Calling Train Ticket Experts
#1
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Calling Train Ticket Experts
When traveling by train most of the time we have had passes or just purchased as we go,especially in Italy. This time I think I would like to get our tickets online before we go.Where do I begin, which website, etc? Are they mailed to me or do they have to be picked up.Think I would want them in my possession when I left home. Also, advise on best trains to take between the cities would be nice to know. Obviously the shortest time and less changes but don't know if there is something else I should know. I see we will be able to take ES from Turin to Rome and that is a good thing.
Our itinerary is from Frankfurt airport to Strasbourg, Freiberg ,Lucerne, Turin and Rome.
Travel is end of August and in September.
Many thanks.
Our itinerary is from Frankfurt airport to Strasbourg, Freiberg ,Lucerne, Turin and Rome.
Travel is end of August and in September.
Many thanks.
#2
Join Date: Aug 2010
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For Italy it's http://www.trenitalia.com/
Switzerland - http://www.sbb.ch/home.html
Germany - http://www.bahn.de
Tickets can be printed at home.
Switzerland - http://www.sbb.ch/home.html
Germany - http://www.bahn.de
Tickets can be printed at home.
#3
Join Date: Sep 2008
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For the kind of details you seek I suggest contacting http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/. Call Byron or Linda. They are in Ann Arbor and are very helpful.
#4
Join Date: May 2004
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We booked several different inter-city sectors on Trenitalia when we travelled in December. Trains were great - clean, efficient, comfortable and fast.
You print a booking voucher with all details including seat allocations before you leave home and use this for travel - no need for individual tickets.
You print a booking voucher with all details including seat allocations before you leave home and use this for travel - no need for individual tickets.
#5
Join Date: Aug 2008
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This site will make you an expert: www.seat61.com
#6
The Swiss site is www.sbb.ch/en
You can use the Swiss site to buy your tickets from Lucern to Turin; you can also use it to buy the tickets from Freiberg to Lucern
You can use the Swiss site to buy your tickets from Lucern to Turin; you can also use it to buy the tickets from Freiberg to Lucern
#7
Join Date: Jan 2007
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$70 a day for a 5-day Eurail Select Saverpass means about 50 euros a day for first-class train travel for all those rides - compare with the cheapest tickets you can get and if even remotely close go first class - 50 euros a day and you can select your trains as you go along - hop on any train in Germany and Switzerland and easily get mandated seat reservations in Italy (add 10 euros a train however) - so do not neglect the pass if the cost of 2nd class tickets which usually must be booked weeks in advance to get discounted fares and then typically cannot be changed nor refunded - if it is even remotely close to the 50 euro a day figure go first class with a pass. I'm not sure what the difference may be but I do know in decades of European rail travel that first class definitely has significant benefits and is a much more relaxed ride than 2nd class (which ain't bad don't get me wrong but just a lot more crowded, smaller seats, etc.
For lots of great info on European trains I always spotlight www.seat61.com (great info on discounted tickets), www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.
For lots of great info on European trains I always spotlight www.seat61.com (great info on discounted tickets), www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.
#10
Isn't it nice when we have people giving others ALL the possible options for a change rather than the usual rote response? Thank you, Kybourbon and keep voting against those two fools (you know of whom I am speaking).
#11
Join Date: Nov 2003
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I have an upcoming trip, and let me say that I LOVE the bahn.com website. If you can arrange your trip so that you are entering or leaving Germany you have a better chance of getting a good deal.
For our upcoming trip, we have purchased all of our tickets in advance. For spontaneity pay the extra money for a rail pass.
For our upcoming trip, we have purchased all of our tickets in advance. For spontaneity pay the extra money for a rail pass.
#12
Join Date: Aug 2006
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Freiberg is horribly far out of your way. You don't, by chance, mean Freiburg im Breisgau? My tip is: Use the correct names of the places you want to visit or you'll end up in the wrong destination. The booking systems do what you write, not what you want...
#14
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Thanks to all for your help. I did talk to Byron at BETS and he was very helpful. I am still working on checking all fares and the German website is the easiest for timetables. The Freiberg ( yes, there are MANY and that was confusing at first) is the Freiberg im Breisgau in the Black Forest a couple of hours from Strasbourg.
I have changed the itinerary and now going to Orvieto instead of Torino for several reasons.
Thanks again. I could not plan these trips without all your help.
I have changed the itinerary and now going to Orvieto instead of Torino for several reasons.
Thanks again. I could not plan these trips without all your help.