Eurail tips for beginners

If you are a not a resident of the European Union, and you want to travel by train while you are in Europe, buy a Eurail pass.

I’m not being paid to say this, Eurail doesn’t even know I’ve written this article. This is just solid advice from one traveler to another. So what is a Eurail pass?

It’s essentially a discount card! You give Eurail some information about yourself, prove your identity, and they mail you a physical pass which can then be used when you travel around Europe. Each pass does something a bit differently, but we’ll get to that later.

Now I will say upfront that I’m used to booking flights, but the way Eurail operates was a bit confusing to me. It’s a bit more finicky, you have to time your trains properly, and the first time you book a train with your Eurail pass might be a bit frustrating

Trust me, it’s worth it. Our Eurail passes more than paid for themselves in savings.

To help you out I’ve compiled a little list of things I wish I’d known when I started booking. Hopefully they can ease your way, and you’ll be booking rail travel like a pro in no time!

#1. Give yourself time to research!

I had to do this whole process in about month and it was a bit of a scramble. Being somewhat new to train travel I’d have wanted at least a month an a half, for newbies to booking travel in general I’d suggest you give yourself two months.

You’ll also need time for your passes to get to you. It usually takes three weeks for everything to go through and for them to be delivered. Only once you have them physically in your hands can you start to book and confirm your trip, but don’t let that stop you from having a plan ready! Tickets go super fast, so you might want a plan a, plan b, and plan c if you’re on short notice.

Each Eurail pass is slightly different, and you’ll want to read the details to make sure you get a pass that’s right for you. Some offer only certain locations, some only certain times, and all of this varies in price. Read the fine print and you’ll be rewarded greatly!

#2. If you can afford it, get first class.

Some Eurail passes have the option of only being valid for the purchase of second class tickets. This is great for tight budgets and for those who are pre-planning their trip months in advance, but not so much for those hasty, last minute decisions. If you’re booking late or want to treat yourself I suggest buying a pass that allows first class purchases. Aunt River and I did just that and we ended up needing it for two portions of the trip, the second class tickets had sold out too quickly.

#3. Remember you have it!

If you don’t end up booking all your tickets in advance remember you can still use your pass at the train station! Aunt River and I forgot we had it! When we were asked if we had a discount card we had already answered no when I said “Hang on, does a Eurail pass count?” It did!

We saved about €100 on that one purchase.

Please remember that because of Covid travel in this way might not be possible at the moment, but if you’re like me and you’re planning your post Covid breakout trip, then definitely have a look at Eurail to get a solid bargain on European rail travel!

Wash your hands, wear a mask, and stay safe gentle reader!