If you’re planning a trip across Europe, then a Eurail Global Pass is a great option to get you wherever you want to go! We recently used the pass that allowed us to travel on 15 days within 2 months, and we visited 12 countries during that time. IT. WAS. AMAZING. But also exhausting, especially when traveling with two young kids! But ultimately so rewarding. We loved the flexibility that we had with the Global pass. We didn’t have every single stop planned in advance, so it was nice to be able to travel around on a last-minute basis without having to pay outrageous airline fees.
#1 – Try to Pack as Light as Possible
Basically, don’t be like us and travel with 3 large luggage bags and 3 backpacks! Or, you can, but prepare to stress out about where all your luggage is going to fit on each train. Train companies across Europe offer very different experiences with regards to luggage space. Some have several storage racks. Some have large enough overhead space to fit a full-size bag, and some you’ll have to make do with finding any open space that you can to put your bags in! Since we travel full-time, we have no other choice but to carry all that stuff with us, but if you are able to, try to bring the bare minimum! There are plenty of laundry services to wash clothes throughout Europe, so pack as light as you can.
#2 – Set Your Expectations
As more and more people turn away from budget airlines (and their associated hidden fees and environmental issues), train travel continues to become an attractive and affordable option for many people. Because of this, trains are starting to book out faster, and getting seat reservations for the train that you want at the time that you want might not be possible. If you’re planning on going to a popular tourist destination, try to secure your seats as early as possible so you don’t get stuck somewhere, especially during high season.
#3 – When To Get Seat Reservations
As you read the previous tip, you’re probably thinking, “Wait a minute, I still need to get seat reservations even if I have a Global Pass?” The answer to that is, “It depends,” but really you should get seat reservations for as many trains as you can, especially if you’re traveling in a group and want to sit together. Seat reservations are usually really cheap as well, often costing less than 5 euro per person. If you look up a specific route, the Eurail website will tell you if you need to make seat reservations or not. They offer a service where their agents can make those reservations for you, and you get your confirmation mailed out to you. You can also make the seat reservations at the train station, or at designated Euraid Offices. Yes, there is a small additional fee to have seat reservations, but by getting them, you are guaranteeing yourself a spot on the train that you want.
#4 – First Class vs. Second Class Passes?
We used First Class passes, and found a variety of benefits that made our travel days more comfortable. With a first-class pass, you get access to many of the train station lounges so you can relax before your train arrives. The first-class cabins themselves often are more spacious, have more luggage storage space, and sometimes come with complementary food and drinks. If first-class isn’t available, you are also free to sit on second class seats as well, so you basically have a wider range of options on more popular trains.
#5 – Get The Rail Planner App On Your Phone
One of the benefits of train travel is that timetables for train departures are set far in advance, and it’s very rare to have delays or cancellations. The Eurail Rail Planner app has basically every timetable for all of the trains that they partner with, so you are able to create your itinerary and look up train times on the app. The best part is that you don’t even have to be connected to the Internet to look up those times!
Ultimately, if you’ve decided to get a Eurail pass, I think you’ve made a great choice. The ease of hopping on a train soon after you arrive at a station simply can’t be matched by airlines these days. The seats are very comfortable, and being able to walk to a food and beverage area to get snacks can make the ride seem much shorter than it is. We loved our time in Europe, and our Eurail pass is a big reason why we were able to see so many places in such a short time!
This post was produced in partnership with Eurail who provided us 2 month unlimited first class passes for our family. Despite working with them all views and opinions are our own.
