POPULAR EURAIL PASSES FOR THE UNDER 26 SET
Choosing a pass is tough. Fight the urge to think that biggest is the best, and focus on what kind of travel you want to do. If you have a tight itinerary that will have you plowing through country after country in a short amount of time, go for the Eurail Pass Consecutive Day. If you’ve got plenty of time and no agenda, the 10-day Flexi should be perfect. Liz Meggison of Travel Cuts (www.TravelCUTS) says, "The most popular Eurail Passes this year are the Select Passes. Students like these because they don't have to pay for all 17 countries in the Eurail Network, if they only plan to travel in 3, 4, or 5 countries." And if you’re the type to plant your feet and get to know just one or two places in depth, why not go for single country pass that gives you three or four days of travel over a decent amount of time (countries vary in price and time, but they are in the neighborhood of $100).
Discounts aren’t just for the young ones. Travelers who are 27 and older can save by traveling in parties of two or more.
EURAIL PASS YOUTH
Unlimited second class travel through the 17 Eurail Countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Consecutive days of travel range from 15 unlimited days ($414) to three months unlimited ($1,160).
EURAIL PASS YOUTH FLEXI
The same countries as above, but without the restriction of traveling on consecutive days. They call it "Flexi," because you’ve got more freedom to travel when you want.
10 days in 2 months $488.00, 15 days in 2 months $642.00
EURAIL SELECT PASS YOUTH
Unlimited second class travel on the national rail networks of any 3, 4 or 5 bordering countries out of 18 European countries that are connected by train or ship.
Options range from five travel days in three countries over the course of two months (for $249) to being able to travel for 15 days and hit five countries over the same time ($556).
FRANCE ‘N ITALY YOUTHPASS
Any 4 days unlimited second class train travel within 2 months. $199 with additional days for $21 each.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT PACK FOR YOU
The debate of whether to take a traditional backpack, or one with wheels is never over. Having used both, I look to the ground to settle the dispute. What will I spend most of my time walking on? If it’s cement, the wheels win. If it’s dirt and grass on an extended camping trip, the wheels will only get in the way. If you’re still not sure, borrow your friends’ packs and do a dry run. You’ll be with this baby for the long haul, make sure you feel good about your choice. Here are the pros and cons of each:
TRADITIONAL:
PROS: These bags are a little lighter. If you’re an ox and would rather become one with your gear, this is the option for you.
CONS: You need to be a disciplined packer. They get heavy fast.
WITH WHEELS:
PROS: When your train car is all the way at the other end of the train, you’ll be happy to do some easy pulling as opposed to humping your souvenir stuffed bag to get there. Be prepared to use the shoulder straps for getting it down some crowded aisles on the train.
CONS: Stairs are a bitch. Escalators are everywhere (but Venice), but count on a flight of stairs here and there. Most bags will have a side handle for easy conversion.
