Buy Eurail passes before you leave

New York — Planning the old “If it’s Tuesday, it must be Belgium” trip through Europe?

If you expect to cross borders by train, look into the discount passes offered by Eurail before you leave home.

Sure, Eurail still offers the classic Youthpass for travelers under the age of 26 ($414, 15 days, good in 17 countries), but there are other deals as well, like the Saverpass, for two or more people traveling together ($498 per person, 15 days, 17 countries). Eurail also offers other deals such as a Selectpass good for any combination of three, four or five adjoining countries, and half-price passes for children ages 4 to 11.

Guide books sometimes advise travelers to buy passes before Jan. 1 for a trip the following year because prices tend to rise annually, but Eurail has said it will not increase prices in 2004.

Remember to buy your pass before you depart. The discounted passes are designed for non-Europeans and are difficult — and more expensive — to obtain once you are there. For more information, check out www.eurail.com or (800) 4EURAIL.

Yellowstone highlights winter offerings

Yellowstone National Park, Wyo. — The summertime trip to a national park is an American vacation classic.

But natural wonders do not disappear with the crowds, and Yellowstone offers a series of educational vacations call “Lodging and Learning” to highlight its year-round attractions.

This winter’s offerings include Old Faithful Winter Adventure, which includes a ski tour to Lone Star Geyser, wildlife watching and a trip to the Grand Canyon in a “snowcoach” — a van-sized vehicle that can traverse the park’s snowy roads.

Other programs include Yellowstone for Families, with snowshoeing and animal tracking activities, and Winter Wolf Discovery, with wildlife-viewing excursions.

Rates range from $245 for the two-day wolf program to $795 a person for a five-night ski trip, including lodging in park hotels. The programs begin in late December and end in early March.

For more information, call (307) 344-2293 or visit www.YellowstoneAssociation.org.