MKECityMom

Hi - I posted some of this in the Switzerland forum. I'm posting here for any travelers who will be traveling to Switzerland and/or Germany anytime between now and May 31, 2013.

SWISS PASS
The only special right now is for 1st class travel, 4 Day Swiss Pass + 1 extra day free. Travel from February 1 to April 30, 2013 and November 1 to December 31, 2013. LAST year, they offered an amazing buy 1/get 1 free Swiss Pass in the spring. But this is not currently being offered. Byron is only notified of new promotions 24 hours in advance, so he doesn't know if this deal will be offered again.

Because shipping of the pass only takes 2-3 business days, I can safely wait to purchase the Swiss Pass until a couple weeks out from our departure date, giving me time to see if SBB makes another tremendous buy 1/get 1 free deal. If not, our party of 5 (myself, husband, son 13, son 11, and my 74-year old father) will just purchase the 4-day Swiss Pass. This pass covers travel all train travel from the Swiss border. For our train ride from Milan, the Swiss Pass will kick in at the Swiss border and the remainder of that travel leg will be included in our Swiss Pass.

If a super special promotion is offered, Byron recommended purchasing the special promotional Swiss Passes quickly, as they often stop selling them ahead of the advertised "buy until this date" time. They only have so many, and if those tickets at that rate are all sold out, the promotion is over. Byron is not informed of how many tickets they have at that rate, so it's better not to dilly-dally if it's a good deal.

German Pass
Right now there's a special promotion for 5 or 6 day German Passes. It's 20% off. Must be purchased by March 29 for travel until May 31, 2013. We examined point-to-point options, but ultimately concluded that it was cheaper and more flexible (but cheaper was the real attraction here) to purchase the 5-day German pass for us. While we'll only be in Germany for 4 days, we want to do a lot of little train trips on days 2 and 3, plus we'll have a long ride in from Basel, Switzerland to Cologne (at estimated cost of around $161 per person).

The current promotion is 20% off. However, if you are two people traveling together, that constitutes a twin pass, giving you even more savings (I don't recall the % savings). Because we are 5 people travelling, I purchased two twin-passes of the 5-day promotional German Pass. Each of those passes (good for 2 people each) cost $358 2nd class. My 11 yr. old has a 1/2 price adult pass (that includes 20% promo). It was cheaper for my 13 yr. old to be on the adult twin pass than to buy an individual youth pass. The total price for all 5 people: $837. This equates to $167.40 per person. Divided by four days, it's $41.85 per day per person. If we were staying in Germany for 5 days, it would be $33.48 per day. Amazing! This gives us total flexibility to take whatever train we want, at anytime, with no reservations required. It was a no-brainer. Plus, the KD Rhine River boats are included, so we can take the boat down the Rhine River and then the train back to Cologne (where we're staying).

Byron did mention that we may want to make a reservation for a long-leg of our journey (e.g. from Basel, Switzerland to Cologne) if we want to sit together. This costs extra. But this isn't necessary. We won't be kicked off the train, although we may need to hunt around for a free seat or, worse case, stand.

Whew. Hope this is helpful. I repeat: Byron is amazing and well worth the phone call. Even though you pay slightly more by purchasing your tickets through their agency (like, $5 more per ticket), the time he spent with me and detail of info. makes it a bargain.

PalenQ

Thanks for clearing all that up - no 2 for 1 at least of yet but in the past they have sprung it on short notice - perhaps as to boost sales if lagging, etc. Nearly no one buys a first-class pass for Switzerland but I guess a 5-day pass for the price of a 4-day first class I could consider it - there are certain folks who will benefit from first class - those taking some boat rides will find that 1st class lets you on the open-air upper deck - off-limits to 2nd class ticket/pass holders.

And to get the vaunted VIP seats on the Golden Pass train between Montreux and Zweisimmen you need a first class ticket - VIP seats have you sitting in a compartment right next to the driver so you can think you are driving the train.

And some scenic trains may only have domed panoramic cars in first class only or more in first class

The Chocolate Train is first class only.

In all case however with a 2nd class pass you can pay an upgrade on board or when buying the ticket - the difference between 1st and 2nd class pricing - on the Chocolate train that is about $40 or more I believe.

Russ

"Plus, the KD Rhine River boats are included, so we can take the boat down the Rhine River and then the train back to Cologne (where we're staying)."


This is not plan is not possible in one day. Check the schedule here:

http://www.k-d.de/english/kd-schedul...ine-timetable/

Note that it is possible (but pretty unwise) to start the cruise in Bonn and end in Bingen if you have 13 hours and start at 7:30 am. But the only boat from Cologne terminates in Linz.

