Calling Train Ticket Experts

Old Jun 20th, 2013, 12:08 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,209
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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.
violetduck is offline  
Old Jun 20th, 2013, 12:23 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 338
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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.
hkto is offline  
Old Jun 20th, 2013, 01:23 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,911
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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.
spaarne is offline  
Old Jun 20th, 2013, 01:30 PM
  #4  
 
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 437
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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.
bendigo is offline  
Old Jun 20th, 2013, 02:34 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,782
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
This site will make you an expert: www.seat61.com
Southam is offline  
Old Jun 20th, 2013, 03:17 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 42,601
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
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
Dukey1 is online now  
Old Jun 20th, 2013, 03:25 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
$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.
PalenQ is offline  
Old Jun 20th, 2013, 06:26 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 36,778
Likes: 0
Received 14 Likes on 11 Posts
>>>I see we will be able to take ES from Turin to Rome and that is a good thing.
kybourbon is offline  
Old Jun 21st, 2013, 06:08 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
ttt
PalenQ is offline  
Old Jun 21st, 2013, 06:37 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 42,601
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
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).
Dukey1 is online now  
Old Jun 21st, 2013, 08:57 PM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 229
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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.
FHurdle is offline  
Old Jun 22nd, 2013, 05:40 AM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,214
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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...
quokka is offline  
Old Jun 22nd, 2013, 08:42 AM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
How many Freibourg/Freibergs/Friburgs, etc are there in Germany and Switzerland?
PalenQ is offline  
Old Jun 22nd, 2013, 01:35 PM
  #14  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,209
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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.
violetduck is offline  
Old Jun 23rd, 2013, 12:16 PM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,911
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The Freiburg im Breisgau is spelled Freiburg im Breisgau, not Freiberg im Breisgau. Good point made by quokka and PalenQ.
spaarne is offline  
Old Jun 23rd, 2013, 01:43 PM
  #16  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,209
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks spaarne. We are going to the one near Strasbourg and is the Freiburg im Breisgau. Too many bergs and burgs for me.
violetduck is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
rmgood
Europe
4
Mar 12th, 2015 12:58 PM
ZebraAC
Europe
6
Jul 25th, 2013 06:39 AM
nglading
Europe
4
May 18th, 2012 01:17 PM
Murky1980
Europe
15
Oct 18th, 2011 12:31 PM
valtor
Europe
7
Apr 15th, 2008 06:02 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -