (doesn't have to be Paris)
recoup and chill

Day 2...Paris is not a priority, so with the Paris in One day tour group see the Louve, Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower,etc.
http://www.viator.com/tours/Paris/Pa...r/d479-2050PAJ


Day 3...Train to Caen see memorial and train to Bayeux

Day 4 and 5 see WWII sites with battlebus tours

Day 6...Mont St. Michael train to Paris and then to London

Day 7...Tower of London and Westminster Abby

Day 8...Changing of the Guard and Big Ben

Day 9...Train to Brussels and on to Libramont, bus to Bastogne, relax
(raileurpoe only shows Eurostar train here, is that included with the pass??)

Day 10 and 11...with tour guide see Bastogne area for 2 days. That night train to Prague

Day 12..Arrive morning, see castle and church

Day 13...Tour to Terezin via tour

Day 14..Cesky Krumlove via tour, night train back to Brussels

Day 15 Fly home

or I could start in London, see it, chunnel to Paris, see a day, train to Caen and Bayeux, train back to Paris and on to Belgium. Bus to Bastogne, train to Prague.