Europe Travel> Eurail Select Pass

Image: Eurailing across the Continent
Image by: Miss Rouge

Text by: Tanya Munshi
Do you want a good deal from a Eurail pass? Then go for a Eurail Select Pass that allows you to see some neighboring countries apart from the usual route. In this pass, you can choose 3, 4 or 5 countries and cover them in 5, 6, 8 or 10 travel days within the two month validity. You can also choose a 15 day travel option if you wish to see 5 countries.

The countries to choose from are:

• Austria (including Liechtenstein)
• Belgium/Netherlands/Luxemburg
• Bulgaria/Montenegro/Serbia
• Croatia/Slovenia
• Denmark
• Finland
• France (including Monaco)
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Italy
• Norway
• Portugal
• Republic of Ireland
• Romania
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland

Neighboring Countries
There are in all 23 countries that are connected by train/ ship. But here you need to select two countries that must be linked by a direct train and are part of the Eurail offer. Ireland is an exception to this rule, which can be combined with Benelux, even though there is no direct rail or boat link.

Select Pass for 3 Countries
You can select three countries out of 23 European countries for a span of 5, 6, 8 or 10 travel days within a 2-month period.

Select Pass for 4 Countries
You can select four countries out of 23 European countries for a span of 5, 6, 8 or 10 travel days within a 2-month period.

Select Pass for 5 Countries
You can select five countries out of 23 European countries for a span of 5, 6, 8, 10 or 15 travel days within a 2-month period.

Types of Eurail Select Passes
Each Eurail Select pass – 3, 4 and 5 countries have the following types of passes:

• Select Pass Countries Adult
• Select Pass Countries Saver, and
• Select Pass Countries Youth

The overall common travel clauses are:

1. The countries must be connected by rail/ ship
2. The traveler needs to be 26 years or older on the day of travel to avail of an Adult Pass
3. Super saver passes are offered to travelers who are traveling in a group of two or more
4. To avail of youth passes, one can be traveling individually or in a group, provided he/ she is 25 years or younger on the day of travel
5. There are discounts offered on group/ youth travel depending on the number of countries they are visiting

Europe Travel> Hostel Discount Cards

Text by: Tanya Munshi
Traveling long distance by the Eurail can make you tired and a need for a good night sleep. You look for the best option available that is a combination of a comfortable room and saving yourself some dough. Maybe you could try using a hostel discount card.

What is a hostel discount card?
With a hostel discount card, you can avail of discounts for a few hostel bunk nights including some additional benefits. These discounts and additional benefits may vary from hostel to hostel. Before signing up for a hostel discount card, its better to find out the kind of discounts offered. Sometimes hostel discount cards only waive off the booking fees. So read the fine print.
There are two kinds of hostel cards that can come handy during your Europe trip -

Hostels of Europe Discount Card: this card offers a discount of $2 for online hostel bookings only. No extra discounts are offered by the hostel.
For more information go to Hotelsofeurope

YHA/ HI Hostels: Youth Hostelling Associations (YHA)/ Hostelling International (HI) are a part of the International Youth Hostel Federation. As a result, hostels under this board stick to certain standards. You can apply for an annual membership of an HI Hostel for about $28.

Europe Travel> Traveling solo in Europe

Text by: Tanya Munshi
Believe it or not, but it is an experience of a lifetime. Getting to be in a whole new country all by yourself, with only you and your conscience tasting an entirely different culture and way of living, is quite exhilarating. There are thousands of people young and old traveling across Europe, out which the number of solo women travelers is quite overwhelming. Hence, one should not find it hard to comprehend if your girlfriend/ daughter/ sister wants to travel to Europe all by herself. In fact, several women across America prefer traveling solo. So here are some tips for first time solo women travelers to keep in mind while heading out.

It’s very important that as a solo woman traveler you are on your guard. As far as possible, avoid too much of eye contact with other fellow travelers/ localities if you’re not too sure of their background.

If you come across any person whom you instinctively don’t like, avoid telling him/ her that you’re traveling solo. Tell the person you will be shortly joined by a friend in the next destination. Best would be, to avoid telling just anyone whom you meet that you’re a solo traveler.

Before heading out solo, inform your folks/ friends back home of your whereabouts. Keep your identification, address, and emergency contact numbers handy for any kind of emergency.

It’s always advisable that you check before hand with a taxi the total fare from your hotel/ hostel to the next destination. This will prevent your taxi driver from charging you extra at the end of the journey.

Dress up simple and neat. The idea is to not attract too much of attention, hence avoid revealing clothes, flashy gadgets like your latest cell phone, jewellery etc.

Preferably try and ask for directions from the tourist information booths only. At least the inputs that you get will be reliable.

Be very clear before hand where your next destination will be. Do your research by asking the hostel owner, tourist booth, read up maps etc and look confident when hailing a taxi or taking a bus ride.

Keep a first aid kit, medicine kit handy in your back pack. Whatever it is, avoid sharing any lotion, water from a fellow traveler. Carry your own supplies.

It is no longer a popular trend to hitch a ride while traveling solo. It is not only unsafe, but you never know where hitching a ride maybe illegal.

But to avoid all this, it’s best you get hold of a bus pass, if you wish to travel by road. Or make friends with a fellow woman traveler and share a taxi or hire a car.

For a solo traveler, finding a single room for stay can be a little tough. Check for the room rates at the hotel/ hostel price list. Single rooms are the cheapest but may not be all that comfortable. If you have a flexible budget then paying a little extra for a bigger/ better room should be a good idea.

Finally, before setting out on your Europe trip, talk to people who have been on similar trips before and do enough online research so that you know what to expect upon reaching there.

Europe Travel> How to find a hostel

Text by: Tanya Munshi

Backpacking and traveling across Europe is fun and adventurous. You open your mind to a whole new life, a country so beautiful that will enrich your life for ever. But backpacking and traveling low budget does have its own side effects, especially when it comes to a place of stay.

Hostels are predominantly meant for backpackers who are traveling across Europe within a specific budget. These hostels are equipped with rooms, bunk beds, showers, security and also offer an opportunity to meet like minded travelers.

Since these are budget stays, hostels provide you with the basic amenities. Ensure the hostel that you plan on staying has dining areas, bathrooms, cooking area, laundry, lockers and in some cases, tourist booths and internet access. Remember, most hostels don’t offer you frills such as – room service and may/ may not provide towels. If at all they do, you may have to pay a towel deposit.

Keep your mind open as some hostels maybe spotlessly clean or may not match up to your expectations. Check with the hostel if they have any curfew time, so that you don’t run into trouble during late nights.

A typical hostel/ hotel should have all kinds of rooms – budget, single, sharing etc. At times, double occupancy rooms maybe taken up by couples out on a weekend trip, while single rooms taken up by budget businessmen.

Before paying for a room, ask if you can see the rooms. Check if the door locks work fine, whether the kitchens and bathrooms are clean and hygienic and beds made neatly with clean sheets. Small details such as these make a lot of difference in your overall Europe travel.

Before putting up in a hostel ask for their rules and regulations – especially the ones concerning deposits and refunds. Just in case you don’t like the place, you know you can leave anytime with your deposit in return. There are instances where hostels don’t refund any money, if you have paid them in advance. So it’s best to check for such minor, but important details beforehand.

These places may not be the best of the places to stay that you have imagined, but this is what most backpackers do. After all, you don’t live here for too long. A night or two, or maybe even more and you’re off to your next destination on your map.