Travelling by rail has many advantages, especially in Europe.
You get to see the country you are travelling to or through, rather than flying above it, and quite often you are deposited into a city centre, with minimum drama regarding luggage or airport transfers.
But rail in another country can be confusing, especially with a language barrier, so who knows if you are getting the best price?
Let’s face it, everyone loves a good bargain. And when it comes to travelling through Europe, savings are usually welcome especially when not compromising on comfort or convenience.
Specialising in providing train tickets and rail passes for travel in Europe dating back to the 1930s, Rail Europe knows all the tips and tricks. Here are some of their best.
Rail Europe’s basic savings tips
- To save up to 70 per cent off tickets, book in advance and travel during off-peak times. Set up booking alerts to be notified of tickets being released.
- For multiple trips over a few days, especially when involving a few countries, consider a Eurail Pass over point-to-point tickets.
- Where flexibility isn’t required, opt for non-flexible tickets.
- Where possible, opt for slower regional trains where seat reservations aren’t usually required – they are often more scenic anyway.
- Enjoy savings with railcard reductions. In the UK, most railcards offer one-third off tickets; and in Spain, the Carné Joven railcard offers youth discounts on fully flexible tickets. Travellers under 27 in Germany save 50 per cent on the BahnCard 50, while those under 30 or over 60 in Italy can enjoy 50 per cent discounts with the CartaFRECCIA.
- Where applicable, save on a night’s accommodation and travel on night trains.
- Note that children 4 to 11 years old travel free with parents using the Eurail Pass, and children under 16 travel free with guardians using the Swiss Travel Pass.
Apart from these basic ways to save on train journeys, Rail Europe also has some hot tips on how to save on train tickets by region.
Germany’s Deutsche Bahn’s Sparpreis tickets
Deutsche Bahn’s Sparpreis tickets apply to many cross-border trips to almost any city in Germany, as well as trips that traverse the country from different start and end points internationally.
The Sparpreis Europa offers more flexibility than the Super Sparpreis Europa; and while these fares often come with no views, certain tickets include a ‘City Ticket’ granting free access on Germany’s public transportation network to/from the departure/arrival station.
France via TGV, TGV Lyria, Frecciarossa and OUIGO
The TGV offers great value fares called Prem’s that must be booked in advance. While tickets typically come on sale three months in advance, this is extended during the summer months. Discounted tickets are also available on the international TGV Lyria services to Italy and Switzerland, and can be booked up to 120 days in advance. If using the Frecciarossa service, then bookings can be made up to 180 days in advance. When travelling from Spain, consider jumping on a night train to save a night’s accommodation aboard the budget-friendly OUIGO service.
Switzerland’s Swiss Half Fare Pass
A great alternative for the Swiss Travel Pass is the Swiss Half Fare Pass, which is great for longer stays as it’s valid for one month. While the former provides holders unlimited access to all of the country’s public transportation system and up to 50 per cent off mountain rail and cableways and free entry to 500+ museums, the latter grants holders 50 per cent off public transportation tickets across the country and on most mountain rails.
Eurostar services
Aside from booking in advance, travellers should note that return fares can often be cheaper than one-way fares; and early morning or mid-week departures tend to be priced more favourably. When travelling from London to French destinations beyond Paris, it’s also often cheaper to combine the Eurostar ticket with an onward TGV service.
Italy’s Super Economy fares
To score cheap train tickets in Italy, select a ‘Super Economy’ fare, which covers all domestic Trenitalia trains. Note also the ‘Bimbi Gratis’ family offer allows children under 15 to travel free in groups of two to five people, with at least one adult. This discount is available on Frecciarossa, Frecciargento, Frecciabianca and Intercity trains for travel within Italy.
Spain’s Ouigo and Renfe trains
Spain’s ‘Basico’ fares are the cheapest train ticket on Renfe services. Consider also travelling aboard Ouigo, the budget provider that connects the most popular destinations in Spain via high-speed train for less. In terms of booking horizons, Renfe tickets are released 75 days in advance and Ouigo trains can be booked up to a year in advance.
Have you travelled through Europe by train? We’d love to hear about your best tips in the comments section below.
Also read: The secret holiday swaps for avoiding the crowds in Europe
