Many of you are now making travel plans for your visits abroad this summer. Some folks are interested in travelling before and after summer programs and have requested additional information on train travel. Scheduling an open-jawed flight (arriving in one city and departing from another) and travelling in between your arrival and departure destinations is a wonderful way to maximize your European travels rather inexpensively! Here are some tips:

• For those interested in booking individual train tickets, Rail Europe is your best option. Their website is in English and is quite easy to use. You can even use links on the website to book hotels and activities in your destination cities. If you’d rather speak to a sales representative about your booking, please feel free to call  1-800-622-8600 and speak to Rail Europe consultant based at the American offices in White Plains, NY. 
• For those of you interested in booking a Eurail travel pass (good for travel in several countries within a limited period of time), please visit the Eurail website. Their website is in English and offers price quotes in US$. Click on the “Eurail Passes” link on the front page to read detailed information on each pass offered. You may also want to visit the Support page  for the FAQ list and/or to open a direct chat box with a service representative. Eurail also has a great Facebook app that allows you to ask a question and receive a personal response within a few hours. I cannot stress how service-oriented Eurail is, so please take advantage of their helpful website and services!
• The Eurostar is an excellent option for folks wishing to travel from mainland Europe to London (or, by connection, the rest of the British Isles). Eurostar offers budget-friendly express service from London to Paris and Brussels (and vice versa). The Eurostar website is simple to navigate and offers a great selection of tour/activity options on the Latest Deals page.

As always, please take the time to research your travel options. Taking a few minutes to review fares and restrictions can save you a lot of time and money later.