The Eurorail pass is just another name for the Eurorail Global Pass. This is one of the passes where one can travel on one of the most efficient and modern modes of travel in Europe: the railroad. Europe has an intricate web of threads holding it together when it comes to cross-country travel on this continent and that is its rail network. The Eurorail Pass makes it easier to travel between the European countries serviced by it in that it is recognized by each and breaks the boundaries of culture and language. Plus it is very convenient in that you don’t have to hassle with buying fare in a country you are visiting-just enjoy the travel.
The Eurorail pass allows you to travel between 18 different countries in Europe. These countries serviced by the rail network consist of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
The Eurorail pass is purchased based on consecutive day spans. These spans can be consecutive days in groupings of 15 days, 21 days, one, two, or three months. Consecutive days mean that you have to ride the train each day or else you will lose that day. So this pass is good if you want to do some heavy traveling and visit six or more countries during the time span you purchased. If you do not want a consecutive day plan then there are other options for rail passes such as any 15 days within two months or something similar.
There are some conditions that apply to the Eurorail pass that you should know. First, if your are resident of the United Kingdom, Morocco, Algeria, Turkey, Tunisia or the Russian Federation, you are not eligible to buy this pass. This also applies to anyone who has their permanent residence outside of Europe for more than six months. Anyone who holds a military identification card from the United States is eligible to use the pass.
Once a pass is issued (by an official of the railway), it must be used and validated within six months within one of the countries associated with it. The pass has to be validated prior to boarding the first train. There are special rules for entering the date of travel before boarding the first train.
Adults are considered those above age 26 and they can enjoy their ride on the train in the spacious comfort of first class. First class is much roomier and much quieter. There is a good amount of leg room in first class plus the seats can recline. When you travel in comfort like this, there is less likelihood that you will reach your destination exhausted.
And the Eurorail pass is not just for rail. There are some shipping companies that will count one of your days on the pass as fare on their ship. Either way, check with the shipping line to see if you will lose a rail day by using this benefit.
Carefully consider if this is the right pass for you because it must be used within consecutive days. If you are not going to ride consecutive days then there are other options for you to consider in rail passes. Also, as mentioned earlier, this pass is really great if you are going to visit many countries in a short span. If your trip only involves two or three countries then look into the other rail pass plans where you have days you can use but not consecutively. Traveling to Eastern Europe is a whole different story and your Eurorail pass is not valid there. So if your destination is to the east and you are traveling in those countries (they are not included in the valid country list anyways) then you are better off doing a pay as you go journey.
There is a lot to see in Europe and what better way to do it than be rail which can be so picturesque. Have fun on your Eurorail pass!