In today’s rough economy, many North Americans think of traveling in Europe as a costly endeavor, available only to those with disposable income. Fortunately, Eurail makes it possible to plan a trip of a lifetime throughout Europe without paying a luxury price or adhering to a rigid schedule.Eurail makes planning a trip through the European continent easy, with a variety of destinations and packages available for travelers on almost any budget. Whether you’re backpacking around Italy alone or taking your entire family on a transcontinental trip of a lifetime, Eurail can be your sole destination for booking travel plans during your vacation.
Eurail offers passes to non-European travelers through 22 countries. One pass validates multiple days of travel, in which you may take as many trains as you want within the country or countries designated on your pass. Many passes use a flexible schedule as well, where travelers do not have to use their travel days consecutively so long as they are used within a designated timeframe, giving Eurail passengers the freedom to plan their trip however they want. Do you want to spend most of your vacation in Zürich, but you would like to take a day trip to Bern as well? The Eurail pass makes it easy with flexibility of use and multiple departure times.
Eurail also makes your trip as affordable as it is easy to plan. Multi-day passes in a single country can start as low as $48 USD for passengers 12-25 years of age, and Eurail offers a variety of options for family passes that provide discounts for groups with children. Eurail also offers a Regional Pass providing travelers with access to two bordering countries, a Select Pass with lines in three to five bordering nations, and a Global Pass that services a staggering 22 European countries. Their 22-nation Global Pass starts at $489 for 15 unlimited days of travel, opening almost all of Europe to foreign visitors for less than the cost of a single transatlantic flight. The Regional Pass features a promotional offer, adding a free extra day of travel to Eurail passengers who book before the 30th of November.
Eurail provides packages with ferry service as well, so travelers are not limited to nations that share a land border. So why waste money and add stress to your vacation with plane tickets, multiple individual bookings and the constant rush to catch flights? Enjoy a calmer, more relaxed pace to your European vacation. See the European countryside as you travel by rail from destination to destination. Be adventuresome and take a ferry between Greece and Italy, seeing the ancient world and the beautiful Mediterranean Sea.Be sure to
travel safely and be conscious of the rules and regulations governing international travel and Eurail. Always have your Eurail pass information and passport with you when riding trains and crossing national borders. Also be mindful that “Benelux” is actually made up of three countries - Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg - and is considered bordering Ireland, despite having no direct ferry or train links. Finland and Norway are not considered bordering, and there are no One Country Pass options available for France through Eurail, so plan your trips accordingly. Most importantly, have fun planning a truly unique and affordable European adventure.
Traveling through Europe can be done many ways. For young people, hopping from country to country with backpacks in tow is something of a rite of passage. Families can enjoy one or two prime destinations for a few days apiece, and elderly couples might enjoy traveling around one region exploring everything there is to offer. All three categories have something in common–they generally travel by Eurail. As an inexpensive, safe and comfortable way to get around Europe, it’s a great choice. Your only problem might be deicing where to visit, as there are so many destinations on the Eurail path. Here is a guide to some of the most popular destination that Eurail visits:
1. Rome As the capital of Italy and once the center of the Roman Empire, the city has a long list of historical attractions and important landmarks worth a visit. Many travelers start with a tour of the Colosseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheater, which was built in the first century AD. Other top picks on your trip include the Palatine Hill, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain and the Vatican City in the heart of Rome. There is no shortage of places to do or see within this incredible Italian location.
2. Amsterdam Holland’s capital may be known for its liberalism and counterculture, but there is so much more to the city than coffee shops and nightclubs. A canal tour is a beautiful way to explore the area, and offers a unique perspective on the stunning architecture you’ll find along the waterways. Don’t miss the famed museums in the city, the most popular of which are the Van Gogh Museum, the Anne Frank House and the Rijksmuseum.
3. Munich This Bavarian city is among the largest in Germany, and is the perfect place to visit to get a sense of southern Germany. With the Alpine Mountains just a short distance away, you can ski or snowboard in the winter months. The city is known for the many impressive museums, including the BMW Museum, the Deutsches Museum, the City Museum of Munich and many more. Of course, if you happen to be visiting during the end of September of the beginning of October, you won’t want to miss the annual Oktoberfest celebrations in the city.
4. Prague This capital city of the Czech Republic is one of the top destinations for those traveling on Eurail. As the center of the incredible and historic area of Bohemia, Prague boasts any beautiful castles, including the famed Prague Castle, which is the largest ancient castle in the entire world. Don’t miss out on the impressive architecture found throughout the city, or the world class art museums like the Czech National Gallery and the DOZ Center for Contemporary Art.
5. Paris No other city is quite like this romantic city of lights, and capital of France. Spend hours admiring the incredible works in the Louvre Art Museum, or stroll along the Champs Elysees where you’ll find shops, cafes and even the famed Arc de Triomph. Travelers will also want to head to see the Eiffel Tower, most beautiful when lit up with lights each night after dark.
6. Salzburg The natural scenery of Salzburg might bring to mind the beautiful land in Western Canada, for those familiar with Canadian travel. With a backdrop of stunning mountains, the city of Salzburg has all the amenities of a top city, but the feel of a small and intimate village. No better place gives you the coziness and warmth of Switzerland along with great tours, Alpine views and even the location where the movie The Sound of Music was filmed.
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If are looking to travel through Europe and are questioning how to get about, traveling by train is definitely your best bet, especially if you are from the States and plan on visiting the United Kingdom. The Eurail schedule is really accommodating for most countries and is easy to use, but it is wise to plan ahead if using European train travel not only for peace of mind, but to save your cash for those souvenirs.
Just like North America, Europe has many options that you can utilize to travel efficiently to all the fantastic cities on your itinerary, including car rental, airplane, boats to some countries, and most importantly and effectively- the Eurail railway system.
The Rail System in Europe is known for the luxurious interiors of its trains as well as its punctual departures and arrivals. With such a large network of trains, connections and tracks, it is no wonder that the service has to be well managed. For some European trains, reservations are required. Rail Pass gives you access to the trains, but does not guarantee you a seat. Especially in high season summer period, early reservations (beginning from 2 months in advance) are suggested. However, you can also get them reserved at the ticket counter directly.
With the rise in social media, people are quite ready to tweet and add to Foursquare and other networks their whereabouts. It’s fun to brag about your trip, but be mindful about what it is you’re letting everybody know. You don’t want anybody to find out you’ve left your house vulnerable to robbery! Leave your schedule with a close friend or relative, then tweet about your vacation when you come home.
There is no better way to see Europe than by rail, especially on a budget. You can see an endless variety of landscapes in a relatively short amount of time. Europe is perfectly established for rail travel so you can get practically anywhere, unlike in the U.S., where many people never even think about taking trains (or buses). Recently, Eastern European countries, such as the Poland, the Czech Republic and Romania are open to travel with the Eurail pass and don’t require any extra fees or charges. Go see as much of Europe as you can.