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TEN COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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What is the difference between the Eurailpass and Europass?
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The Eurailpass covers 17 countries which include:
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France,Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland and
can be purchased as a consecutive day pass or flexipass.
The Europass covers the 5 most central and popular countries which are Germany, Switzerland,
France, Italy and Spain and can only be purchased as a flexipass.
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What is the difference between the consecutive day pass and flexipass?
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The consecutive day pass is valid for the number of days purchased one day right after the other.
For an example, a 15-day pass is 15 days in a row, June 1 to June 15.
You do not have to travel every day if you do not wish, but you do not get a refund for unused days.
Flexipasses give the flexibility of purchasing a number of rail days to be used within a certain time frame.
Depending on the pass it may be 15 days, 1 month or 2 months.
This allows you to then spend time between your days of train travel.
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If I purchase Associated Countries with my Europass, how many extra days of rail do I get?
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Purchasing Associated Countries does not allow you any more days of rail travel,
only additional countries you may visit.
Its purpose is to allow you to travel within or through countries not covered by the pass.
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What is a rail day?
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For the railroad, a day is midnight to midnight.
The one exception is if you are using a direct overnight train that the journey begins after 7pm.
This may be counted as the following day of travel (may not apply to certain country passes).
A month is considered 30 consecutive days.
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Does my pass cover sleepers?
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Your railpass does not cover sleepers.
If you will be utilizing a night train, it is necessary to make an advance reservation and there will be an additional cost.
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When is a seat reservation required?
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Most trains are open seating and a seat reservation is not mandatory.
Seat reservations are required for most high-speed trains such as
TGV, Pendolino, Thalys, Eurostar, X2000, and highly recommended for
ICE and certain InterCity and EuroCity trains.
As Friday and Sunday afternoons and evenings are peak travel periods for Europeans,
you may wish to consider a seat reservation.
All long distance trains in Spain, Romania and most in Norway and Sweden require seat reservations.
Many in Belgium, Netherlands, and Switzerland do not offer them.
Seat reservations cannot be made in the USA for Portugal, Greece, Ireland, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and FYROM.
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What is the difference between first and second class?
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First class is more quiet and spacious with fewer seats per compartment or car.
There is more room for luggage and generally will be less crowded as most Europeans using the train travel in second class.
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If I wanted to go from Germany to Italy on a Europass, would I be covered?
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Depending on the route you use the answer could be no.
If you wanted to go straight from Germany to Italy your train might go through Austria.
You must purchase the Austria/Hungary Associated Country or you would be charged for the portion the train travels through Austria.
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Is the Eurolines pass a railpass?
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The Eurolines pass is a deluxe motorcoach (bus) service operating throughout Europe.
It is an economical option for getting between major cities of Europe using modern coaches
and making frequent stops. You make reservations for the bus in Europe.
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Why do you send documents by courier delivery?
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Railpasses and tickets are the equivalent of shipping cash.
To protect you and us, we send them via FedEx so that we can trace the package in case it gets misdirected.
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