Get Unlimited Travel Passes to Commute Within These European Nations

This summer, Europe tourism is back in full force, and the continent is prepping to break all the records this season. And this is pushing up the costs of travelling, flights, and lodging around. That’s why tourists are already looking for ways to save money.

To tackle this, two well-known European nations have come up with exciting offers for visitors. They have just introduced unlimited travel passes. New travel cards are introduced in Germany and Hungary on May 1 to promote public transport use.

The discounted rates are available for locals and visitors alike. However, you must explore more details about the passes and travel before beginning your journeys.

The New Germany Ticket

The low-cost pass, Germany tickets, is already attracting commuters as over 3 million individuals bought them in the first week.

Travellers can use the nation's public transit systems with no limits for just $52 per month. That implies that pass holders have access to regional rail, public buses, trams, and the metro.

However, there is a restriction that visitors who plan to buy the pass should be aware of. The programme excludes long-distance coaches and privately run trains, buses, and high-speed intercity ICE trains.

This comes as a replacement for the well-liked programme from last summer, wherein the cost of public transport tickets was dropped to $10. Although the new pass isn't nearly as affordable as the previous one, it is still a fantastic deal. And, it’s a must for travellers who intend to use Germany's huge transport system.

You can buy tickets on the BVG website, but there are a few things you should know first:

Buy passes before the 20th of the month prior to which you intend to utilize it
The validity of monthly tickets is one calendar month. So, it isn’t a good idea for short-trip visitors to travel for over two months.
The pass is free for travellers under the age of six.
Auto-renewal is applicable on the passes. So, if you don’t intend to subscribe to the pass for the second month, make sure to unsubscribe before the 20th.

Hungary's New Travel Cards

Unlike Germany, Hungary came up with two distinct travel cards. The County Travel Card is only $27 per month and the National Travel Card cost $54 per month. A 90% discount is available to those with a valid student ID, even visitors from other countries.

All the MV-START, MV-HÉV, and GYSEV rail lines as well as Volánbusz bus services accept National Travel Cards for unlimited travel. However, the pass does not include municipal services, therefore it cannot be utilized for intra-city transit. This means you will need to purchase separate tickets for roaming within Budapest on your Hungary trip.

Alternatively, you can use the County Travel Card worth $27 within any of the country's 19 counties. So, if you are staying in one county and using train or bus services to travel between cities within the county, this pass is a viable choice.

You can buy tickets onboard buses, online through the MAV app, or in person from ticket booths across the nation. However, here are a few things you should be aware of:

The pass allows intercity travel, so if you are visiting a single city on your Hungary trip, this isn’t for you.
The National Ticket will cost only $5.40 per month and the County Pass will cost $2.70 per month for travellers with valid student IDs.
The passes do not include first-class train travel.

How are the Passes Beneficial?

Beyond just keeping more money in residents' and visitors' pockets, these encourage increased use of public transit.

This helps reduce automobiles on the road, hence reducing air pollution and benefiting the environment. Moreover, higher utilization of trains or buses reduces traffic congestion issues in cities and lessens the strain on highways.

Furthermore, travelling by train allows you to explore more as a visitor. You can admire stunning views of the countryside or observe metropolitan life as it is lived there.

Get Unlimited Travel Passes to Commute Within These European Nations