Eurail Pass Guide2013
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Eurail Pass Guide2013 EUR_2013_PassGuide_EN_new.indd 1 17-10-12 16:32 Contents Welcome to the world of Eurail Pass 3 Eurail Pass - Essential information 4 Using the Eurail Flexi Pass 8 Discover the trains and the shipping lines 11 Eurail Pass - Practical information 15 Information by country 18 Eurail Pass - Conditions of use 37 The aim of this Eurail Pass Guide is to help you clearly understand how to use the Eurail Pass and get the most out of it. For information about the Eurail Group and its products or services, visit www.eurailgroup.org. At MyEurailtravel.com you can document your journey, share your experiences with your family and friends and inspire people around the world. Every effort has been made to ensure the information in this guide is correct and up-to-date. Such information, however, is subject to change without notice, and no guarantee can be made regarding its accuracy or completeness. Share your travel stories www.myeurailtravel.com Welcome to the world of Eurail Pass Welcome Welcome to the world of Eurail Pass Dear Eurail Pass traveller, You’ve chosen the perfect way to travel through Europe – by train! The extensive European train network is safe, eco-friendly, comfortable and reliable. It will take you quickly and easily from the continent’s most dynamic cities to its loveliest villages. Equally important, you’ll be able to travel in a relaxed way that gives you the chance to fully experience and appreciate the magnificent variety in Europe’s scenic landscapes. Your Eurail Pass documentation includes: • a Eurail Pass Guide • a Eurail Pass Map • a Eurail Pass Timetable • a Eurail Pass Cover The Eurail Pass itself consists of the Pass Cover with the Travel Report together with an attached ticket which should not be detached in any circumstances. In this Eurail Pass Guide you’ll find ‘Essential Information’ on how to use your Eurail Pass, when and how you should make reservations, and more. Please read this section carefully! The guide also contains details of many other benefits and discounts the pass entitles you to, and hints and tips to help you make your Eurail Pass adventure as enjoyable and unforgettable as possible. Thank you for choosing Eurail Pass, and enjoy your journey! 3 Eurail Pass - Essential information Eurail Pass - Essential information Please read the following to ensure a smooth and pleasant Eurail Pass experience. What travel documents will I need? Aside from the ticket and Pass Cover with the Travel Report that together make up your Eurail Pass, you will need a valid passport. Depending on your nationality, you may also need a visa to visit certain countries (find out at http://europa.eu/travel). Travel insurance is also strongly recommended – this is not included in your pass! How do I start using my Eurail Pass? First, you must activate the ticket. This can be done by the travel agent you purchased the pass from, but also at a ticket window in any European train station. You must activate your pass within 6 months after you buy it. The person activating your ticket will stamp the date in the activation box, and fill out your passport number and the first and last allowed days of travel. The first travel day can be the one on which the ticket is activated, or a later date – you choose. The last day will always correspond to the complete length of time the pass is valid for. Once the ticket is activated, treat your Eurail Pass as carefully as cash (no refunds if it is lost or stolen!), and keep it clean and unmarked. It is not permitted to laminate the ticket. You are only allowed to write in the Travel Report section of the Pass Cover and, if you have a Flexi Pass, in the Travel Calendar section on the ticket itself. Flexi Passes have a Travel Calendar printed directly on the ticket (see example on page 9). If you have a Flexi Pass, please read the ‘Using the Flexi Pass’ section, page 8. 4 Eurail Pass - Essential information What is the Eurail Pass Cover for? The Pass Cover protects your activated Eurail Pass ticket, which is stapled inside. It also includes the Travel Report form that you must present, together with the ticket, to ticket inspectors. Fill out your personal and ticket details before you start using your pass, and fi ll out the journey details before you enter any new train, ferry or bus when using your pass for transportation or a discount. How often can I use my Eurail Pass? It depends on the type you have. Eurail Global Passes, valid for 24 countries, come in two sorts. • The ‘Continuous’ Pass can be used as often as you want during the time period it is valid for. • The ‘Flexi’ Pass can only be used for a specifi c number of travel days during the period of validity. Eurail Passes that only cover specifi c geographical areas (Eurail Select, Eurail Regional and Eurail One Country Passes) are all Flexi Passes. 5 Is my Eurail Pass valid for all trains and boats in Europe? Your pass entitles you to transportation on all shipping lines and the national railways listed in your Eurail Pass Cover, and on some private railways listed in the ‘Information by Country’ section of this guide. Reservations costs and surcharges required for overnight beds and seats on certain international and high-speed trains are not included. For more information, see the ‘Seat & Bed Reservations’ section below and the ‘Costs & Surcharges’ table on the back of the Eurail Pass Map. For free passage on international ferry routes, your Eurail Pass must be valid for the country of departure AND the country of arrival. For discounted passage, the Pass must be valid for the country of departure OR the country of arrival. Seat and bed reservations Certain trains – such as high-speed, international and overnight trains – usually require you to reserve a seat or a bed for an extra Eurail Pass - Essential information fee. Seats on such trains can be in high demand during the July and August high season months in Europe. Furthermore, the number of seats allocated to Eurail Pass holders on these trains can be limited. 6 Eurail Pass - Essential information Advance booking is therefore highly recommended – preferably before you arrive in Europe (most trains can be booked up to 3 months in advance). Should seats for pass holders be sold out for a train you want, you’ll have to purchase a full-fare ticket. But you could also try a different day or time, or consider taking an alternative route. To find out whether a train requires reservations, consult your travel agent or the Eurail Pass Timetable, enquire at a European railway station, or check a European railway website for example www.oebb.at. Visit www.eurailgroup.org for more information about the Eurail Pass Timetable app. How do I make seat and bed reservations? Before your trip, you can make reservations: • through the travel agent who sold you your Pass. • online with a few rail companies - this currently applies to travel within and to/from Germany (www.bahn.de), Sweden (www.sj.se) and Italy (http://www.fsitaliane.it). Deutsche Bahn’s UK Call Centre can help you to book a seat, sleeper or couchette, as well. The Booking Centre can be contacted by phone on +44 (0)8718 80 80 66 (Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. CET). In Europe, make reservations at a railway station ticket counter, or at Eurail Aid Offices managed by the National Railway Companies. These are usually located at the International ticket counters at the major train stations and at select airports (see Information by Country for locations, page 18). What if I need to travel through a country not covered by my Eurail Pass? If any portion of your journey goes through a country that is not covered by your pass, you will need to buy a ticket for that leg of your journey. Do this at a ticket counter in advance, since tickets on the train will be more expensive. For example, if you have a Eurail Global Pass and plan to travel in Poland you will need to purchase a separate ticket for this part of the journey, as this country do not participate in the Eurail Global Pass offer. Share your travel stories www.myeurailtravel.com 7 Using the Eurail Flexi Pass Using the Eurail Flexi Pass If you have a Flexi Pass, please read the following carefully to make sure you use it properly. What’s the Travel Calendar on the Flexi Pass ticket for? Your Flexi Pass entitles you to a set number of travel days within a specific period of time. On any travel day, you can hop on and off as many trains as you like. But before you board your first train of the day, it is extremely important that you write the date in the Travel Calendar on your ticket. Not doing so is the same as traveling without a ticket, which means you will have to pay a full-fare ticket and may also risk a fine. How do I fill in the Travel Calendar? Your Travel Calendar will have a day and month box for each of the travel days you are entitled to. Even if you already have a carefully planned schedule worked out, don’t fill in the whole calendar at once – you’ll lose all flexibility about when you can travel! As you start each travel day, write the day and month in the proper boxes under ‘1’, for the first travel day, under ‘2’ for the second, etc.