Does anyone know how to purchase Vienna- Prague and Prague-Munich train fare via the internet? I'm told I should get the Czech pass for use from the borders into and out of that country-- but how on earth do you purchase a ticket just to and from the border?? I haven't found a good website that even gives point-to-point schedules and fares.

It's called a Prague excursion pass, and it is one of the few no-arguments reasons to purchase a "pass" from RailEurope that I have seen. Clearly a good deal, presumably subsidized by the Czech rail line (government) to encourage people to come to the CR and spend some money there.

See http://www.raileurope.com/us/rail/pa...rsion_pass.htm

Best wishes,

Rex

Gee, Rex, I'm surprised, for once, you didn't advise the person to fly in and out!

Thanks, Rex. I have info on the pass itself, but purchasing the point-to-point ticket-- from Vienna to the border and from the border to Munich-- is the challenge. Do you know how to do that?

Hmmm... well, I just assumed that you would simply show the pass. Sorry I can't help any better than this, since I have never actually used it/done it. Maybe ask them at Raileurope (1-800-4-EURAIL)?

I discovered Euraide.com from other posts on fodors.com. They are great. I was able to talk to Herman in Florida, who explained the Pass to me and arranged to purchase it and the two other fares for me. Their main office is in Munich, and they really know the rail ropes over there.
Euraide only charges a flat $45 fee for their services, regardless of how many tickets you buy in one transaction.
Thanks to Euraide's expert help, I was able to purchase four FIRST Class passes and all point-to-point fares for the four of us from Vienna- Prague- Munich, for $100 LESS than I found on the two bigger name websites for SECOND Class.
Needless to say, I'm thrilled with their service. The tickets will be FedExed to me as part of their fee.
I highly recommend Euraide.com. I have seen posts where people complained about not receiving e-mail responses from them, but the way to do it is to contact Herman Wissenberg at [email protected].

I second MaureenB's endorsement of Euraide. Herman did a great job for us, and was always responsive, whether via e-mail or phone...the number is on the website.

I just purchased and used the Prague excursion pass. Do you mean you want
reservations on a specific train? If so, you can do that with the Raileurope number. I see no need to pay more money to have someone do it for you.
After you buy the pass, just show up and sit in either first or second class (whichever you bought). Write your name, the date you first use this pass and your passport number on the pass. They will come around and check your tickets and from the time that you first use the pass it is good for 7 days.

You do not need reservations, but if it makes you feel better it is $11.00 per reservation. That starts to make the value of the pass go down.

Tleford - Did you write the information in yourself? I know for the multi-country passes you must have it done in the station. Is the Czech pass different? I will be using one later this month and I hope that I can put my passport number in myself. Thanks.

Yes, I wrote it in myself. I actually hadn't done anything on it - when they came by to check the tickets he told me to write it in. He did seem annoyed so maybe I was suppossed to do it at the station.

Thanks for the details re: writing in name, date and passport number. I was wondering about that.

Maureen,
I was just rereading this thread and wonder if you realize that the pass does take you all the way Prague, it doesn't just drop you off at the border.

The Rail Europe website does have good point to point info on train schedules.
If you can't find it call them.

IMPORTANT - I was just putting away all my travel junk and found my excursion pass. You ARE suppossed to have go to a ticket window to have it validated. No wonder he was annoyed. I could have been fined but I got lucky, I guess. So don't fill it out yourself.
Sorry.

This should help clear up the confusion. Euraide's Herman Wissenberg gave me this clarification regarding the two passes:
"The Prague Excursion Pass is different from the Czech Pass. The Prague
Excursion Pass is valid from a Czech border station to Prague and, within 7
days, from Prague to any Czech border station. The traveler validates the
pass by writing in the date of entry to the Czech Republic (in ink, of
course). The traveler also writes in her/his passport number. The Czech
Pass is a more traditional type that requires validation by a railroad
official. The Czech pass costs more but allows extensive travel in the
Czech Republic. Another difference is that the Prague Excursion Pass offers
a reduced price for a youth."
Hope this helps. As I said on an earlier post, contact Euraide.com for help purchasing passes and point-to-point tickets-- at no mark-up, just a flat $45 fee.

Thank you. From looking at Euraide's site I learned that you can get your pass validated a couple of days before you need to use it. I did not realize that. That will be much easier for me since we have an early start and tight connections I was concerned about having time for validation at the border.