However, adding Rail Europe's Rail Protection Plan as part of your order allows you to return this type of pass or ticket for a full refund, as long as it's unused and is returned to Rail Europe at least three business days in advance of your home-departure date as entered in your order.
Many train tickets are not refundable , and if exchangeable, must be exchanged well before the date of travel. Generally, the deeper the discount e. Rules vary by country, type of train, and date of travel; check details on your ticket or confirmation email. If you need a refund, start following Rail Europe's refund instructions as soon as possible this may involve steps you need to take while still in Europe , and follow the instructions carefully. Rail passes can't be exchanged per se.
If you need a different pass, return the one you bought see above , then simply buy the new pass at its current price. The gender, last name, first initial, and country of residence on your rail pass must match the passport or green card you present when activating your pass.
Middle names are not used. Passes are printed with the passholders' name s on them, and are not transferable to other people. Most rail passes sold in the US cannot be used by residents of Europe. You are not a resident of Europe if you live on an American military base or have only a temporary student visa for Europe. You must provide proof of at least six months' residence outside Europe and outside the Russian Federation or Turkey when activating most rail passes sold in the US; a passport or green card is the usual proof.
Certain passes, however, require only proof of residence outside the countries covered: Balkan, BritRail, European East, and Swiss passes. A variety of other rail passes are designed for European residents, such as InterRail passes.
Most European rail passes usable by non-Europeans are not widely available in Europe, and are sold only at certain major railway stations for the same price as in the US. Swiss and German rail passes, however, are sold at most stations in their respective countries. Before you first use a rail pass, you have to officially activate it by presenting it, with your passport, to a railway official at a ticket or information window at a European train station — don't wait till you're on the train.
In most cases, your pass must be activated within 11 months of purchase more precisely, within 11 months of the "issue date" printed on your pass ; the exceptions: European East, Balkan, and Central Europe Triangle passes — all of these must be activated within six months of purchase or, in the case of the Central Europe Triangle pass, you must choose an activation date when purchasing your ticket that's no more than six months out, as that pass comes pre-activated.
See more details on activating your rail pass. A couchette koo-SHET is a sleeping berth in a shared compartment. This exception aside, most couchettes are the same in first and second class. Get more advice about sleeping on Europe's trains. Depending on the route and type of train, reservations which guarantee you a specific seat can either be required, a good idea, a pointless hassle, or not even an option.
See our advice on seat reservations. Whether you're traveling with a rail pass or just buying tickets as you go, you can purchase seat or overnight berth reservations anywhere from an hour to several months in advance. How far in advance to reserve any given train depends on the inflexibility of your schedule do you have hotel reservations or a flight to catch?
Be aware that trains with compulsory reservations may have a limited number of seats available to passholders most notoriously France's fastest international services.
Along some of the most popular routes, such as between Paris and Italy , direct trains run only a few times per day; these can sell out weeks ahead and overnight Paris—Italy trains don't accept rail passes at all. For trains that don't need to be booked very far in advance, it's best to simply make all your reservations at one time at any staffed station in Europe.
If you need to lock in your reservations well in advance of your train trip, book them ahead of time from home. It's easiest to get them through Rick Steves after all, you're already here! While reservations may cost a little less when booked in Europe, virtually all US-based websites and travel agents sell European train reservations for the exact same prices you'll find here.
Get more advice on making seat reservations on European trains. Main train stations are London St. If you're trying to get to places far beyond London, Paris, Brussels, or Amsterdam, it's worth comparing the price of a direct flight versus taking the Eurostar and connecting by train from its end points. If you're ready to commit to a travel date and time, you may book some tickets up to nine months in advance, but more commonly starting six months out. With a continuous-day pass it's a no-brainer to use your Global Pass to cover a Eurostar trip, but with a flexipass it's likely more cost efficient to nab an early-purchase discount, if available — and assuming you aren't using the pass for other travel on that same day.
Keep in mind that seat reservations for pass holdders may also be limited; book as early as you can commit to a date. They're also sold in most staffed European train stations just remember that the cheapest tickets sell out well in advance. I choose Standard class to save money. Standard Premier costs about 50 percent more no youth discount and gets you a little more leg and elbow room, a newspaper, and a small meal.
A wide range of fares is sold for each class of seating just like with the airlines. Be sure of your plans before you buy a ticket. Riding the Eurostar is somewhat like taking a plane albeit much more pleasant : Check-in is required 30 minutes before departure for security screening or 45 minutes ahead with a passholder seat reservation. For bonus offers applicable to the Swiss Travel Pass refer to this article. You can purchase a Eurail Pass from a travel agent but a simple and convenient way to buy a Eurail Pass is via an online agent like this one.
After purchasing your Eurail Pass click here to get yours now , you will receive a confirmation voucher. Your physical Pass, as well as a Eurail Pass map, will be sent to you on the first business day after your purchase. You should allow at least seven business days to receive the parcel containing your Pass and map.
All Eurail Passes must be activated within 11 months of the issue date. Passes can be activated at any train station in any of the 31 participating countries in Europe by a railway official. If you plan to activate your Eurail Pass on the same day that you intend to start using it, my advice is to arrive at the station early.
It is also possible to activate your Eurail Pass online at the time of purchase but you should only use this method if you are certain of the first date you will use your Pass.
Before boarding the train on the day of each rail journey, you should fill in the date of travel on the actual Pass and complete the journey details on the fold down Pass cover as shown on the image above. In addition to showing your Eurail Pass and calendar to the conductor, you will also be asked to present your Passport and seat reservation tickets when applicable. All prices and information are current at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Carolyn's love affair with Europe started on her first visit over 30 years ago and it continues, just as strong, today. She visits Europe annually and enjoys writing about her discoveries and sharing her tips with fellow travellers. My Eurail Pass came with a timetable and map of Europe. My Eurail Pass half way through my train travels.
Carolyn Carolyn's love affair with Europe started on her first visit over 30 years ago and it continues, just as strong, today. You Might Also Like How far in advance can I book European train tickets? Got a rough itinerary? You can purchase your Pass up to 11 months in advance — just make sure you leave enough time for it to get to you before your trip. Your Pass needs to be activated within 11 calendar months, but we can activate it for you when you order.
The rest is simple! Use our timetable tool to plan your Eurail journey in greater detail. Search train times and connections across Europe, plus check which trains ask for a seat reservation on top of your Eurail Pass.
Once your Pass is on the way, the only thing left to do is book any seat reservations. While most trains in Europe are free to ride with your Eurail Pass in hand, some train companies ask you to pay an additional seat reservation fee. Avoiding reservations is easier in some countries than others, but it is possible to travel without them. We all love getting a good deal, right? As a Eurail Pass holder you can enjoy extra benefits all across Europe.
Children under 12 travel free! Getting ready to go? We can help with accommodation, activity planning, insurance, and so much more.
Check out the FAQs in our help section for even more detail on how Eurail Passes work, and plenty more. Use our Customer Service webform to ask your questions. A Eurail trip is the perfect way to explore Europe and its wonderful cities and landscapes. You become part of an incredible community which always holds together! Andreas, 23, Austria.
Your order. Total order amount. Remove Pass es. Your cart is empty. Everything you need to know about Eurail Explore Europe with the one rail pass that lets you see it all. What exactly is a Eurail Pass? Using your Pass.
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