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| How Passes Work Plan Your Rail Trip Compare Ticket Costs Using Your Pass Choose and Order |
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Dear Traveler,
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Eurail Pass. When this revolutionary concept was launched back in 1959, you had one choice: a pass that allowed you to ride the rails to your heart's content through 13 countries during a 2-month window. Europe's 21st-century railpasses are just as devoted to fueling the wanderlust in visitors, but with many more choices: Eurail Global Passes, Select Passes, one-or-two-country 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. And it doesn't hurt to know that I've gotten from A to B in the greenest way possible — far more fuel-efficient and less polluting than the same route in a car or plane.
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 passes 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 unforgettable experiences.
Happy travels,
Rick
