train tickets ,buy ahead or at destination
Jul 15th, 2005, 04:14 PM
#1
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train tickets ,buy ahead or at destination
Any advice on whether to buy train tickets in advance of arriving at point A to get to point B?? We will be taking a train from Vienna to Prague and a train from Zadar to Graz. Is it cheaper to get rail passes??
Jul 16th, 2005, 04:04 AM
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Agree with advice to purchase tickets at the train station there.
Simpler.
Cheaper.
But write clearly the name of the destination, and number of passengers on a piece of paper and hand it to the ticket guy. Also ask if seat reservations are required. They may not be required if the train will not be full, and that will save more $$.
If you will not have a seat reservation, just make sure not to pick a seat where there is a yellow or beige-colored destination tag.
Additionally, I always buy second class tickets. Yes, first class is not usually as crowded and the seats are a little nicer, but no food is included and you will still get there at the same time.
Simpler.
Cheaper.
But write clearly the name of the destination, and number of passengers on a piece of paper and hand it to the ticket guy. Also ask if seat reservations are required. They may not be required if the train will not be full, and that will save more $$.
If you will not have a seat reservation, just make sure not to pick a seat where there is a yellow or beige-colored destination tag.
Additionally, I always buy second class tickets. Yes, first class is not usually as crowded and the seats are a little nicer, but no food is included and you will still get there at the same time.
Jul 16th, 2005, 04:29 AM
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<<Is it cheaper to get rail passes??>>
The must-consult website for this question - - no matter what the itinerary - - is www.railsaver.com
Be sure you click on "only if it saves me money".
Best wishes,
Rex
The must-consult website for this question - - no matter what the itinerary - - is www.railsaver.com
Be sure you click on "only if it saves me money".
Best wishes,
Rex
Jul 16th, 2005, 05:46 AM
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A railpass tends to save money if individual tickets are more than $30. After carefull planning on which days were best to use the pass, we ordered individual short trip tickets along with our pass. We were charged for the convenience, but it was worth it to us. In some of the larger stations the lines were huge both at the ticket machines and the counters. We would have wasted a lot of time or would have had to arrive much earlier at the station. To get the Rail Pass validated for the first use, we did have to wait in line, but it was only for passes, so it wasn't too bad.
And, don't forget to validate individual tickets prior to boarding the train or write the date on the rail pass. We were always checked.
And, don't forget to validate individual tickets prior to boarding the train or write the date on the rail pass. We were always checked.
Jul 16th, 2005, 09:13 AM
#7
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This question comes up frequently, and most people suggest you get your train tickets at the station. However, I think it's not just a financial question, but also has to do with your own personal 'comfort zone'.
Being a compulsive planner myself, I really liked having my train tickets in hand before leaving home, so I didn't have to be concerned about them once we arrived. Just one less detail to mess with. I knew I would be slightly worried about going to the station and getting the four seats we needed, on the correct trains, yada, yada, yada.
That's why I used Budget Europe Travel last June when we went Vienna-Prague-Munich via train, and this June when we went London-Paris-Amsterdam via train. I was able to speak to a very helpful person via the phone, someone who totally understands passes vs. tickets, etc. and gave us good advice. I bought our tickets, and paid a very small S&H fee to get paper tickets mailed to us in plenty of time before we left home.
That's my idea of worry-free travel. Doing so, I was able to arrive at our destinations, know our train times and depots w/o question, and be comfortable with the plan. Just my opinion.
Being a compulsive planner myself, I really liked having my train tickets in hand before leaving home, so I didn't have to be concerned about them once we arrived. Just one less detail to mess with. I knew I would be slightly worried about going to the station and getting the four seats we needed, on the correct trains, yada, yada, yada.
That's why I used Budget Europe Travel last June when we went Vienna-Prague-Munich via train, and this June when we went London-Paris-Amsterdam via train. I was able to speak to a very helpful person via the phone, someone who totally understands passes vs. tickets, etc. and gave us good advice. I bought our tickets, and paid a very small S&H fee to get paper tickets mailed to us in plenty of time before we left home.
That's my idea of worry-free travel. Doing so, I was able to arrive at our destinations, know our train times and depots w/o question, and be comfortable with the plan. Just my opinion.
