General Question about Eurrail Pass, plus question on changing trains

Question

Mother/daughter trip to Europe in July, and it’s been a long time since I used Eurail (going back to the old punch card days!). I’m using the option to “Plan your Trip” on the Eurail site. I have not booked our Eurail passes, but leaning toward the first-class 5-day pass for the following… Paris to Interlaken : Interlaken to Venice : Venice to Innsbrook : Innsbrook to Munich

Question 1
I feel silly asking, but how do I know there will be seats available for the stops noted above? Back in the day, we just winged it, but now I have my 14 year old daughter with me and I’m making hotel reservations in advance. We’re traveling in July and I know it’s super busy.

Question 2
A reservation is required for Paris to Belfort, and it notes that I need to buy a seat reservation onboard. Anyway to buy in advance? Perhaps the option will show once I purchase the Eurail passes?

Question 3
When I see “short transfer” in red, I imagine that it is referring to the distance. For example, coming in on one track and leaving on another? OR, is there a chance I need to hop in a cab and go to another station? Again, silly question, but I’m wanting to be prepared. (See image below)

Question 4
Thoughts on taking the train from Interlaken to Zurich, then flying to Venice to save time? It’s a long plane ride and we are meeting my husband in Venice.

Thank you in advance for the help. I am also open to other advice!

Danhiel · Accepted Answer

Hello ​@BridgetandSkyeIf no seats are available for this connection, you have other alternatives to travel from Paris to Mulhouse orStrasbourg and continue to Basel with a regional train. You have also direct trains from Paris to Basel, but reservations are more expensive.For this connection, I would reserve seats to Mulhouse, even if you change in Belfort, which is not recommended. In case of delays it is better to stay in the train until Mulhouse.You can reserve seats in advance on raileurope.com, but you need a pass number if you don’t have one. Such reservations are refundable if you change your plans.https://www.eurail.com/en/book-reservations#/generatePassCoverNumberShorts transfers are not a problem in Switzerland. If you miss a connection, you have another train 30 minutes later.

rvdborgt · Answer

You can reserve seats in advance on raileurope.com,And always change currency to euros on Rail Europe. Prices there in other currencies are around 5% higher.

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