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How do I avoid Eurail reservation fees?

If you're traveling on a budget, remember that most slower national and regional trains don't require seat reservations, so if you're willing to take the scenic route you can often avoid the extra cost.



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With point-to-point tickets, however, the ticket price includes the cost of any mandatory reservations (dates, times, and seat assignments are built in, just like with an airline ticket). If you opt to reserve a seat on a train that doesn't require reservations, you'll need to pay a small extra fee.

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We advise you to start making reservations at least 2 months in advance. Many high-speed and night trains can already be reserved from 3 months in advance, and will get fully booked in that period.

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Because some trains are more expensive than others, or historically have received less income from Eurail/Interrail to cover the large amount of passholders making use of those trains (Spain and France mainly). Reservations are usually a fraction of the cost of regular 1st class tickets, with some exceptions.

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First class also has wider seats and aisles, and is more likely to have amenities such as air-conditioning and power outlets (though outlets are still rare on Europe's trains, in any class). While first class is less conducive to conversation, it's more conducive to napping.

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Family Pass - Up to two children (aged 0 to 11) can travel for free with a single adult. Senior Pass - Adults 60 and older get 10% off standard Adult Pass prices.

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Just say no. Within 24 hours of your departure, the airline will assign you a seat. Pro tip: If you want to avoid paying for a seat assignment, arrive at the airport early. That way, you'll have the pick of the unassigned seats.

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Eurail Passes can only be used by non-European citizens or non-European residents. European citizens can use an Interrail Pass instead.

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Eurail passes do not cover local transport like trams or metros, only intercity trains. Rail Europe is another company that offers similar European train passes.

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In the app's terminology, a trip is the collection of journeys you will use your pass for. A pass can only have exactly one trip linked to it. A journey can consist of multiple trains.

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Trains either have overhead storage racks throughout the car, storage room behind the back of your seat or luggage areas at the end of the car. According to the GTC-CIV (General Terms and Conditions for the International Carriage of Passengers by Rail), passengers can take a maximum of three items of luggage.

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While it's not possible to pay the price difference to upgrade your 2nd class Pass to 1st class, you may be able to exchange your 2nd class Pass for a 1st class one.

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You can hop on and off most trains as you please with your Eurail Pass, but some trains ask you to buy an additional seat reservation before you can jump aboard.

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If overcrowding becomes intense, first class can be “declassified”, i.e. opened up to all passengers, regardless of their tickets. But there is no automatic right to occupy first class. Ad hoc declassification typically happens after other trains have been cancelled or seriously delayed.

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A travel day lasts from midnight to midnight. Within this time you can take as many journeys as you'd like. Please remember to add each journey accurately to the travel day and make reservations when needed.

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