Travel Tips

Travel Tip: Where You Can Find Rail Passes Worldwide

Seats on a trainSure, you might associate rail passes with students wearing the mandatory pair of Birkenstocks. But train passes have come a long way over the years, so here’s how they can help you.

Even with the rise of Europe’s budget airlines, the rail system is just as efficient as ever. And these days, there are several options for different travel styles.

If you’re not a student backpacking through Europe, chances are you don’t want to cover 20 cities in 15 days, so the Global Pass is out.

Then there are single-country passes. Some can work out to great deals, like the Anytime, Anywhere France pass. It’s $199 for the first trip and $50 for each additional one-way segment.

But in some places, the one-country pass can be a hindrance. For example, a Greece-only rail pass doesn’t get you access to the islands! Instead, check out the regional Greece-Italy pass, which includes ferry service.

Canada’s VIA Rail has a 30-day rail pass that’s great for both leisure and business travelers, called the Canrailpass.

And even our own Amtrak has a very cool and not very well-advertised pass from 15 days—you still have to reserve each leg, which includes connecting buses and ferries, but it’s a great way to see the country for one flat fee.

For more info, check out our Train Travel section.

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