Eurail offers kids free travel
Got a Thomas the Tankhead in your house? Good news: New offers from Eurail make a car-free family European vacation with youngsters a bargain this summer, on the continent where train travel has always been the way to go.
Eurail has matured with the college-age backpackers that formed its core audience back in the day. Founded in 1959, the consortium of 30 transportation companies markets rail passes to travelers living outside Europe, offering an array of passes good in up to 28 countries or merely one. The passes also allow ferry passage on scenic routes through the Greek islands, as well as some museum and hotel discounts. (Eurail should not be confused with RailEurope, one of a number of companies that sell the Eurail pass and other rail tickets.)
Eurail’s free travel for children ages 4-11 is a boon for families considering multiple stops on the continent. Compared to regional airline fares, train travel is an economical alternative, departing and arriving in city centers with easy access to other public transit. The offer allows up to two children to travel with an adult carrying a Eurail pass. That means a family of six travels on two Eurail passes, rather than buying a half-dozen airline seats (often with additional airline baggage fees).
Families also receive 15 percent discounts on group pass purchases. For adults who prefer reserved first-class seats, the new Youth Pass for those ages 12 to 25 means they can join their elders (at a 20 percent discount).
The hitch? Pre-planning. Four flavors of Eurail passes cover a multitude of days and destinations, so building an itinerary before you buy is key. Decide how much time you have and where you want to go, in which order. Then price the options.
For the traveler with unlimited time and curiosity, Eurail’s Global Pass covers first-class travel in 28 countries from Finland to Turkey. Four of those have been added this year: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Poland and Serbia. For example, travelers can ride down the east Adriatic coast from Croatia to Montenegro or stop in Poland en route from Prague to Berlin.
The Eurail Select Pass, covering rail and ferry, is valid in four bordering countries. Those interested in exploring the Alps, for example, can travel from Germany to Austria to the French Matterhorn and Switzerland.
Windows for travel range from three months to 10 days within a two-month period. Families purchasing a 10-day Select pass will pay 1,200 euros (at Thursday’s exchange rate, $1,298.79) for two passes in those countries that include a 15 percent discount and allow four children to travel free.
The new 5 in 10 Days Global Pass covers noncontiguous nations. The 5 in 10 option gives customers a choice of five travel days within a 10-day span to visit non-bordering countries of their choice — for example, Germany, Italy and Spain.
Eurail’s Regional Pass, which enables travel in two countries, and the One Country Pass round out the list of offerings.
Glamorous high-speed trains like the Chunnel-spanning Eurostar, now the stars of the European rail system, are shrinking travel times. Note that these superstars, whether for domestic or international travel, require reservations, which add an additional fee to the Eurail pass and must be booked directly through the individual high-speed service.