| If you're planning to visit Europe, rail travel is an | | | | for 3,4 or more days during a period of one month, |
| excellent option. The modern international trains that | | | | within a specific country or group of countries. Other |
| are available to you are the most advanced in the | | | | options are possible including "Rail and Drive" passes |
| world and on many routes, rail travel is not only | | | | that allow the holder to rent a car and drive during |
| cheaper, but faster than travelling by airplane. | | | | part of the validity period of the pass. |
| France's flagship high speed train, the TGV (train à | | | | In practice, using a rail pass is much more practical |
| grande vitesse - "high-speed train"), recently set the | | | | than buying an individual train ticket as you don't have |
| world record for the fastest wheeled-train during a | | | | to worry about reserving tickets in advance and |
| test run in which it achieved a speed of 575 km/h | | | | planning every day of your travel itinerary before |
| (357 mph). International routes include Paris to | | | | you arrive in Europe. The rail pass is validated by the |
| London (Eurostar), Paris to Brussels (Thalys), and | | | | conductor on the first day of travel and from that |
| Paris to Geneva. Germany's Intercity (ICE) trains are | | | | date its validity period begins and the owner can |
| also an excellent and very fast options for | | | | travel for the specified number of days during the |
| connections inside Germany. | | | | validity period without buying individual tickets or |
| Once you've decided to travel by train, the next | | | | waiting in line. There are some exceptions however; |
| question is, how much does it cost? Enter the Rail | | | | when riding trains that require seat reservations, such |
| Pass. If you're planning on visiting more than one city | | | | as France's TGV trains and Germany's Intercity (ICE) |
| a rail pass can be the cheapest alternative. Buying | | | | trains, the Rail Pass holder must also purchase a |
| individual train tickets before leaving home can end up | | | | reservation (sometimes called a supplement). The |
| being much more expensive than buying them locally | | | | reservation should generally cost only a few euros. |
| and your itinerary will be less flexible in the event | | | | But if you're running late and you don't want to wait |
| that you change where you want to go after you | | | | in line, you can just jump on the train, hope you can |
| leave. One of the greatest advantages of travel by | | | | find an unreserved seat, and pay the conductor the |
| rail is the liberty to choose your destination from one | | | | cost of the supplement when he comes around to |
| day to the next. | | | | stamp your rail pass. |
| Rail passes allow the holder to travel by train within a | | | | If you're planning on spending more than three days |
| specific geographical area, for either a set number of | | | | travelling by train in more than one country, as a |
| days or an unlimited number of days during a specific | | | | general rule of thumb, a Rail Pass will probably save |
| period of time. Perhaps the best known is the Eurail | | | | you money. The additional benefits of having a |
| Youth Pass that allows the holder (under 26 years | | | | flexible schedule and the tendancy to use the train |
| old) to travel within Europe for an unlimited number | | | | for more than days that you would otherwise, |
| of days during a period of up to two months | | | | means that with a Rail Pass you will see more and |
| (residents of Europe can buy a similar pass called an | | | | different locations than you would without the Rail |
| Inter Rail pass). Equally popular are country passes, | | | | Pass. And that means that your vacation has that |
| such as the France Rail Pass or the Eastern Europe | | | | much better chance of being an unforgettable one. |
| Rail pass, that allow travelers of any age to travel | | | | |