I formed this opinion in October 2022, when I spent two weeks backpacking through Europe with a Eurail pass.
Eurail passes grant travelers unlimited access to most European trains for a set number of days. Some trains only require a Eurail pass, while others, including overnight trains, incur an additional, discounted price.
Instead of trudging through airports and squeezing into coach seating, I rode the rails in affordable, top-tier classes. Here’s why I’ll only take trains through Europe in the future.
I used Eurail to travel by train from Germany to Austria, Italy, and Switzerland and to travel locally in those countries.
The author’s Eurail pass on a European train.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
I paid additional fees on top of my Eurail pass for two overnight trains, and when I upgraded from coach to first and business class on three rides. Each added fee was between $10 and $45, depending on the trip duration. The total cost of train travel was $560 with the upgrades.
According to a quick search on Google Flights, if I were to fly between each city in economy class instead, it would be about the same price as a Eurail pass — $360.
The author sits in business class on a train in Italy.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
From attendant service to oversized bathrooms with mood lighting, traveling in business class through Italy was a dream. Comparable cabins on a plane would be too expensive for me.
I also booked a bunk in a shared cabin on an overnight train.
The author boards trains in Italy.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
Rather than going through a lengthy check-in and security process at the airport, I could just walk right onto the train platform.
And on trains, I didn’t experience one of the most annoying things that happens to me when I fly: the ear-popping that often lingers for a couple of days.
Views of Switzerland from a train window
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
As I traveled from Italy to Switzerland, looking out the window kept me off my iPad for the entire ride.
Lastly, I appreciated that traveling by train is a more sustainable way to get around Europe.
The author boards a train in Italy with her big backpack in October 2022.
