Eurail Tips & Tricks (European Railways)

First thing you want to know, if you are in the Eastern European countries, good chances are the Billeting/Ticketing counters aren't going to speak English, so figure out where you want to go and "how" you want to go first. NOTE you will almost always need a seat reservation.  This is NOT a ticket, its just extra money you pay to ensure you actually have somewhere to sit. Sometimes it's not required, but some of these trains can be jammed packed and leave you without a seat, just get one (or 2 or 3... I'll explain this later)

What I mean by how.  As you probably know, there are seats, couchettes and sleeper cars.  There are Salloon seats and regular seats, really who cares, don't get them, they suck. Very uncomfortable, the non-smoking section is in the same car with no divider as the smoking section, and they offer very little luggage room.

The usual best option is to get a couchette.  What we have found to be the best option, since we already have a 5 country train pass, is to book 4-6 seats, for about 3 Euro a seat, in a couchette. This pretty much reserves the whole couchette (a 6 seat compartment usually with air and a curtain, but always a door, which sometimes is lockable), since there are 2 of us, we at least get 4 seats to stretch out on.  The seats lay down to form a bed if you have 2 of them across from one another.  Believe me, it's worth the 12 euro.

If you don't decide to reserve, and you're on a night train thinking you need some rest, or just some privacy.  The conductor, at least one of them, usually reserves a couchette for themselves.  With some asking around, and about 10 Euro, you can "bribe" them into locking you into their private couchette. Don't worry they wont forget about you, it's their job on the line , but you can get some sleep.  This also works out if all of the sleeper cars are taken.

As for sleeper cars, if you are gonna be on the train more than 5 hours, you should probably get one.  We have paid from $16 to $40 for 2 beds, and haven't shared one yet.  If you think that is expensive on top of you train ticket, just think of it as one night at a hostel or hotel and compare, it is also worth it if you need rest, plus all the doors lock.

First Class trick.  Ok, if you got your tickets in advance, you probably have Student Tickets, which are 2nd Class by default.  Due to my age (> 26) I had to get a First Class ticket and K has 2nd Class.  We usually ride 1st Class anyways, and I show the conductor my ticket, they examine it and then just glance at K's ticket which I put under mine.  So if you have a similar ticket situation, there you go.  Just always ask them a question or two to distract them from reading the second ticket, not that they bother, they just want to make sure you have another ticket for extra people.  However, if they do notice, well just act stupid, as if you havne't done so thus far, and say you didnt know, most of them will just ask you to move to another car, or offer to sell you an upgrade.  There usually isn't much difference in the seat styles of 2nd and 1st Class, a little more room and softness, but there are definately less people!! This is good, less people, less theft, less bothersomeness.. Err or something. If you want to party, honestly, stay in 2nd class, because that's where all the party people are most of the time.

WC, Restrooms.  Most of the toilettes have been fairly decent on the trains. The first class being better with hot water and soap, but the more west you get, the better the 2nd class trains get.  Make sure you wipe the seat, have your own toilet tissue and handsoap.  There is usually a light that tells you if it's in use, when the door is locked, don't threat, just goto the next car.  Caution, dont' do this between stops if you think you will be long, as they sometimes split up cars at stops, if unsure, either wait or ask the conductor which cars goto your destination.

Rail Stops. Be sure to either ask the conductor, have a railway map of stops, or pay close attention to each and every stop.  You have about 2 minutes to get off the train at regular stops, and they do NOT announce the stops all the time.  This can be a pain to get your stuff together and get down the very thing passages with a backpack.  Usually the best thing is to set your watch 30 mins before estimated arrival, so you can wake up and get ready beforehand.

Buying tickets.  For those countries that aren't very helpful at the ticket window, look around for the auto kiosk that sells tickets, it sometimes is the same as the Information kiosk.  Most of them have several languages and allows you to look up several destinations.  I have found a few that even sell reseverations, which you normally have to get at the ticket window, and some that sell local bus tickets.

Side note on bus/metro tickets, its an honor system most everywhere, no one checks your tickets and/or the electronic thing for your ticket doesnt even function, but beware the undercover ticket checkers and the heavy fines (about 20 Euro or more we have heard). We have yet to see them, but we get a ticket every time (almost). Oh yea, DO NOT get the Vienna card or the Budapest Card, NOT worth it, get a week bus pass for way less, screw the coupons, you wont' use them.

That's all for now, I may edit or add on to it later when and if I remember things.
Brian