Why Eurail Passes Are Perfect for Families

When I backpacked through Europe as a twenty-something, one of my favorite ways to travel was in the sleeper couchette of a night train.

In the morning, you woke up in a new location, refreshed and ready for the day, rather than having to rush to catch an early-morning train and spending money on a night in a hostel.  

It never occurred to me that I would one day be traveling through Europe in this same manner with my kids—but I did and they loved it. 

Eurail passes provide families with a flexible and easy way to get around Europe. 

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For short, regional journeys, using a Eurail pass can be as easy as checking a timetable and grabbing the next, most convenient train. Seats don’t need to be reserved, and train stations are usually located in the center of town, putting families at the heart of the action. 

Case in point: If you are hanging out in Brussels and suddenly realize you have just HAVE to go to Bruges (because it’s amazing and like a fairytale and there are waffles and chocolate), a Eurail pass will have you and yours there ASAP. 

Longer journeys do require reservations. Eurail recommends booking as far as two months in advance, though seven days before you travel is often enough time to make a reservation. You can make one through Eurail.com and also use their app on your mobile device. 

Eurail advises travelers that all night trains, most high-speed trains, many French trains (apart from regional ones) as well as most scenic trains all need reservations. In the summertime, expect trains to be crowded, and try to make as many bookings as possible for your family in advance in order to guarantee space, timing and seats together. 

Train travel is also considerably more affordable for families, who can take advantage of free passes for children 11 and younger as well as youth passes for young adults under age 27. 

READ MORE: Eurail Introduces New Options and Offers for 2017

Taking the Night Train With Kids

Night trains are an ideal way to travel with the family. You complete a long-haul journey while everyone sleeps, and families save money on accommodations. 

The best way to go is to try and book a sleeper. These cars are the most private, sleeping as many as two or three people. If you have small children, you can probably squeeze two kids into a single bed. 

Make sure that you have the right rail pass. All classes of Eurail passes include access to triple compartments and, if you are a family of three or four, this will probably be fine for you. 

Second class and first-class passes have access to single and double sleeper options. 

Families can also book couchettes. These sleep between four and six people and are available for first- and second-class Eurail pass holders. However, they are not private and you may be sleeping with other people that you do not know.

There is also the option to book reclining, airplane-style seats on the train. These are definitely the cheapest and most affordable option, but you most likely will sacrifice a good night’s sleep by doing so.

My daughters and I traveled from Munich to Amsterdam on the night train in a six-sleeper couchette. We took up one side of the couchette while two women slept in the other. When we booked, the reservation agent made sure that we would be in a women-only compartment. 

There was a bathroom at the end of the corridor, which was relatively clean, and there was enough space for all of our luggage. However, if we had had a full six people in the couchette, it would have been a tight squeeze. 

What we lacked in comfort and spaciousness we gained in convenience. We got all the way to Amsterdam in one night. We arrived fairly well rested and were ready for a day of exploration.