You pay for the work Sam does
Sam charges credits for the work behind an answer, such as checking a reservation or finding a fare. The question itself is free. The total depends on the tools used and the amount Sam reads and writes.
- 10 free credits on signup
- Each reply shows its credit cost
Illustrative · one answer in chat
Plan me a 10-day Interrail from Paris to Vienna, with stops for food.
The cost appears below each reply:
A 10-day route with shorter travel days...
12 usedA charge can include three parts
The total combines the action, any paid tools, and the amount of text Sam reads and writes.
the action its tools the words
The action
Some actions have a flat rate. A chat question has no base charge, while a turn in the trip planner costs one credit.
Its tools
Sam may run lookups, searches, or checks to answer you. The table below shows which tools cost credits.
The words
Long conversations take more text to read, and long answers take more text to write. Both add to the charge.
Credit rates
We charge for tools that cost us to run, including live operator searches and outside research. Looking up our own data and editing your trip are free.
In chat with Sam
The message has no base charge. You pay for the tools and text needed to answer it.
Sam checks its answer against our collection of rail information.
Sam researches a subject that our rail information does not cover.
Sam checks the schedule, changes, and transfer pattern for one connection.
Sam checks current prices and availability across operators for your dates.
Sam matches cities with stations and connections using our own data. We do not charge for these lookups.
Sam displays maps, ticket lists, and timetables from information it has fetched.
In the trip planner
Add a city, move a night, reorder the route, or write a note without spending credits.
Review the timetables, risks, and tasks Sam has stored for your trip.
Sam suggests stops based on your dates, interests, and rail pass.
Sam checks whether a leg needs a reservation and which type to book.
Priced up front
Unlock a formatted trip guide with your itinerary, journey details, bookings, and country notes. You can regenerate it without another charge.
Checkout sits outside the credit system. A booking fee applies, scaled to the order.
A rail expert plans the trip with you. We bill this by the hour and do not use your credit balance.
If an error on our side stops Sam from finishing, we return the credits to your balance.
Sam's reading and writing costs are added to the rates above, so the listed rate is the minimum for that action. An unlisted tool costs 1 credit per call.
Why one answer costs 3 and another costs 28
The larger request needs more context, more research, and a longer answer.
Context adds to the cost. Sam reads the earlier messages in a thread before answering. A fresh chat has less text to process.
Research adds to the cost. A reservation check uses fewer tools than several route lookups and a live fare search.
Long answers cost more. A short answer may use about one credit for writing. A three-week itinerary needs much more text.
Illustrative · a quick question
Does the Berlin–Prague EC need a reservation?
Illustrative · a long brief
Plan three weeks across Europe for two of us, ending in Istanbul.
Expiry, refunds, and top-ups
Packs last 365 days
The validity period starts on the purchase date. The 10 free signup credits are a trial grant and last 7 days.
Top up whenever you like
There is no subscription or automatic renewal. Packs stack, and Sam spends the oldest credits first.
See your balance in the header
The balance updates when Sam finishes a reply, and the reply shows its cost underneath.
Failed answers are not charged
If an error on our side stops a reply, we return the credits to your balance.
Unused packs are refundable for 14 days
We refund a pack in full within 14 days of purchase if you have not spent any of its credits.
Concierge is billed separately
Our human planning service is billed by the hour and does not use credits.
Common questions
How is the cost of a reply worked out?
Why did this question cost more than a similar one?
Do failed or empty replies cost credits?
Do credits expire?
How much is the travel guide PDF?
Can I get a refund?
What if I need a person rather than Sam?
Try Sam with 10 free credits
Your account includes 10 trial credits. Ask a question and see its cost before deciding whether to buy a pack.