Welcome from Rick
Dear traveler,
When I started traveling in the 70's, the Eurailpass was king...cheap, simple, and the obvious best deal. My choices were kindergarten-simple: one month or two? Now, 30 years later, travelers have an exciting array of railpasses to choose from: Eurailpasses, Selectpasses, one-or-two-countrys passes, and even Rail & Drive passes.
Every time I finish a train ride — caught up on my research, well-rested, and unfrazzled — I'm thankful for Europe's fast, comfortable rail network. The costliest mistake that many travelers make is underestimating how well that network can be laced together to create the trip of their dreams.
Still, travelers need to be more informed than ever in order to make the best choice…and that's where we come in. No one explains your options better than my well-traveled "train gang" staff does in this railpass guide.
How Railpasses Work will get you started on your trip, helping you learn how to make an informed choice. Plan Your Rail Trip is your source for rail maps, train schedules, and advice on our favorite destinations for a two- or three-week trip. As you Choose and Order Your Railpass, we'll describe this year's dizzying array of European railpass prices and features. Unlike any other source of information, we'll compare these passes to point-to-point tickets (see also Compare Costs), and to passes sold only in Europe (a well-kept secret in the USA). Every few pages you'll find a money-saving analysis, matching the options to your travel dreams. And finally, in Using Your Pass, we'll take you to Europe, showing you the ins and outs of riding the rails.
To help raise your travel IQ even higher, we'll toss in a free Travel Skills DVD, Europe Planning Map, and 20%-off coupon for merchandise if you buy your pass from us.
Armed with your new train-savvy skills, it's our hope that you'll ride your railpass to the trip of a lifetime — economical, efficient, and filled with great travel experiences.
Happy travels,
Rick