First decide which and how many countries you want to visit. With the Eurail Select Pass, you can travel among three to five connecting countries. You can go by land or by sea. The only restriction is that you go to connecting countries and a specific port of entry among them. In other words, when traveling from one country to the next, it has to be a direct connection either by train or boat. You cannot pass through a country that is not designated on your pass.
The Eurail Select Pass is very flexible. You can buy a plan for five, six, eight, ten or fifteen days that can be used over a two-month period. For instance, if you buy the ten-day plan, you are able to travel any ten days during the two-month period of time. You do not have to travel all the days in a row. You can buy your ten-day pass and then travel two days, wait a week, then travel three days, and so on, as long as it is during this two-month time span.
If you plan on traveling to six or more different countries, then the most flexible plan is called the Eurail Global Pass. With this pass, you can travel all you want through 18 countries from Ireland to Greece.
Are you spending all your time traveling in one country? Then, the Single Country Pass will be your best option. All the countries offer this service, so you can easily take the train from one town or city to the next.
If you want to drive once you get to your destination, just get a Rail and Drive Pass. Then you have the best of all worlds. You hop on a train for the long distances within the country and then use a rental car for day trips to special local sites. This pass is perfect for people who enjoy going to off-the-beaten-track locations
When you order your passes, do not forget that there are discounts available. Regular adult passes offer first-class comfort. However, there are discounts for younger children and teens and young adults from age 12 to 25. Similarly, visitors over 60-years old can buy reduced-cost tickets. See website under Resources for monthly specials, as well.
You can order all your Eurail Passes before your trip, once you've decided how many people will be going, their ages, which countries they will be visiting and for how long, and the type of pass you want. Go to eurail.com and buy your passes for 30 different train companies. On this website you can find step-by-step directions on how to buy the exact passes you will need for a safe and enjoyable visit.
