Decide which countries you will visit during your trip - there are 32 possibilities on a Eurail pass. View a map of the lines available throughout Europe at raileurope.com. While you are free to purchase your pass from other vendors, raileurope.com should include all the information you need to determine which pass is best for you.
Compare available passes by using the booking engine at raileurope.com. A booking engine allows you to enter your destinations and dates of stay to determine which pass is best for you. If you're not sure of your exact travel dates and destinations, an option is available for that, as well. The Eurail Global Pass is an option that includes travel to your choice of 22 European countries or the Select Pass allows you to choose three to five adjoining countries.
Assess the ages of your group members. A Youth Pass is available for people aged 12 to 25 and a Saver Pass is a shared pass for 2 to 5 people who travel together for the entire trip. Discounts are also available for people 60+ years old and for children aged 4 to 11.
Decide whether to make reservations for your accommodations beforehand, or whether you'll find places to stay along the way. Reservations are risky if the hotel turns out to be a disappointment, but on the other hand, arriving in a city or town to find there are no rooms available is a problem also. Let your spontaneity comfort level be your guide. An option to book hotels on the Rail Europe website is available.
Purchase the appropriate pass for your situation. You will need a credit card for this purchase. You can buy your pass online or through a travel agent before you leave the country. Refunds and exchanges are available, but the fee varies from 5 to 7 percent for this service and certain rules and restrictions apply.
