There is an otherworldly charm that comes with the thought of buying just one train ticket that gives you access to all of Europe for as long as you'd like. Filling this niche, Eurail passes are some of the very best travel bargains around and the multitude of places they can take you to is unparralled. This has made them popular with millions of people who travel this way every year. Yet, while granting many advantages to North American travelers in Europe, the smart traveler should know that Eurail passes are not the best solution for absolutely everyone. In fact, without being overly negative, wise travelers should be aware that Eurail passes can have unintended drawbacks that may impact the overall enjoyability of their trip. Before taking the leap and purchasing a Eurail Pass for your next trip, you should seriously consider the following points to see if it's really the right travel decision for you.
1. What style of travel appeals to you the most?
If you are a "collector" of new places that's continually driven to cover more new ground on a trip, then a Eurail pass might be for you. However, if you are the type of traveler that likes to hunker down and absorb a destination like a local for a longer period of time, then perhaps you should skip the pass. Unlimited railpasses are rarely the best choice for those who like to really sink their teeth into a place. That's not to dismiss the movers vs. the hunker-downers as being synonymous with an argument between those who favor quantity vs. those who favor quality. I think that both approaches are valid depending on your overall goal for this trip. Many people—including myself—agree that it's probably best to try to cover as much ground as possible during one's first trip or two to Europe, and then slow down on later trips, savoring in depth the places liked best. I've personally done this twice with Eurail and wouldn't trade the great bird's-eye-view of the continent to be gained this way!
2. If I buy a railpass will I feel the inner need to continually move on?
We've all been to restaurants where we fill obligated to eat everything on our plate because, after all, we are going to pay hard-earned money for it. Nowhere is this more of an issue than at all-you-can-eat buffets, where most people feel like they're not getting their money's worth unless they load up the plate and walk out full--maybe even uncomfortably so.
You should be aware that the same exact phenomenon occurs with Eurail passes. I call it Eurail Sickness. Only this particular malady not only includes the desire to get value for your money, but also the continuously nagging feeling that one's time is also at stake. This usually expresses itself as an inner commentary that goes something like "Europe is laid out before me and I must see as much of it as I possibly can or else I've wasted both my time AND my money."
So, what happens is that you actually end up spending more time compulsively going from place to place than you do getting to know each destination once you've arrived. Even worse—and I know this from hard personal experience—your enjoyment of each destination is diminished greatly because a significant part of your mind is busy working out the logistical problems (route, train schedules, new accomodations, local transportation, etc.) associated with getting to your next destination. Consequently, your trip starts to feel like a disorienting whirlwind and your memories of each destination become a blur: hopefully to be sorted out later through the help of your pictures. I consider this to be the most serious unintended consequence using a Eurail pass.
3. Will a railpass be the most cost effective way for me to get around in Europe?
The truth is that traditional point-to-point tickets might save you money. This depends on the destinations you have chosen (Eastern Europe is far cheaper by rail than the west) and how often you intend on moving about. For an excellent discussion on money savings and a map showing point-to-point estimated ticket prices see Rick Steves here. For more precise information on point-to-point ticket prices you can also search RailEurope's online database.
4. How's my health and stamina......or, will my Eurail pass turn me into a zombie?
This is another important question because you should know that Eurail travel is HARD WORK. Remember, this kind of travel involves a great deal of walking, luggage handling, and having to deal with train schedules that often include odd hours. All this can lead to quick exhaustion if you don't slow yourself down (which, given point number 2, is extremely hard to do). Sadly, I was so wiped out on a recent Eurail trip that I couldn't keep my eyes open during most of the way from the Pyrenees Mountains to Paris—one of the most scenic routes in all of France! You should know that I wouldn't trade my experience for the world, but if all this sounds like all work and no fun to you, then perhaps travel via a more leisurely pace without a railpass is in order for you.
Want more information? See Rick Steves' excellent guide to the various Eurail passes here.
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