NEW YORK, March 26, 2001 - It's become a rite of passage for many high school and college seniors to follow graduation with that once-in-a-lifetime experience of traveling through Europe by train. Yet there are many things that need to be considered when planning this type of trip, such as safety issues, language barriers and cultural gaps. To help make the process a bit easier for students and their anxious parents, outdoor recreation and adventure travel web site GORP.com has developed a resource dedicated specifically to Eurail travel.

"There are critical things that students need to know before they go," said Bill Greer, CEO of GORP.com. "Like the ins and outs of train travel, where to stay and where to play. We've answers all of these questions and provided personal recollections of past travelers, as well as introduced an interactive forum where students can exchange their own stories."

Specifically geared toward making trips via the rails a bit easier, less stressful and more fun and relaxing for European-bound students, GORP's Eurail pages, available at www.gorp.com/gorp/location/europe/eurail.htm, discuss topics that include:

	Need the Eurailpass, the Europass, or is it the Flexipass? Read about the history of Eurail travel and get information about the 16 different passes available - along with pros and cons of each.
	A complete insider's guide to the dos and don'ts of Eurail travel — learn about those hidden costs not included in your Eurailpass and the importance of getting your rail pass validated before boarding your first train.
	Already have your rail pass? See what else you'll need in order to ride the train, learn how to reserve a seat or a bed if you are traveling overnight, see which trains require reserved seats, read about tricks for getting on sold-out trains and see how to get the most out of your day pass.

In addition, some valuable insights are provided for first-time travelers to Europe. These helpful tips, which students should keep in mind for their trip through Europe, include:

Before You Leave

	Find personal contacts in the places you are going - ask family and friends, check chat rooms or Web sites, and identify people who can be contacted once you get to a destination.
	Learn language basics in the countries you will be going - simple phrases such as"Hello," "How are you?" "Thank you," "Good bye," and "How much is that?" will be endlessly useful in communicating.
	Understand the unique qualities of the cultures you will be visiting - do your homework and learn about the local salutations, eating habits, and basic etiquette, as it can vary from one country to the next.
	Learn fundamentals about international travel — know about train travel, the required documentation, what to do in an emergency, and how to call home.

During Your Trip

	Use the personal contacts you were given, as well as any you make while on the road — a phone call never hurt anyone and could result in a terrific adventure.
	Don't be shy, but don't be brash - think of yourself as an ambassador and behave with poise, attention, and a sense of purpose.
	Use what language you know and can learn easily - willingness to learn the local lingo will go a long way.
	Know the local laws and rules, and respect them — you are not immune to your responsibility.

"Traveling Europe by train can be a wonderful and memorable experience", added Greer. "Having the information that GORP has pulled together can put parents' minds at ease and get their kids excited for their summer adventure."

GORP.com is the largest and most trafficked Web site dedicated to outdoor recreation and adventure travel. With more than 200,000 pages of content, GORP offers a complete package of authoritative, award-winning content; a large, active community of outdoor enthusiasts; and a full-range of e-commerce offerings drawing nearly 20 million page views per month. Started in 1995, GORP offers a full-service active travel-booking feature with thousands of trips, accessible via the Web or telephone. GORP has been cited by Yahoo!, US News & World Report, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and many others, as the leader in this category and a "Best of the Web" site. AOL Keyword: GORP

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