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06-01-2008, 07:32 PM
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#1
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TPunk Moderator
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dumb rail pass question
Okay this is probably a lame question but I've never needed a rail pass before and now I do so please bear with me.
I've got the 6 day Germany pass and when I look online on raileurope.com at the schedule of the trains, it's like 12 bucks to make a reservation, if I have a rail pass... do I need to make a reservation for city-to-city trains that are not overnight or anything? And is the 12 bucks just for the reservation or will I get on the train with my rail pass and be asked for 12 bucks there?
I don't get it... I pay this $ for a damn rail pass then you still have to pay for the trains! It doesn't make sense...
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06-01-2008, 07:37 PM
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#2
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In England if you didn't make a reservation, you had the possibility of standing on the train for the duration. The reservation just guarantees you a seat, but as far as I know you can get on the train regardless.
Someone want to confirm if this is the case for the Eurail deal?
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06-01-2008, 07:46 PM
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#3
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A lot of trains you will have to make a reservation for and pay something extra. Evan if you have a rail pass you will have to pay a fee, get a paper ticket and use a day from your rail pass. I've seen $4 and as high as $80 for overnight trains.
You have to be selective when you use the pass, it might actually cost more for some trains with the pass than without. thats why i like to get a pass with non-consecutive travel days rather than a blanket pass. I'll Figure out whats its costing me for one day of travel with the pass, if the trains is less i wont use the pass. If you don't have a reservation they will still make you buy one on board and it wont be cheap.
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06-01-2008, 08:11 PM
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#4
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You only have to buy the reservation if the schedule says so. If they sent you a timetable with your railpass it indicates...also the Deutsch Bahn website's schedule. I'm not familiar with Rail Europe's site. Yes I know its total BS. Get this...I took a 2 hour train ride in Hungary. The ticket itself was 2 dollars but the stupid reservation was $18!
You should buy it before you get on the train at the DB area in the train station. You can prob buy it from the DB website but I've never tried. It seems likely you can buy it on the train but I wouldn't wanna risk it.
Last edited by Elizabeth; 06-01-2008 at 08:13 PM.
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06-02-2008, 04:03 AM
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#5
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Quote:
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It seems likely you can buy it on the train but I wouldn't wanna risk it.
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You can almost always buy it on the train. Even with a credit card, I was forced to do that last year myself. And I agree, I hate that you have to shell out more money after the lump sum for the ticket.
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