Need input on German rail passes
Sep 3rd, 2013, 08:19 PM
#1
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Need input on German rail passes
DH and I will be in Germany in December and will be taking several train trips. I've researched on www.bahn.com until I'm nearly blind and here's what I've come up with so far. I would appreciate your input on (1)what I think is the most economical way to go and (2) whether I've interpreted the website/pricing/scheduling correctly. I know this is a lot to ask.
2 Quer-durchs-Land Tickets @ 50 euro for 2 people = 100 euro
2nd class, regional trains only, good M-F only
These tickets will take us Frankfurt-Nuremburg and Nuremburg-Frankfurt, beginning and end of trip, both trips mid-week
3 Bavaria tickets (each ticket is for 2 people) @ 26 euro per day = 78 euro
9a.m. - 3 a.m. weekdays plus all day Sat, Sun, holidays
regional trains only plus city transport
I understand that one ticket can be used for any number of trips on any one day so that
these tickets will cover:
Nuremburg-Regensburg-Nuremburg (day 1)
Nuremburg-Bamburg -Nuremburg (day 2)
Nuremburg-Munich-Nuremburg (day 3)
Total expense for 2 people - 178 euro
Contrast with:
A German Rail Twin Pass - 5 days - 2nd class, good on all trains = 323 euro
Have I interpreted the pricing correctly? If so, the first option costs 145 euro less than the German Rail Twin Pass. Thanks so much for your input.
Kay
2 Quer-durchs-Land Tickets @ 50 euro for 2 people = 100 euro
2nd class, regional trains only, good M-F only
These tickets will take us Frankfurt-Nuremburg and Nuremburg-Frankfurt, beginning and end of trip, both trips mid-week
3 Bavaria tickets (each ticket is for 2 people) @ 26 euro per day = 78 euro
9a.m. - 3 a.m. weekdays plus all day Sat, Sun, holidays
regional trains only plus city transport
I understand that one ticket can be used for any number of trips on any one day so that
these tickets will cover:
Nuremburg-Regensburg-Nuremburg (day 1)
Nuremburg-Bamburg -Nuremburg (day 2)
Nuremburg-Munich-Nuremburg (day 3)
Total expense for 2 people - 178 euro
Contrast with:
A German Rail Twin Pass - 5 days - 2nd class, good on all trains = 323 euro
Have I interpreted the pricing correctly? If so, the first option costs 145 euro less than the German Rail Twin Pass. Thanks so much for your input.
Kay
Sep 3rd, 2013, 09:27 PM
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Based on the data you have now, your computation seems correct.
You know the limitations: no ICE and no early morning departures. As long as you are ok with the limitations, you approach makes sense.
There may be a German Rail pass sale for traveling in this time period. Last year, I went to Germany in December. I was looking at various pass options, and a Christmas market visit offer came up: http://www.bahn.com/i/view/USA/en/pr...hristmas.shtml. The offer clinched my decision to go with the Germany Twin Pass to be able to start days before 9am on ICE trains to enable an itinerary not achievable with Quer-durchs-Land limitations.
You know the limitations: no ICE and no early morning departures. As long as you are ok with the limitations, you approach makes sense.
There may be a German Rail pass sale for traveling in this time period. Last year, I went to Germany in December. I was looking at various pass options, and a Christmas market visit offer came up: http://www.bahn.com/i/view/USA/en/pr...hristmas.shtml. The offer clinched my decision to go with the Germany Twin Pass to be able to start days before 9am on ICE trains to enable an itinerary not achievable with Quer-durchs-Land limitations.
Sep 3rd, 2013, 10:04 PM
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greg - thanks for this link. I will look for the 2013 pricing around mid-September. Based on last year's price, I would gladly spend an additional 73 euro for travel on ICE trains. Did you buy your tickets online or at a station in Germany?
Sep 4th, 2013, 11:30 AM
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You can save about 9 more euros for the Bamberg trip by purchasing a VGN Tagesticket Plus instead of the Bayern ticket - 16.80€ for the same trains, and no weekdays hours limitations.
http://www.vgn.de/tickets/?Edition=en&p=1
http://www.vgn.de/tickets/?Edition=en&p=1
Sep 4th, 2013, 12:16 PM
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Yes as others have said you calculations are right - regional trains IME are much slower because they stop a lot and are a lot less comfy but if not in a hurry or in for the lap of luxury yes they are much cheaper. One problem I've had with regional trains is at times they act as school buses and swarms of teen boppers - loud typical teens swarm aboard for a few stops - but at Christmas this may not be as much a problem.
But often in the fall they have sales on German Railpasses where you may get a day or two extra so check before booking the Frankfurt trains to see if any special is on. For lots of great info on German trains check out: http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id9.html; www.seat61.com and www.ricksteves.com.
But often in the fall they have sales on German Railpasses where you may get a day or two extra so check before booking the Frankfurt trains to see if any special is on. For lots of great info on German trains check out: http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id9.html; www.seat61.com and www.ricksteves.com.
