I love using trains, especially in Europe. I appreciate that most train stations are located right in the heart of a city. Airports can be a 40 minute cab ride away, while getting to the train station is much easier. If you’re going to book a train, follow these steps:
Step 1: Start your research at Rome2Rio.
On Rome2Rio you’ll find train routes and links to the companies that sell the tickets online. For example, the Trenitalia website is where you’ll book trains in Italy.
When selecting a route, I usually recommend finding the fastest option. However, one fun option with train travel is planning a stop along the route to your next destination. That way you can explore another city for a few hours without having to book a hotel. Most train stations have convenient lockers in which you can store your bags. These are generally located near the city centers with the most popular sites. For example, on our way from Paris to Bruges we needed to switch trains in Brussels. We decided to get lunch and walk around a bit. The lockers at the station were very secure and easy to use.
Step 2: Get a clearer picture of schedules and prices.
Often times the company’s website from which you can buy tickets does not provide as much information as you want. In Europe, I use Bahn to get more in depth information about the route. Here you can clearly see all of the trains that operate on your route, travel times, changes, types of trains, etc.
Bear in mind that not all trains are the same. Some are slower than a car, while others are insanely fast. For example, you can get from Rome to Naples in less than two hours. Japan is famous for their bullet trains that get faster every year. You can travel from Tokyo to Osaka in 2.5 hours. Those speedy trains make day trips easy and economical options.
Step 3: Decide when to buy your ticket.
You don’t always need to order your train tickets online in advance. If you don’t know your exact plans, you can usually just buy the ticket at a kiosk or counter right in the train station. However, I’ve found that purchasing same-day tickets tends to cost a little bit more. So if you know your schedule, or if you are going to be taking a longer or popular route that might sell out, go ahead and order your ticket online in advance.
Tip: If ordering online, read the fine print on the ticket to see if you need a printed copy of the ticket, or if you can show the ticket from your phone.
Step 4: Consider a rail pass.
Many countries and regions offer several different types of rail passes. A pass can provide unlimited travel in a certain area for a certain amount of time. For example, the Japan Rail Pass is good for either 7, 14, or 21 days of train travel anywhere in Japan. However you are limited to which train companies you can use. I get asked frequently about Eurail Passes for traveling around Europe. Many people have heard of these passes but don’t know if they should purchase one for their trip. My answer is always to do the math. First, go to the Eurail website to decide which pass you would get if you were to buy one.
Next, use Bahn or Rome2Rio to add up the estimated costs of each individual point-to-point ticket. Compare the total to the price of the pass. The flexibility that comes with a pass is really nice. It’s great to be able to just get on a train without a new ticket each time. However, I’ve found that most of the time, unless you are going to be traveling by train extensively, it’s cheaper to just buy the individual tickets.
If you plan to travel a lot within only one country, you may want to look into more regional passes. For example in Germany Lander-Tickets, available through the Bahn website, are regional day passes that can sometimes save you money if you have multiple routes planned in one region.
Step 5: Decide on a seat.
When purchasing your train tickets, you’ll need to decide if you want to by first or second class tickets. The differences really depend on the train company and the country. For example, in Italy, it’s usually worth paying the little extra for first class because the second class cars can be hot and crowded. Never underestimate the value of first class air conditioning. However, in Japan, you may not need the upgrade. To decide if you want to upgrade to a higher class ticket, do some research on The Man in Seat 61. This website provides all kinds of helpful information about trains around the world, complete with photos and reviews. Search by your destination to decide what kind of ticket you want to purchase.
On some trains you can reserve specific seats. It’s smart to reserve your own seat whenever possible (I always try to get one with a table.) If the train has a reservation system, make sure you aren’t seated in anyone else’s seat or you may have to move. Sometimes names will be displayed digitally right above the seat.
There will usually be racks above your seat for your bags, but larger luggage will need to be stored in the luggage storage area near the doors. Keep your eye on your bags, make sure they’re tagged, and keep important documents on your person.
Trains are a great way to get around! If you're planning a big trip, download this free Travel Planning Timeline to keep you organized.
