Traveling to Italy by train from within Europe can be as expensive as a flight, but allows travelers to watch the country unfold before them, and allows the possibility of spontaneous stopovers before reaching their ultimate destination. For info on traveling within Italy by rail, see By Train.
Eurail Passes. Eurail is valid in most of Western Europe but not the UK. Standard Eurail Passes, valid for a consecutive number of days, are best for those planning to spend an extended period of time on trains. Eurail Global Pass, valid for any 10 or 15 (not necessarily consecutive) days in a two-month period, is more cost-effective for those traveling long distances less frequently. Eurail Pass Saver provides first-class travel for travelers in groups of two or more people Eurail Pass Youth provides parallel second-class perks for 12- to 25-year-olds.
|
Eurail Passes |
15 Days |
21 Days |
1 Month |
2 Months |
3 Months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st class Eurail Pass |
US$795 |
US$1029 |
US$1279 |
US$1809 |
US$2235 |
|
Eurail Pass Saver |
US$675 |
US$875 |
US$1089 |
US$1539 |
US$1615 |
|
Eurail Pass Youth |
US$519 |
US$669 |
US$835 |
US$1179 |
US$1455 |
|
Eurail Selectpass |
10 Days In 2 Months |
15 Days In Two Months |
|||
|
1st class Eurail Pass Flexi |
US$879 |
US$1115 |
|||
|
Eurail Pass Saver Flexi |
US$745 |
US$949 |
|||
|
Eurail Pass Youth Flexi |
US$569 |
US$725 |
|||
Passholders receive a timetable for routes and a map with details on possible bike rental, car rental, hotel, and museum discounts, as well as reduced fares or free passage on many boat, bus, and private railroad lines.
The Eurail Selectpass is a slimmed-down version of the Eurail Pass: it allows five to 15 days of unlimited travel in any two-month period within three to five bordering countries. Eurail Selectpasses (for individuals) and Eurail Selectpass Savers range from US$365-449 per person (5 days) to US$805 (15 days). The Eurail Selectpass Youth (2nd class), for those under 26, costs US$279-619. You are entitled to the same freebies as the Eurail Pass, but only when they are within or between countries that you selected with your purchase.
Eurail Regional Passes are valid in specific countries (Youth and Saver options also available). The France-Italy pass is available for four to 10 days in a two-month period, and costs €305-€589, €269-509 for the Saver pass, and €229-385 for the Youth pass. The Greece-Italy pass is also valid for four to 10 days in a 2-month period. The cost is €275-549/235-459/235-359. Though sold at some Italian and Greek train stations, it’s cheaper to purchase in advance.
Shopping For A Eurail. Passes are designed by the EU itself and must be sold at uniform prices determined by the EU. Some agents tack on a US$10 handling fee, and others offer certain bonuses, so shop around. Prices usually go up each year, so if you’re planning to travel early in the year, save cash by purchasing before January 1 (you’ll have 3 months to validate your pass).
Eurail passes should be bought before leaving; only a few places in major European cities sell them, usually at marked-up prices. You can get a replacement for a lost pass if you have purchased insurance under the Pass Security Plan (US$12). Eurail Passes are available through travel agents, student travel agencies like STA , Rail Europe (US ☎+1-888-382-7245, Canada +1-800-361-7245; www.raileurope.com), or Flight Centre (US ☎+1-866-967-5351, Canada +1-877-967-5302; www.flightcentre.com). You can also buy directly from Eurail’s website, www.eurail.com.
Interrail Pass. If you have lived for at least six months in one of the European countries where InterRail Global Pass is valid, it provides an economical option. The InterRail Global Pass allows for travel within 30 European countries (excluding the country of residence). The five-day pass (€249, under 26 €159) must be used within 10 days, the 10-day pass (€359, under 26 €239) must be used within 22 days, the 22-day pass (€469, under 26 €309) is valid only for a 22-day period, and the one-month pass (€599, under 26 €399) is similarly valid only for a one-month period. Passholders receive discounts on many ferries in Europe. Passes can be purchased online at www.interrailnet.com.
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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