How to Use the Eurail Pass on Overnight Trains
Use the Eurail pass on overnight trains to your advantage. A Eurail pass--which allows you to jump on and off the train as you choose--is a travel option for Europe. Passes vary from allowing unlimited train travel through 21 countries in Europe to a pass valid for only one country.
To take an overnight train, you have to pay a supplement ranging from 5 Euros to sleep in a second-class seat to 125 Euros for a private compartment with a bathroom, as of November 2010. Night trains require reservations, so you must organize your travel. Eurail tickets can be booked online and are validated the first day you use them.
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Instructions
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Arrange an overview of your trip for better planning. Establish the first and last days of your Eurail pass and where you will be catching overnight trains.
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Book your overnight Eurail pass train early, particularly if you are traveling in the high season of June to August. Remember that second-class fills up quickly, so the more organized you are, the better your chance of getting the reservation you want.
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Decide if you're going to sleep in your second-class seat or pay for a private sleeper. Reserve accordingly.
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Pack an inflatable pillow and light blanket. A two-yard piece of cotton will work and provides extra warmth if you're roughing it with a Eurail second-class pass. Sleeping on an overnight train can be uncomfortable so every little comfort helps.
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Take food and water with you when taking the overnight train with a Eurail pass. The restaurant car won't be open when you need a drink of water in the middle of the night. Europeans generally take food with them, as food is expensive on the train.
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Keep an eye on your bags while taking an overnight train with a Eurail pass. Depending on how big your bags are, you might want to attach a cord to the bag and your belt so you will feel if it's being moved.
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Tips & Warnings
Enjoy the extra time you have on your holiday. When you take the overnight train you can have dinner in Paris and breakfast in Venice.
References
- Photo Credit train image by Jacques PALUT from Fotolia.com
