take_time_2_travel

Due to time, and wanting to see friends in Bremen and Warsaw prior to a German family reunion, we are trying to maximize "goals" with realities. While quite "American" as far as an itinerary, job/time constraints necessitate consideration of overnight train travel if we include Bremen and Warsaw in the IT below. If you book 1st class is it clean and comfortable?

4 of 6 in our group are seasoned travelers to foreign countries. The other 2 have never been out of the U.S.

Priorities: family, friends, countryside vs. city (other than Bremen, Berlin, Warsaw)

Other info: plan to do some driving, some train travel

We have 2 weeks including plane rides from US (Rocky Mountain area).

Possible Itinerary:
Sept. 15-16 - fly to Europe
Sept. 16-17 - Bremen
Sept. 17 - overnight train to Warsaw
Sept. 18-19 - Warsaw
Sept. 19 - train to Berlin
Sept. 19-21 - visit fam ily in Berlin
Sept. 21 - afternoon - drive to Dossel
Sept. 21-23 - family reunion
Sept. 23 - leave for Frankfurt area
Sept. 24-27 or 29 - Rhine river tour, black forest, Neuschwanstein
Sept. 27 or 29 - fly home, stopover in NYC overnight?

Suggestions?

Phil

take_time:

First: your schedule is very tight, but I understand the family reunions cannot be moved.

You are of course aware of the fact that an overnight train from Bremen involves one to three train changes with extended waiting times at an awkward time of day in German and/or Polish rail stations?

Best you can do is one train change and two hours connection at Hannover from 12:39 a.m. to 02:40 a.m.

Train travel from Warsaw to Berlin will take between 5 and 6 hours. So this will leave you with little more than 24 hours in Warsaw

You may want to check air connection from Hamburg to Warsaw and from Warsaw to Berlin.

I fear you should rethink your itinerary.

Phil.

Aramis

Agreed - Bremen to Warsaw is a real pain overnight. There is nothing better than what Phil points out. And then getting back to Berlin after just 2 nights in Warsaw?

If Warsaw has to stay in - I suggest you look into air, but from Hamburg or Hanover. That looks to be no better than $261 US for one-way (Hamburg - direct) or $176 (Hanover - stopping in Copenhagen) right now.

Clearly, no good solution here.

take_time_2_travel

With the help of both of you, we have regretfully decided to make Bremen and Warsaw separate trips and concentrate on Germany. Since the reunion and family time is "non-negotiable" for us, we will plan another trip later for friends.

The overnight train info was MOST helpful! Thank you both!

Man_in_seat_61

Bremen to Warsaw overnight means picking up the excellent Cologne-Dortmund-Warsaw 'Jan Kiepira' EuroNight sleeper train.

Forget the concept of 1st and 2nd class. The 'classes' on this night train are reclining seat, couchette (6 or 4 bunk), sleeper (1, 2 or 3 standard with washbasin, 1 or 2 bed deluxe with shower/toilet en suite).

The German couchettes are economical, basic, clean and comfy, though the Polish sleeping-car is much nicer, modern and clean. See for yourself at the photos I took on it at http://www.seat61.com/train-from-ams...-to-warsaw.htm

You should buy tickets at www.bahn.de/en with cheap fares if you pre-book (maximu 92 days ahead) from €39 with couchette, €69 with bed in 2-bed sleeper.

Aramis

Perhaps a good idea if the Jan Kiepira traveled through Bremen on it's journey, but it doesn't.

This would be the train to which the OP would transfer in Hanover at 02:40 a.m. after a two hour transfer window

take_time_2_travel

Thanks to each of you! Based on info above, logistics, and time, we are in the process of re-evaluating plans...probably skipping Bremen and Warsaw for another trip. I thought the night train might solve our time problem, but don't think so.

Man_in_seat_61

Nothing forces you to pick it up in Hannover. Why not pick it up in Dortmund, backtracking or not, if that's better logistically?

The fare Dortmund-Warsaw is of course exactly the same as the fare Hannover-Warsaw, and the Bremen-Dortmund fare probably starts at €29, Bremen-hanover maybe starts at €19, but that's only €10 more.