LaVerne Ferguson-Kosinski - Europe by Eurail 2013: Touring Europe by Train

To travel by train is to see nature and human beings, towns and churches and rivers, in fact to see life.

AGATHA CHRISTIE

This 37th edition of Europe by Eurail reflects the new Europe and the energy and exuberance of its rail system. Its dynamic, its futuristic, and its on the moveaccelerating with the high-tech boldness and immense speed of the worlds finest transportation system.

Train travel is an enigma for most non-Europeans who either have forgotten or have never had an opportunity to learn what travel by train is like. Europe by Eurail takes the puzzlement out of European rail travellike having a friend along who takes you by the hand and shows you how to use the worlds finest transportation network to see and learn about European life and culture. Toward that end, this guide provides specific, pragmatic information with step-by-step directions.

Europe by Eurail is a train travelers how-to book. Europe by Eurail deals primarily with the necessities of train travel in Europe and offers guidance for appreciating the educational and cultural sites and events that abound along the right-of-way of the Continents magnificent rail system. It is not a hotel/restaurant guide but rather tells you how to locate them. Certain hotels and restaurants do occasionally gain mention, however, especially if they add to the graciousness and enjoyment of a train trip or a stay in a city.

See Europe by Train has been a favorite slogan of Europes railways for decades, but never has it been as full of meaning as it is today. You will never be bored traveling on a high-speed train because rail travel is still leisurely enough to fully enjoy the constantly changing scenes of hills and hamlets, farms and forests, and cities and countrysides. Each country has its own special attractions to offer rail travelers as they speed through, ensconced in comfort and free from worry. Added to the passing scenes is the opportunity for leisurely dining and drinking while chatting with fellow passengers, most of whom are the Europeans you hoped to meet.

Travel by train in Europe is a unique and pleasurable experience. All aboardand take your imagination with you.

Many visitors to Europe fail to realize that the European rail network (which we refer to simply as Eurail) can take you to practically every nook and cranny on the Continent, so they assume they must rent a car. At first glance, those European fly-drive packages might appear enticing, but the more you investigate them, the less appealing they become. In general, car rentals have one basic faultthe price you are quoted may not be the price you pay; it usually is higher. One important facet of a fly-drive package is the VAT (value-added tax), which ranges from 15 to 25 percent in European countries. In some countries, foreign tourists are eligible for refunds on certain purchases [contact 800-KNOW-VAT (800-566-9828) or visit www.globalrefund.com for more information], but there are no VAT refunds on car rentals. Reference to the VAT may be tactfully avoided in car rental information or perhaps hidden in the fine print of the terms. After determining the low cost of a rental car with unlimited mileage privileges (which also includes the privilege of buying unlimited gasoline), dont forget to multiply the bottom line by the VAT of the country and add that figure to the cost.