Buying Eurail passes while in Europe?
 

Alright,
so apparently you cannot buy Eurail passes while physically located in Europe (why is this?). Well, do they mail it out to you or what is the deal? Why couldnt I buy one in Europe and then have it sent to me there?

The reason I ask is that my itinerary is going to be constructed as I am on the move over there, and I will be in the UK for 3 weeks, then Eastern Europe for 1 month or so and am not sure if I want/need the pass.
Any Advice?
Thanks

I personally wouldn't worry about a pass you you're spending most of your time in Eastern Europe. Tickets are much cheaper. Also getting around the UK, I found I was better off using budget airlines and buses.

If you're moving on to western europe after eastern europe, you can buy it ahead of time before you leave Canada and if you end up not using it then you can get a refund less 10% (true at the time I purchased mine, double check on that) as long as its not validated, or you can have it shipped to a family member and they can send it to you to a European address. But sending a Eurail pass thru the mail is like sending +/-500 euros worth of cash thru the mail.

I was in Europe already when I decided to get my Eurail pass one year. I had to have it sent to my home address and then have my parents ship it to me in Germany. It was very nerve-racking waiting for a $300+ pass and hoping it wasn't lost in the mail, but it did eventually arrive. I don't really think there's an easier method for getting a Eurail pass while in Europe unfortunately...

I am not sure if this is normal but here goes. I had always heard the buy-before-you-leave-or-else ultimatum but apparently it is possible.

I was in Berlin and I met a few Canucks that had lost their pass in Amsterdam. A woman there recommended that they buy a Eurail pass in Berlin and try to get a refund later (they had the protection thing).

A woman for oss in Austria told me that I may be interested in getting an interrail pass upstairs depending on my travels. Then she learned I was American and said, oh, then ask for a Eurail pass instead.

Through the grapevine I heard they charge you 5% more.

--Joey

Alright team so this is the deal:

My flight leaves for Belfast on July 14. I am going to spend about 2-3 weeks in lovely Northern UK and then fly east to hang out for August (Poland, Czech Republic, Croatia, Slovakia).

Since Eurail is not good in the East, I will not be needing it that for my leg of the trip. HOWEVER, I plan on moving to Western Europe for 2+ months for the remainder of my trip (Finland, Sweden, Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain, Greece, Belgium..... MAYBE Portugal, Morocco, Egypt, Denmark, Netherlands, etc).

This is the part of the trip I am concerned about having the pass for. The deal is that I do not want to back myself into a corner, I want to have a free-flowing trip. Firstly I don't know if I even need a Eurail pass, because my itinerary is so loose.

The time is flying by (packing, last days at work, god - please SOMEONE buy my jeep :torch: ) and I am not sure if I could even have a Eurail pass here in time even if I ordered tomorrow, let alone in a week or so.

I think mailing it would be the only option. But if it gets lost, can't you just get it re-printed or something? Can it be sent via registered mail to a hostel (obviously ahead of time, even when I am not there yeat). Or would you really advise to buy it while I am chillin here in Canada?

Thanks a lot everyone!!!

I would try to lump together visiting all the places where rail fare is crazy expensive and buy a pass for those countries. You have 6 months from the date of issue to begin using it so there's no pressure to hurry out of eastern europe. For the others you can buy point to point. I'll also bring out the idea of hitchhiking but I know this is not popular with most people.

Youre going to want the pass if you plan on taking more than one or two trains in Western Europe. It would save you a bunch of money. If you order it now you should have it by the 14th, but I wouldn't wait much longer. I think there may be the option to expedite the shipping at more cost to you of course. As far as backing yourself into a corner, they have passes that allow you to be very flexible as the above poster said as you'll have two months to spend the days on the pass.

You can buy a Eurail pass in Europe as long as you have proof that you're not European... I know of one place personally, problem is I can't tell you what its called. All I can say is the general area was Trafalgar Square in London.

I really should've wrote down the address and such, but do some research. It was a travel information center, you could book tours and such. You could get guide books.

Regardless, I'm guessing if you can do it in London, there is bound to be other places in Europe as well.

I've found the answer on eurail.com's FAQs

Plus, as Andrew mentionned, I've read that some eurail agents do sale in agencies, which takes off the shipping fees.