Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!bellcore!decvax!mcnc!philabs!cmcl2!acf4!passaro From: passaro@acf4.UUCP (Mike Passaro) Newsgroups: net.travel Subject: Re: Need Eurrail Info Message-ID: <5170001@acf4.UUCP> Date: Fri, 7-Mar-86 10:01:00 EST Article-I.D.: acf4.5170001 Posted: Fri Mar 7 10:01:00 1986 Date-Received: Mon, 10-Mar-86 08:24:57 EST References: <2682@pucc-h> Organization: New York University Lines: 68 I used a Eurrail pass while in Europe last summer, but European train travel (albeit much better and cheaper than US train travel) is not the wondrously romantic experience I'd heard it was. There are two different types of passes: first and second class. Last year, the first class was $400 and the second class was $290 for one month. You have to be under 26 years old to get a second class (or "Youthpass" as they call it) Eurrail pass. Any travel agency -- especially one connected with or near a college -- will have lots of info. on the Eurrail pass system. Although you said you were interested in travelling spontaneously, you should try to figure out if it's worth it to get a pass. The reason I got one is because my Grandparents subsidized this part of my trip. If I was financing it myself, I think it would have cost just about the same if I had bought separate tickets for each train trip. Map out a basic itinerary, and get train prices from each country's tourism office in this country. However, the *ease* of purchase associated with the Eurrail pass is worth a lot. With a pass, you do not have to wait in long lines to purchase tickets, and with a first class pass, your reservations are automatically confirmed. My advice would be to get a first class pass, even if you qualify for the Youthpass. With a second class pass, you have to pay extra for confirmed reservations, express trains, and sleeping cars. These are all free with a first class pass. If you plan on doing ANY train travel in Italy, I strongly recommend a first class pass. Italy is a great country, I'm Italian, and I had an incredible time there visiting where my grandparents were born, etc. However, the train travel *sucks* there. The trains are ancient, mostly unairconditioned, and dirty. You must make sure -- repeatedly -- if you are actually on the train going to your destination. I learned my lesson when traveling from Milan to Venice. I had asked the conductor (only once) if this was the train to Venice. I was assured that it was. Yet, as I was sitting on the train waiting to leave (Italian trains never leave on time) I saw the train to Venice pull out of the station (the train's destination is always posted on the side of each car). If you travel second class, you have no guarantee of a seat. I had no problems with this (arrive early, even though the train will not leave on time). On a trip from Bari to Rome (6 hrs.) I sat in a second class car while people stood the entire trip. The car was very hot, people insisted on smoking (in a non-smoking section) and it was a dreadful trip (except for the scenery). Many more stories about Italian train travel on request... Train travel in the other countries I visited was much better, especially Switzerland, France and England (by the way, the Eurrail pass is NOT good for any train travel in England. You have to get a BritRail pass for this.) However, let me stress that, although some of the train travel could be a little irritating, nothing can take away from the fantastic experience of travelling in Europe (at least for me). I'd love to go back again this summer, but the dollar looks like it's only getting worse (I made out like a bandit as far as exchange rates were concerned). Get the "Let's Go" books FOR THE SPECIFIC COUNTRIES YOU PLAN ON VISITING. The anthology "Let's Go Europe" is good, but not nearly as detailed as the specific books. Let me know if you have any other questions, comments. --Mike Passaro Ultracomputer Lab New York University (passaro@nyu.arpa)