Should I buy a Eurail pass?

Usually, no. If you book your specific train tickets 2-3 months in advance directly through the rail operators, you will almost always pay less than the cost of a rail pass.

How much cash should I carry?

Very little. Cards are accepted almost everywhere in Europe. Carry 50-100 Euros for small cafes or markets that might have a card minimum.

Planning your first two-week trip to Europe

Limit your trip to three cities maximum to avoid spending your entire vacation in transit. Use a high-speed train network to travel between cities, and book your long-haul flights into one city and out of another to avoid backtracking.

Pick your 'anchor' cities. Choose three cities that are well-connected by rail. For a first trip, the London-Paris-Amsterdam or Rome-Florence-Venice routes are beginner-friendly and minimize travel time.
Book 'Open-Jaw' flights. Search for multi-city tickets. Fly into your first city (e.g., London) and out of your last city (e.g., Amsterdam). This saves you a full day of travel and the cost of returning to your starting point.
Use rail over regional flights. Book train tickets via official national rail websites (like SNCF or Trenitalia) 60-90 days in advance. Trains take you city-center to city-center, avoiding the two-hour transit to and from airports.
Build 'low-intensity' days. Schedule at least one day per week with no pre-booked activities. You will need time to handle laundry, rest, or simply wander without a checklist.

Should I buy a Eurail pass?: Usually, no. If you book your specific train tickets 2-3 months in advance directly through the rail operators, you will almost always pay less than the cost of a rail pass.
How much cash should I carry?: Very little. Cards are accepted almost everywhere in Europe. Carry 50-100 Euros for small cafes or markets that might have a card minimum.