- 1). Purchase your pass online for the number of days you will require travel. The pass is available for 5 days of travel within one month's time, and up to 5 additional days may be added. Remember to order your pass early enough to receive it before leaving. You must purchase rail passes before departing from your home country. Once you leave it is too late.
- 2). Plan your journey through the countries which fall under the pass limitations so that your destination cities line up properly and you never have to take a train into non-pass countries. If you do pass into other non-pass countries, you will be required to pay the fare. Make sure to have your pass, passport, student card (if you have one) and a pen at all times.
- 3). Board the train of your choice and find an unreserved first class seat. Your pass will be valid for first class travel. You will be permitted to use 2nd class compartments, but you are entitled to first so use it. Passengers with rail passes do not require reservations on trains except for the high speed TGV and Eurostar lines in Western Europe, and not at all in Eastern Europe. Have your pass and passport ready for the conductor who will be around to collect tickets.
- 4). Show your pass when the conductor requests tickets. He or she will have you fill in the date and initial your pass. The train ride begins your unlimited day of travel which will run for the entire calendar day or into the next day should you be on an overnight train. The conductor will also check your ID to make sure the pass is yours so have it handy.
- 5). Show your pass again should you be taking more than one train on a given day as the pass is valid for unlimited travel and does not need to be altered again until you travel on another calendar day.
previous post
next post