Enrichment · Passion Projects · Travel

Price the pass
against the tickets.

Type the pass price and the fares for each trip. The calculator puts the pass on the trips where it is worth the most and shows whether it really saves.

Compare the passWhat you get

The intercity rail pass value calculator

The worked example is a five-day pass for two weeks in Italy and Switzerland. Nothing you type leaves this browser.

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What you get

Enrichment · Passion ProjectsFree

What you finish with
The cost of the pass with its fees and any tickets it does not cover, against buying every ticket, the saving or extra cost, what a pass day costs and which trips go on the pass. It prints as a summary for the trip folder.
Who it is for
Travelers weighing a rail pass, students planning a semester-abroad weekend circuit, and families pricing a rail trip.
Format
Browser calculator for a phone, tablet or computer, by touch or keyboard. Prints a summary; downloads a spreadsheet (.csv); export and import a file.
Access
Free. No account, no sign-in and nothing to install. Everything you type stays in this browser; nothing is sent to Caveat.
Where it lives
The Passion Projects space in Caveat Enrichment.
Support
Questions, a correction or a request: team@caveatacademic.com.

How to use it

  1. Type the pass price and days.
  2. List each trip.
  3. Look up a real ticket fare.
  4. Add seat fees for pass holders.
  5. Buy whichever costs less.

Compare the pass

How the comparison works

What the pass really costs, trip by trip.

The worked example: two weeks in Italy and SwitzerlandTickets$359six tripsPass$389five travel days+ fees, + one ticket$4504 × $13 + $9ResultCosts $91 moreagainst ticketsThe worked example: two weeks in Italy and SwitzerlandTickets$359six tripsPass$389five travel days+ fees, + one ticket$4504 × $13 + $9ResultCosts $91 moreagainst tickets
The pass covers its days on the most expensive trips; seat fees and any trips left off are added to its price.

Not every trip deserves a day

A pass with a set number of travel days is worth most on long, expensive trips. A short regional ride is often cheaper as a ticket than as a pass day. The page uses the days on the trips where the fare, less any seat fee, is highest, and buys tickets for the rest.

Seat fees and advance fares

On many high-speed and night trains, pass holders still pay for a seat reservation. Advance tickets bought weeks ahead can cost a fraction of the walk-up fare, which can make a pass the more expensive choice. Use fares you would actually buy.

Sources

  1. U.S. Department of State. Traveler’s checklist and country information (travel.state.gov).
  2. Federal Trade Commission. Consumer advice on travel deals and fine print (consumer.ftc.gov).
  3. U.S. Department of Transportation. Intercity passenger rail information (transportation.gov).
  4. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Planning a trip budget and paying abroad (consumerfinance.gov).

Fares, fees and pass rules belong to the operators and change often; the example figures are illustrative. Your entries stay in this browser. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.