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From: boren@randvax.UUCP (Pat Boren)
Newsgroups: net.travel
Subject: Re: Need Eurrail Info
Message-ID: <111@randvax.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 13-Mar-86 12:01:12 EST
Article-I.D.: randvax.111
Posted: Thu Mar 13 12:01:12 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 15-Mar-86 21:08:40 EST
References: <2682@pucc-h> <5170001@acf4.UUCP> <233@drutx.UUCP> <7660@watdaisy.UUCP>
Organization: Rand Corp., Santa Monica
Lines: 30

There's been some discussion about 1st vs. 2nd class Eurail
passes.  I've used both, but in my wise old age, I'll take the
1st class pass anyday.

The first time in Europe, 1978, I had the 2nd class Youth pass.
I went in the winter, and generally did not have much problem
getting a seat, but little niceties were missing, like heat, and
EVERYbody smoked (who cares what that sign says).  Last fall, I
decided to go with a 1st class pass, and I loved it.  Clean
windows & cars, bigger seats that recline some, more polite
people (generally the older Europeans), and people who obeyed the
No Smoking sections.  In fact, on the Paris - Geneva train, there
were "stewardesses" that served a nice breakfast (about $4) to
your seat, and that was first class only.  A couple of times we
had trouble finding seats (no reservations on our part), so we
sat in the dining car until some people got off.  This was on the
popular Zurich to Salzburg (to Vienna) route.

We looked at it from the standpoint that the trains are part of
the vacation, not just a mode of transportation.  And for us, we
enjoyed that part of the trip very much -- get a bottle of wine
and enjoy the view!

P.S.  You still meet locals in 1st class.
-- 


		Patricia Boren
		decvax!randvax!boren
		boren@rand-unix.arpa