How To Beat Next Year's Price Increases For Eurail Passes

The price of 1992 Eurail passes will increase 10 to 20 percent next year depending upon the pass, says the North American Regional Committee for Eurail.

From the time you purchase a Eurail pass, you can wait a maximum of six months to get it validated and start using it. So travelers planning to tour Europe by train through next spring can save money by purchasing their passes by Dec. 31 at this year's prices.

For example, a 15-day, first-class Eurail pass that costs $390 this year will sell for $430 next year.

And the popular one-month Eurail Youthpass (good for second-class travel for those under 26 years of age) that costs $425 will rise to $470 next year.

The newest pass for 1992 is a Youth Flexipass for travelers under 26; it's good for 15 days of travel in a two-month period. It replaces two Youth Flexipasses good for 15 and 30 days of travel during a three-month period.

Costs of other Eurail passes will be $550 for 21 days, $680 for a month, $920 for two months and $1,150 for three months.

The Eurail Saverpass, good for three or more people traveling together for 15 consecutive days between April 1 and Sept. 30, or two or more people traveling together from Oct. 1 to March 31, will be $340 a person.

The Eurail Flexipass (first class) will cost $280 for 5 days of travel during a 15-day period, $450 for 9 days of travel in a 21-day period and $610 for 14 days during a month.

There's also a EurailDrive Pass good for four days of train travel and three days with a Hertz rental car within a 21-day period. The price is $269 a person, the same as this year.

Anyone planning to travel in Europe by train should check individual fares between the cities they plan to visit to make certain a rail pass is cost-effective.

For those who want to ramble around, a pass can be a good buy. The passes also are good for certain bus travel, ferries and river cruises.

The unlimited mileage train passes are good for travel in 17 countries - Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

The passes must be purchased in the U.S.; they are available through travel agents. For more information, contact Eurail, Box 325, Old Greenwich, Conn. 06870.