Eurail Global Pass

✅ メリット

• Covers 33 European countries with a single pass
• Flexible travel days (Flexi 4-15 days or continuous 15 days to 3 months)
• Children 0-11 travel free (max 2 per adult — add free Child Pass at checkout)
• Germany/Switzerland/Austria/Benelux need NO reservations — just hop on any train
• Change plans freely with no rebooking fees — way more flexible than advance tickets
• Night trains save on hotels: Nightjet etc. only need berth supplement with pass
• Flexi 7pm rule: night trains departing after 7pm count as next day's travel day
• Mobile e-pass via Rail Planner app — no physical card needed

❌ デメリット

• France/Spain/Italy high-speed trains need mandatory reservations — €10-50 extra per leg
• Limited passholder seat quotas sell out weeks ahead on popular routes (Paris-Barcelona, Eurostar)
• Reservation systems are fragmented: SNCF, Trenitalia, Renfe all separate — no one-stop booking
• Eurail charges €2 booking fee per reservation — book directly with operators to save
• Fixed itineraries booked 2-3 months ahead are often 30-50% cheaper than pass + reservations
• Rail Planner app can be glitchy; timetables not always up-to-date
• Some private railways excluded (Eurostar needs €35-40 supplement; Spain has very low passholder quotas)
• French rail strikes frequent (~20 days/year) — pass flexibility helps but plans can still be disrupted

👍 おすすめ

• Multi-country travel across 3+ countries
• 2+ week flexible itineraries
• Backpackers who decide as they go
• Germany + Switzerland + Austria routes (reservation-free paradise)
• Gap year or long-term Europe travel
• Families with kids (children ride free)
• Travelers who hate booking every leg in advance

👎 不向き

• Single country travel (one country passes are cheaper)
• Fixed 2-3 city itinerary (advance tickets save more)
• Mainly traveling in France/Spain (reservation fees eat your savings)
• Ultra-budget travelers willing to hunt for advance ticket deals
• Short 3-5 day trips

🎫 有効化

🔄 払戻規定