Eurail pass or similar

I generally agree that the days of the Eurail Pass being a really good deal have passed, for the following reasons:

• you can buy advance-purchase tickets on all the major intercity and inter-country trains that are heavily discounted if you don't mind the inflexibility (you lock in a date and time)
• the "reservation fee" charged in some countries (on top of your Eurail ticket) can be astonishingly high
• you have to travel frequently and constantly to make them worthwhile

Doing it point-to-point takes more work, and requires a familiarity with each country's train website, but the investment of time in learning all this is well worth it.

Switzerland is a maze, but there is help: https://www.seat61.com/Switzerland.htm

your profile indicates you would still be eligible for the youth discount, therefore personally I would not rule out a pass too quickly, especially if flexibility means anything to you (however nowadays most visitors gladly and voluntarily carve monthlong itineraries in stone, verbatim to the minute, just to save a hundred Euros, which I would consider negligable compared to the overall cost of the trip...). very often a mix of (flex-)pass, a couple of saver fares and a few local offers bought on the spot can be the most effective balance between flexibility and money saving. a sensible approach in my opinion: draft a rough itinerary and post it on here - we can point out the most useful solutions.

you mention you are 'ineligible' for an IDP - so you are still a learner? otherwise, there are useful leasing schemes by Renault/Citroen for longer term rentals, though be aware that for a single(?) traveller a car will still be more expensive, usually less delightful and very often even a hindrance.

p.s. peter (#1) sure was gone quickly, they sure are still on to him

<<. Is it better financially to pay s you go or fork out for one of the rail passes for these countries?>>

Neither. A rail pass these days is useless in France, even if you are in the youth category. You buy long-distance tickets 92 or fewer days in advance on the SNCF site or Trainline or Loco (all having the same schedules and prices), and you select PREM fares if you want the lowest prices; the price increases normally as the date(s) of your travel approach. They are non-exchangeable and nonrefundable, though, so you have to be sure of your scheduling. If you're not, choose the next best option - Loisirs. You buy TER and Intercité train tickets online or at any SNCF station or boutique. TER tickets will not ever vary in price - you may realize some small savings buying Intercité tickets in advance.

Why are you ineligible for an IDP? If it's because you are still a learner, you can't rent or lease a car anyway. If you have a valid driver's license (not a learner's permit), you can always get an IDP.

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