How many day Rail Pass should we get?

[aphex]

3/27 - Zurich Airport -> Lucerne (Definite day of travel)
3/28 - Lucerne
3/29 - Lucerne
3/30 - Lucerne -> Zermatt (Definite day of travel)
3/31 - Zermatt
4/01 - Zermatt -> Florence (Definite day of travel)
4/02 - Florence
4/03 - Florence
4/04 - Florence -> Venice (Definite day of travel)
4/05 - Venice
4/06 - Venice
4/07 - Venice -> Venice Airport (definite day of travel)


Since we will both be under 26 on the first day of travel (lucked out, i turn 26 while IN Venice), we qualify for the youth passes. We know there will be 5 days of definite travel, but were not sure how many more we plan to need... Obviously we will be taking side trips, but im sure we'll also spend a few days just relaxing and exploring the various cities...

5 days in 2 months - $263.00
6 days in 2 months - $291.00
8 days in 2 months - $344.00
10 days in 2 months - $396.00


Should we try and save some money and go for the 6 or 8 day pass? Or just spend the extra to be safe and get the 10?

 

[BoomerD]

Can you get a refund for un-used days?

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
Can you get a refund for un-used days?

ya know, i never even thought to check.. i'll see what i can find

 

[BoomerD]

PROBABLY not, but worth checking...

 

[imported_Mike]

I would do the 8 day. Train tickets in Italy are fairly cheap depending on how far you're going.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: Mike
I would do the 8 day. Train tickets in Italy are fairly cheap depending on how far you're going.

yah, not too bad from what we can tell, Switzerland is ungodly expensive though to offset. It was bad when we were there 4 years ago and it looks just as bad now 🙂

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: aphex


Should we try and save some money and go for the 6 or 8 day pass? Or just spend the extra to be safe and get the 10?

No, you should try to save some money and go for the 6 or 8 day pass.

 

[FoBoT]

i vote for 6 , best bang for buck and if you need another trip, you can always buy a normal ticket

 

[imported_Mike]

Originally posted by: aphex

Originally posted by: Mike
I would do the 8 day. Train tickets in Italy are fairly cheap depending on how far you're going.

yah, not too bad from what we can tell, Switzerland is ungodly expensive though to offset. It was bad when we were there 4 years ago and it looks just as bad now 🙂

Yea, I started in Italy then went to Switzerland. In Italy, I was going from city to city for 10 to 20 euro.

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: aphex

Originally posted by: Mike
I would do the 8 day. Train tickets in Italy are fairly cheap depending on how far you're going.

yah, not too bad from what we can tell, Switzerland is ungodly expensive though to offset. It was bad when we were there 4 years ago and it looks just as bad now 🙂

Switzerland's prices weren't too bad when I went a few years ago. England was really bad since the exchange rate was something like 1.9 to 1. We went on the Glacier Express, which isn't part of the Eurail package but was still an enjoyable ride. It's much slower and older, but very scenic.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Originally posted by: aphex

Originally posted by: Mike
I would do the 8 day. Train tickets in Italy are fairly cheap depending on how far you're going.

yah, not too bad from what we can tell, Switzerland is ungodly expensive though to offset. It was bad when we were there 4 years ago and it looks just as bad now 🙂

Switzerland's prices weren't too bad when I went a few years ago. England was really bad since the exchange rate was something like 1.9 to 1. We went on the Glacier Express, which isn't part of the Eurail package but was still an enjoyable ride. It's much slower and older, but very scenic.

Yea, last summer it was almost 2 to 1 when we were in England...

Switzerland in 02 though, the train tickets were insane. Our flight from Amsterdam -> Geneva was around $50 round trip, while the train from Geneva -> Interlaken was around $140 round trip 🙂

 

[Scarpozzi]

I'd go for the 6 day pass. I mean, the only places you are going are the cities. You basically only need the trains to get to the cities. When you get to Florence, you'll be next to the bus station, but it's a relatively small town anyhow The train station/bus station is in the center...just get a map in advance and figure out how to get to your hotel.

You can do subway and bus travel to supplement the major rail travel...or even walk in many cases. (with the exception of a water taxi in Venice)

 

[aphex]

True, but we plan to take some small day trips to surrounding cities/towns.

Florence -> Pisa
Lucerne -> Surrounding Towns
Zermatt -> Gornergrat

 

[91TTZ]

I don't know if you have the time, but we drove from St. Moritz down to a little town in Northern Italy, and it was an awesome drive over the Alps. It's a winter wonderland up there. Highly recommended if you have the time.

 

[91TTZ]

By the way, one weird thing that I noticed when I rode the train in Switzerland is that in the bathrooms, you can see the train tracks through the toilet. There's no holding tank, it just drops it on the tracks.