Rail Travel Tips

You will most likley require rail or car reservations to get to the starting point of your trip.  Please feel free to email us at info@duvine.com or phone us at 1-888-396-5383 or 617-776-4441 and we will be happy to assist you.

TRAVELING BY TRAIN

European train stations are often the first impressions you will have of each city on your itinerary. Each station is unique, often picturesque, with its own distinct personality. Most are centrally located and have a full range of convenient services and facilities to make transit passengers feel at ease. Remember: When you can't find your train or need help in a European train station, you should look for the "i", the universal symbol for "Information."

On high speed trains, seat reservations can be made up to 60 days in advance.  Your seat reservation will usually appear as a separate coupon along with your actual train ticket. It will specify the train number, the coach number, class of travel and seat number.What if you don't have a Reservation?  Then just sit anywhere. But be aware that if you don't want to be bumped from your seat, check the outside of your compartment for slips of paper that indicate if someone else has reserved that seat down the line. On newer trains the reservation info is on an LCD screen above the seats.

Make sure to give yourself enough time. This is especially true when traveling with luggage because the main stations can be vast, with trains leaving on widely separated tracks, or in smaller stations, from platforms requiring the negotiation of stairways. However, it is best not to board your train more than 20min before its scheduled departure because track numbers can change.  Train numbers and times are always constant so use that information as your point of reference in the event of any confusion.

At the station, you must electronically stamp your ticket in a pedestal located where you proceed to the quay or platform. Since there is often no conductor verifying your ticket once you are aboard, this is a form of honor system with potential penalties if a conductor or controller later discovers you are not respecting it.

Once aboard, if your luggage is too large to fit overhead, you can store it in the common space located in each car of the train (just be sure to keep an eye on it at the stops along the way). Then settle in with a glass of wine and watch the beautiful countryside rolls by as you’re whisked away to your destination. Don't lose track of time though! Trains generally do not stop for very long, especially if you are getting off at a smaller station. Therefore, it is best to set an alarm for 10min before your scheduled departure so that you have ample time to gather your luggage and disembark in time.

Please feel free to email us at info@duvine.com or phone us at  1-888-396-5383 or 617-776-4441 and we will be happy to assist you.

RAIL PASSES

France -  The France Savers Pass will give you 4 days of unlimited train travel in a 1-month period. Travel days may be used consecutively or non-consecutively and you have your choice of 1st or 2nd class.  This pass offers a discount per person based on groups of 2 or more people traveling together and is also available are the France Youth Pass.

Average cost

1st class: $269.00

2nd class $ 229.00

Italy - With a Trenitalia pass, you can travel any 3 days in a 2 month period. This pass covers all regional travel, but some national trains can require an additioanl reservation fee.

Average cost

1st class: $219.00

2nd class $ 175.00

Multiple Countries - Eurail passes give you unlimited travel on Europe's extensive 100,000+ mile rail network in the 17 Western countries of Europe: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland (Rep.), Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. England, Scotland, and Wales are not included in the Eurail system.

Eurail passes are available as consecutive day passes or flexipasses. If traveling in a group of 2-5 people at all times, save money on passes by booking Saverpasses.

Know exactly what you want to see in Europe? Is it only 3, 4 or 5 countries that border eachother (France, Italy, Germany for instance)? The Eurail Selectpass offers unlimited train travel that can be used either consecutively or non-consecutively, which is quite flexible for the single traveler.