Traveling is amazing and I'm a firm believer that it is one of the best things young adults can do for themselves. Europe is usually at the top of most Americans list of places to visit and for good reason. There is so much history, culture, beautiful landscapes and delicious food in Europe and with multiple countries easily accessible it's no wonder why people want to go. Everybody knows that the train system in Europe is extensive and easily accessible, but is it worth it? And what's the best ways to ride the rails?
Eurail Pass
This is the big question for most people: to get or not to get the Eurail pass? The pros of the pass: it is more convenient, it's more flexible, and you pay for it before your trip so you won't have budget for that on your trip. Cons: its a pretty big cost upfront, you have to make reservations on high speed trains in advance and you HAVE to fill out the pass correctly or you get a big fine. Honestly if you are planning on see a lot of places while you are in Europe or if you are planning on going far on the trains I think it is definitely worth it.
There are lots of different options for Eurail passes. You can get single up to four country passes or global passes you can also get three days, seven days, 10 days, 1 month or two month passes. I personally did a 10 day global pass and it worked out perfect. I originally had planned on only have nine travel days but ended up splitting one day into two so having the extra day really worked out. If you do get a Eurail pass make sure to go ahead and order it well before your trip and have it mailed to you (I waited too late and had to pay $30 for two day shipping). For some of the countries you can make seat reservations online for those high speed trains but for some you will have to do in advance, I would suggest going at least the day before to the station to get your seats.
Finally if you do get the pass make sure you fill it out correctly before boarding the train or right as you do get on, if you don't have it filled out when the conductor comes around you get a big fine. You also have to have your pass validated at any train station prior to your first ride. This takes literally two minutes, but make sure you have your passport ready for this.
Long Ride tips
If you are taking long rides on the train (four or more hours) then there are definitely some important things to know. Bring food with you. Let me say that again: bring food with you. My first trip on the train was 12 hours and I just assumed there would be a dining car and I was very wrong and very very hungry. Also some trains have WiFi but it is not always free. So bring a book and make sure to download lots of music to your phone or mp3. The train is also a good time for journaling if you are planning on keeping a travel journal. Every train I went on had electric plugs and bathrooms. Honestly the long trips aren't as bad as a long plane ride because the views can be absolutely amazing. Make sure if you aren't stopping in Austria that you at least take a train through Austria, it is absolutely beautiful.
Europe by train is a backpacking way of life, it's just what you do. So embrace the Europe train life.
