When you are in Europe, the main thing you can do to increase your enjoyment is DON'T CARRY UNNEEDED LUGGAGE!!! Only take what you really need, and when making side trips, try to leave most luggage checked at a hotel while only carrying what you need for the side trip.

There are three important reasons for this.

First, trying to get on a train while lugging 3-4 suitcases is difficult, because the trains don't want to wait for you and there isn't much space on board to move luggage around.

Second, if you have a lot of luggage, theives will find it easy to distract you and steal some of it. You're not going to chase after someone who stole your purse if it means leaving the rest of you luggage unattended.

Third, if you travel light and see something interesting, you can hop off the train, spend a little time in the town, and catch the next train. This is much more difficult when carrying all your luggage.

See a feature article on trackandtrain.com about train travel

I have used various rail passes in the past: the Holland Railpass, the Benelux Tour Pass, and a full Eurail pass.

When you use a pass good for some number of days in a 15 or 30 day period, IT IS IMPORTANT to have this pass validated before you get on your first train of the day. Read the instructions to be sure, but here's how it works:

A flexible-use pass has some boxes on it where you write in the dates for which you are using the pass.

YOU MUST fill in the day of travel BEFORE a conductor/ticket person finds you. If you FORGET to write the day in, they will be likely to get very MAD at you and would have every right to charge you a fine.

Here's why: If you were to ride the train without writing the date in, and you never had to show your ticket, then you would be cheating the system. You would be getting a free ride, and they hate that idea. If you need to ride something for free, try the Amsterdam trams.

So again, fill in the date on your flexible passes. For full Eurail passes, if I remember correctly you must go to a ticket window to get this validated.

At most big train stations there are many employees around on the platforms and in the stations. It's best to check you pass conditions with them before you board any train.

ENJOY!!!

Jim Lohse