Spain, Italy, Greece, Germany, France

From Konstanz: "Planning European month-long adventure this coming fall. Spain, Italy, Greece then on to Germany and France - hoping to take full advantage of a month-long eurail pass.... smiles!"

That route is still a sound month, and the thing that would trip Konstanz up today is not the trains but the seat fees.

A pass buys you the ride. On the fast trains in exactly the countries on this list, it does not buy you the seat. France charges roughly ten to thirty euros a head on every TGV and most Intercités. Italy is ten to thirteen on the Frecce and on Italo, and Italo's pass quota is small enough to sell out. Spain is ten to twenty on AVE and Alvia, and it is the country where a pass does the least work of anywhere in Europe. Germany is the relief: no reservation needed on ICE, walk on and sit down.

Two adjustments make the same trip cheaper. Book the French, Italian and Spanish legs the day reservations open rather than the week you travel, because the pass-holder quota is a fixed allocation and not a percentage. And use the regional trains where the map allows it, since they take no reservation at all and Spain and Italy both have good ones.

Greece is the odd one out on this route. Getting there overland from Italy means the ferry from Bari or Ancona to Patras, which some passes discount. Worth checking before you assume a train.

Posted 01 May 2003 by Ant in BootsnAll Travel Community · updated by Chris