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Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site watdaisy.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!watnot!watdaisy!maariano
From: maariano@watdaisy.UUCP (Marco Ariano)
Newsgroups: net.travel
Subject: Re: Need Eurrail Info
Message-ID: <7660@watdaisy.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 11-Mar-86 11:22:56 EST
Article-I.D.: watdaisy.7660
Posted: Tue Mar 11 11:22:56 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 12-Mar-86 05:00:39 EST
References: <2682@pucc-h> <5170001@acf4.UUCP> <233@drutx.UUCP>
Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 50
Summary: 

In article <5170001@acf4.UUCP> passaro@acf4.UUCP (Mike Passaro) writes:
[...]
>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.
>
[... some complaints about Italian trains ...]


and In article <233@drutx.UUCP> jimb@drutx.UUCP (Jim Bryant) writes:
[...]
>
>I agree! I bought a second class ticket, and survived, but I would never
>do it again. In addition to the comments mentioned above, consider:
>
>1) [consider where you will be travelling]
>
>2) If you plan to take many "overnight" trips. [...]
>
>3) You will probably meet more students [in second class]
>
>Overall, buying a 1st class pass instead of a 2nd class allows you
>even more flexibility and gives you even more options, helping to make
>your trip more enjoyable.
>
 
I don't agree.
If you travel in northern Europe it doesn't matter anyway.  If you travel in
Southern Europe it doesn't matter either - first class is not going to
be that much better anyway.  I enjoyed slugging it out in the Italian
and Spanish trains.  'When in Rome ...' and the 'Romans' ride second
class.  If you go on less travelled lines there may not even be a first class.
Where else do you get to ride in a train with handcrafted seats of wood?

Reservations are not a problem.  You hardly ever need them unless you're
taking a night train (see below).  Surcharges are minimal and infrequent
(TEE trains, TGV in France and some Spanish trains).  I used them all
and had no problems.  The surcharge for the TGV was about $3 and we got
our reservation 2 minutes before the train arrived.  (There's that 2
minute factor again! :-)  The TGV is a blast too.  270kmh!!)

The only justifiction I can see for getting a first class pass is if
you plan on sleeping on the trains.  I didn't enjoy this probably
because I had a second class pass but I wouldn't recommend it anyway.
You spend enough time on the trains as it is.

And enjoy.  I probably wouldn't use a train pass again but only because
I wouldn't try and see all of Europe in one shot again.  For a first
trip to Europe I strongly recommend it.  (A second class pass that is :-)