Train Passes Offering Discounts in European Countries—What They Are and How to Get the Deals
A guide to the various types of discount passes that can be purchased for European train systems so that you can get the best deals on frequent travel
Travel discount cards and passes
We interrogate the “deals” on annual discount train passes offered for children, students, adults, and seniors, as well as Eurail / Interrail passes and more, to see if they actually end up saving travelers money. We look deep into the exceptions and fine print that sometimes makes these not as worthwhile as one might assume.
The Newbie’s Guide to Trains in Britain: How to Quickly Find the Best Prices and Prep for a Trip
A complete guide to scoring the best prices, choosing seats, saving with split ticketing, and the experience of riding trains in England, Wales, and Scotland
Rail Europe vs Omio vs Trainline: Which Consistently Gets the Best Deals on Train Tickets
We tested the top three train booking platforms to find out which gave the best prices: Omio, Trainline, or Rail Europe?
Senior Savings on European Train Travel: The Ultimate Guide to the Discounts
This is a detailed guide to senior discounts for trains in Europe and how to ensure you get them.
Senior Savings on European Train Travel: The Ultimate Guide to the Discounts Read More »
How to Get the Best Child and Youth Discounts on European Trains
Here’s how to make sure you get all offered discounts for babies, children, and youth on trains in each European country.
How to Get the Best Child and Youth Discounts on European Trains Read More »
Our Reviewers’ Picks of Underrated, Useful Travel Gear
Can You Plug All Your Devices into a Single Foreign Socket?
Want enough juice for a USB-C laptop without its charging brick? Want to charge a phone and tablet too? Plus plug in any other electrical device? And use all the weirdly shaped electro-holes in any wall in the world or under a train seat? A universal charger is the answer; we've tried tons and this is our favorite. It can fast-charge phones and laptops with 3 USB-C and 2 USB-A charging ports and it comes with a spare fuse.
Do You Shake, Bump, and Jiggle Everywhere You Roam?
We use our favorite road speaker to animate small parties, indoors or outdoors, anywhere in the world. At just the size of a tall beer can, the Ultimate Ears Boom 4 sounds impressive and has solid bass, especially when placed on a hard surface in the center of the room. We have smaller, even more portable picks (though not as loud) in our review.
Shouldn't You Be Able to Squish Your Water Bottle into a Pocket-Sized Disc?
Having a water bottle that I can fold up flat makes me more motivated to actually use it everywhere I go and to stay hydrated. Hydaway makes the only durable, food-grade silicone (non-BPA, non-plastic) ones we've found.
Can You Roll Your Backpack?
Rolling luggage is great except when you hit trails, metro stairs, or cobblestone streets. Backpacks are fine but who wants to carry them for long? We currently recommend this Osprey model that's a bit pricey but extremely sturdy, full-featured, and has been at my side for years on the road.
Don't Take Up Table Space! Don't Dump Your Stuff on the Floor!
Hang a bag at any café table. Don't take up your hosts' shelf space in the bathroom. Keep your pack off of the floor in a busy hostel. If you have a Heroclip on the strap of a pack, suitcase, carry-on, or purse, you'll use it all the freaking time for all sorts of things.
A Discrete, Portable, Not-at-All-Messy Way to Have Good Lube on Hand?
Good lube can be essential for safer sex, but unfortunately most lube packaging is not road-worthy. One of our sexpert's favorite silicone-based and ultra-body-safe lubes comes in an excellent travel version. In our guide we also detail a few other travel and daily-carry water-based options, as well as how to discuss lube across cultures.
