Spent time on EuropeRail.com ... confused on best options for passes. Will travel this summer France-Italy-Switzerland, about 3 weeks. How do you decide if you should buy a pass vs. point to point? What about reservations? Assume should make since it's a busy time. Resources? Suggestions?

I think that the website www.railsaver.com is the best available tool for analyzing pass versus point-to-point. And so much of the time, point-to-point wins. Or else you're traveling too much!<BR><BR>See where you are more, move around less!<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

Thanks, Rex! I'll check it out.

The savings in using passes usually happens with the following:<BR>1) High Speed Trains like the TGV - they are far more expensive than the regular trains, but cost nothing additional (except the usual reservation fee) with a pass.<BR>2) Flexibility - you can go somewhere on a whim without worrying about the cost; if you arrive at the train station to find the trains to wherever cancelled, you can hop any train to somewhere else, then come back if you want. You don't have to hang around the train station, or spend extra money that wasn't planned. Some tickets allow no stopovers; not an issue with a pass.

Josie, Definitely a pass, go to Rick Steves' for point to point vis-a-vis pass. For the countries you're visitng a Selectpass is$502 for 10 days/2 months first class. If you're under 26 it's a Youthpass $352 2nd class.