It is possible (but equally unwise) to start in the south (Bingen) and cruise all the way to Cologne in one day (but note that you'll still be on the boat for 9.5 hours.

Since the truly scenic part of the River is between Boppard and Bingen, well south of Koblenz, focus on that part; board in Bingen and cruise north (with the current) and the cruise to Boppard requires only 2 hrs. 30 minutes, leaving you time to visit some villages, and maybe Rheinfels or Marksburg castle, using the train. And do travel with the current - the same segment will cost you 4 full hours if you travel south by boat from Boppard to Bingen.

MKECityMom

Russ - Thanks for the advice. Great tip.

PalenQ

I agree with Russ - having taken the boat a few times between Cologne and Kobelnz I would say that stretch of river, though interesting more for its industrial linings that lovely towns and ruined castles that dot the stretch Russ rightly recommends - that stretch to Colgone from Koblenz is rather ho-hum.

PalenQ

If taking K-D boats I would hop on at Rudesheim, opposite Bingen because many services start here and then you can get the best seats - like the ones on the front deck along the railings right at the front of the boat to be able to eagle-eye each bank of the Rhine as scenery dictates. Lots of tour bus groups swarm aboard at Rudesheim so seats can go quickly - board at Bingen across the river and the best seats may be gone. Just an idea.

PalenQ

"Plus, the KD Rhine River boats are included, so we can take the boat down the Rhine River and then the train back to Cologne (where we're staying).>

uh I think you got downriver mixed up with up river - you could take the boat downriver to Cologne - downriver from Cologne means going to Dusseldorf and that stretch of river is one of the most heavily industrialized stretches of river in Europe - passing thru the huge Ford factory and Bayer Chemical plants.

From Cologne take the train up river to Rudesheim then take the boat down river to say Boppard or Koblenz and get trains back to Cologne, going thru the finest stretch of the Rhine, a relatively small area around the famous Lorelei, a sheer cliffs where Sirens would lure boatmen to crash into and to their deaths, according to German mythology - it is neat when they play the maudlin song associated with the Lorelei.

MKECityMom

Yes, thanks. I figured that out awhile ago. After living along the western shore of Lake Michigan for years, it took me awhile to get used to living on the southern shore of Lake Erie when I lived in Cleveland. I kept referring to the lake as "being east of the city." But please stop reading my old posts! You'll be quickly inundated by my mistakes!

PalenQ

MKE - It's also odd that in Detroit when going to Canada by bridge or tunnel you go almost due south - south to get to Canada but you'd swear it were east!

Cheders

PalenQ

And do travel with the current - the same segment will cost you 4 full hours if you travel south by boat from Boppard to Bingen.>

Yes an unfortunately I've seen many a folk - especially kids dragged along who get quickly bored even on a trip like this - be sure to go downstream and not up!

PalenQ

http://www.marksburg.de/english/frame.htm

Russ suggests visiting Marksburg Castle andI second that tip - the only hill-top castle on the whole of The Rhine to have not been demolished or largely ruined by marauding armies _ Napoleon's alone knocked many down!) - see the photo on the site - boats dock right below the castle and there is some kind of chair lift going up or of course a steep circular path. Like Russ says you can mix trains with boats - there is also a train stop right near Marksburg Castle to take you to Koblenz - actually trains tack on both sides of the Rhine thru the Rhine Gorge - each boat dock except Koblenz' is a very short walk from a train station. Koblenz' station is about a mile from the K-D boat dock.

MKECityMom

Thought you'd enjoy this conversation during dinner the other night: Question "Which way do you think the Rhine River flows, north or south?" Answer: "South, of course. Right into the Mississippi!"

We were kidding of course, but it shows that our regional experience with water flow is so deeply embedded in our unconscious, it's hard to get your head around a different flow direction.

Thanks for the good tip about the Marksburg Castle. The website shows a Markburg Express train for those who don't want to walk the 20" to the castle from the center of Braubach. Cost is 16E for a family (2 adults, 2 kids). This may be a good option for us as my father would have difficulty with the walk (although I could make my two sons run the path up to the castle for exercise!)

PalenQ

Thanks for sharing that dinner conversation!

And back to the topic of the Rhine - Koblenz itself rarely gets any mention and is often considered to be a large blah blah city but I disagree - when I have time I'll extoll Koblenz' many virtues! A few hours there can be great!