ken

various www sources warn of bed bugs on overnight trains.... <BR> <BR>any experience and/or suggestions on the DB train system in germany...?? <BR> <BR>also recommendations for the best dollar value of the overnite options..(couchettes...etc) <BR> <BR>

TOP

Ken, In twenty years, on and off, onboard DB, I have encountered many pests of the human persuasion, never any of the insect genus. <BR> <BR>As to your other question, picture this: Me, lugging a roll on, on a cold, freezing morning, 1AM, one hour early, <BR>an the Ostbahnhoff, in Munich, bound for Frankfurt. Sittin' by by 'gleis' 8. <BR> <BR>I had an ordinary second class ticket, had no idea what kind of facilities were on board, till I saw this illustration about the train on the billboard at the center of the platform........... well, the ticket I had did not get me even a blanket! <BR> <BR>So, I stood across where the couchette cab, illustratedly aptly on the board, with a sheet covers, blankets and zzzz's, would stop. <BR> <BR>The conductor got out, helped with the baggage, made me out a an additional ticket (total from Mun-Fkft was DM108). <BR> <BR>Here's the best part: He woke me up 20 mins before we got there, informed me that he'd had the bathroom heat on for fifteen minutes, so I wouldnt freeze. <BR> <BR>I got back to find that he had all my shaving gear set up on the sink in my coupe. I had a hot shave while we went thru Frankfurt's dreary suburbs. <BR> <BR>Wonder why I got treated so well? Could it be that I had acted the Ugly American, when I tipped him DM8 when I upgraded my ticket the night before? <BR> <BR>Hmmm............ <BR> <BR>

gaylejune

We took the newish nightline train from Germany to Vienna and back again. We had a second class rail pass and paid about 80Swiss Francs each(sorry thats were we booked it and I'm an Australian and that converts to $80 here - you do the maths for your country)to upgrade to a 2 bed sleeper. It was a tiny tiny tiny room but boy did we sleep great. Same story as "TOP" - woke just in time to have our breaky served (included in the fare cost)and hop off the train. Highly reccommended even if it's the same cost as a hotel.....we enjoyed Vienna, fresh as a daisy on our arrival. We also took a 2 bed sleeper from Germany to Milan. The train was the old type and it was much better we thought than the highly promoted newer trains. Double the space and same comfort. Breakfast was at an extra cost, and not to be recommended as it was the standard hard as a rock Italian bread roll. Hope this helps - enjoy - Gayle

Marcel

Hi Ken <BR> <BR>You may want to check out http://www.europrail.net and click on info then detailed info. There is a section dedicated to over night trains etc. I think you'll find it quite usefull. I did. <BR> <BR>Regards <BR> <BR>Marcel.

Ben Haines

Fodors <BR> <BR>I am on overnight trains in central Europe perhaps six times a year for eight years. I have never found bed bugs. <BR> <BR>The idea of such beasties on a German train is laughable. Have you seen a German train ? Any German train ? <BR> <BR>To the e-mail copy of this note I am attaching a note I keep on disc about night trains in Europe, which will give you thgoughts on couchettes versus 3-berth sleepers. The charges for both styles that the note gives are for western Europe in general: I think that now that German Rail use "global" fares (combining basic fare and berth supplement in one figutre) the berth costs are ten or twenty percent lower. <BR> <BR>Please write if I can help further. <BR> <BR>Ben Haines, London <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>