raejeanne

We (husband and I) are planning a trip in June and want to know the easiest/cheapest train.
We are going from Frankfort to Bad Windshiem
then need regional travel for a week in Bayern
Then train from Bad Windshiem to Kassel/New Wilhenshoe
Then train from Kassel to Frankfort

I was looking at Bayern regional travel for a week - but that page is only in German. Is there a savings for a week versus daily ticket?

And would it be cheaper to buy the 3 other tickets separately then ?

PalenQ

If traveling on some long-distance trains - three of them and wanting flexibility look into the German (Twin) Railpass where if you travel say 4 days or more you can get unlimited travel for a day for around 30 euros a day or so - anywhere in Germany on any train - mix that in with the Bavarian Lander Tickets and you may find it better than three long-distance discounted tickets that, being sold in limited numbers, must be booked in stone weeks in advance then cannot be changed nor refunded.

For lots of great info on German trains check out these IMO fine sites- www.seat61.com (good info on discounted tickets); www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

http://www.bahn.com/i/view/DEU/en/pr...r-ticket.shtml - this DB site should answer your questions about a week vs day Lander passes.

Russ

"We are going from Frankfort to Bad Windshiem"

Regular fare (and the fastest one too) is €94 for 2 adults using the ICE train (from Frankfurt to Würzburg) + RB train combination; the cheapest option uses the same trains and will cost just €29 for two - but you must buy this "savings fare" ticket in advance ASAP at the DB website:

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

The savings fare for this trip starts at €29/2 and rises as tickets sell. So you may have to pay a little more if tickets for your desired date and travel time are already gone. The low fare locks you into specific trains (you leave at the time you schedule, last-minute changes not possible.)

Note correct spellings when you book: FRANKFURT, BAD WINDSHEIM.

Bad Windsheim's open-air museum (Freilichtmuseum) is amazing, BTW.

"...then need regional travel for a week in Bayern"

Daypasses like the Bayern Ticket will likely be best - but there are cheaper ones as well,like the VGN Tagesticket Plus (€17.50) which is good for a smaller area (and only €17.50 for two days if you buy it on a Saturday!) Exactly what destinations do you have in mind, and on what days?

BW to Kassel: Look for a savings fare ticket at the DB itinerary page above. Probably €49 or so for two.

Kassel to Frankfurt: Savings fare ticket again; lowest price €29/2.

So it looks like two adults can do the 3 major legs with savings fares for a total of about €100 (minimum, a bit more if best prices are no longer available for your June travel dates) plus maybe €18-€27/day for daypasses.

raejeanne

thank you so much. while in Bad Windsheim we are planning on visiting the Air Museum, Rothenburg ob der Tauber and other historical area that anyone can suggest. We re-enact a German influence in 1640 time periond and would like to see some furniture etc.. but also love the midevil era

raejeanne

Russ
have a quick question on the Bahn ticket. If I have the savings fare and my 1st train is late due to contruction, can I still ride the same connection train at later time ?

PalenQ

yes, according to some previous posts asking that question - if your train is running late ask the conductor on the train what should you do - do you have to go to the ticket window, etc. You I think have to ride the same fare-type train - not mixing an IC with an ICE - we'll say what Russ, an expert, says but that is my take.

Russ

If you have a savings fare ticket and one train is late enough to make you miss the next train, then DB personnel will allow you to use the next available train connection.

Example:

Bad Windsheim - Kassel...

RB train from BW to Steinach
RB train from Steinach to Würzburg
ICE train at 11:29 from Würzburg to Kassel

If your 2nd scheduled RB train happens to be late and doesn't get you to Würzburg in time for you to catch the 11:29 ICE (keep in mind that the ICE might be held a few minutes so you CAN make it) then you'll be allowed to use the next high-speeed train to Kassel.

For Frankfurt - Bad Windsheim: You must catch your first train (ICE) whether it's on time or late. Because both connections after that are on regional trains, you can either travel as scheduled, or, at your option, you can choose to make a stopover in Würzburg and continue to Steinach and Bad Windsheim whenever you please (as long as it's on the same travel day within the period of validity printed on your ticket.) DB doesn't actually care which regional trains you use before or after your high-speed train segment, even though these regional trains will be scheduled on your ticket. Any travel segment scheduled for a regional train must be done on a regional train only, however, not with high-speed equipment.

Hope that answers your question.

raejeanne

All
Thanks for the responses, They have answered my questions.

Any tips on things to explore in Bad Windsheim area would be greatly appreciated ! (I do have the Freilichtmuseum and Rothenburg Ob Der Tauber on the agenda).

Oh - the regional train tickets are available at the train station in Bad Windsheim ?

Russ

I should have given you this link on the VGN Tagesticket Plus; it is available at ticket machines everywhere in the VGN zone:

http://www.vgn.de/en/dayticket?Edition=en&p=1

You can use this schematic of the VGN network to see how to get around with the VGN daypass from Bad Windsheim:

http://www.vgn.de/media/netz_plan.pdf

If you are going to Würzburg or other destinations outside the VGN zone you will probably want a Bayern ticket instead - it's available at all ticket machines at all stations as well.

Russ

BTW, You might pay less than the 17.50 if your destination is a shorter distance away. Prices are tiered according to distance from your starting point, like regular tickets, but with the Tagesticket Plus, you have unlimited travel that day on the particular travel leg you select - if the destination is far enough away, you'll pay 17.50 and at that price you can travel the entire VGN network. When you buy your Tagesticket Plus you will enter the destination and the price for that distance will be figured for you. If the price is less than 17.50 and you suspect you might like to travel more that day later on, you can go with the 17.50 ticket instead.

Palenque's correct that you should contact train personnel for instructions ASAP in the event of a missed connection after a late train.

Iphofen is an outstanding walled wine town 2 stops northwest along the R1 line from Neustadt an der Aisch (which is just 4 stops from Bad Windsheim.) I would make a point of going there for sure. Photos of Iphofen:

http://www.stadtbild-deutschland.org...&threadID=2985

raejeanne

Wow. thanks

PalenQ

Wow. Russ is a font of great knowledge of the inner workings of German trains! A valuable resource for sure!

raejeanne

thank you both for all the help. One less worry on my mind