Hi all, my wife and I will travel to Germany, Belgium and Netherlands at the end of April. Our first stop will be Frankfurt and we plan to visit Heidelberg once we arrive. So we plan to buy Quer-durchs-Land Ticket which allow us to travel throughout Germany in just EUR48/2 persons. http://www.bahn.com/i/view/DEU/en/pr...d-ticket.shtml
The question is can we buy this ticket at FRA Airport? So that we can use it right away for traveling to Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof and it at least can save some money for airport transfer. Do they have DB ticket machine at the airport?
Thank you very much in advance for your help.

What time do you arrive? Are you planning to use the ticket on your arrival day? You realize that it cannot be used on weekends and that M-F you cannot use if before 9 AM

Yes. I will arrive FRA on Friday about 0850AM. So should be OK.

There are both ticket machines and ticket offices at the airport. I'd probably go to the DB counter for such tickets.

Nice to hear the QDL ticket is available in English - hadn't seen that before.

Aren't you the poster who previously was headed for Brussels on Day 1 and was planning a stop in Cologne? I think I suggested the QDL ticket for that trip.

Your new plan is a little fuzzy to me. Are you trying to...

1.) ...see Frankfurt on Day 1 and overnight in Heidelberg?
2.) ...go into Frankfurt, drop bags at hotel, and daytrip to Heidelberg for the day?
3.) ...just get straight to Heidelberg from FRA?

Plan 1: A regular ticket from FRA to Frankfurt Hbf is 4.10€. Direct trains from Frankfurt Hbf to H'berg every hour at 6 minutes after the hour take 1.5 hours and cost only 16.40 each - so there's no reason for a QDL ticket.

Nor do you need a QDL ticket for plan 3. FRA - Heidelberg is only 18.10 each for regular tickets.

You'll only save money with the QDL if you do plan 2.

Are you heading to Brussels after H'berg?? If you haven't spent any time in the Middle Rhine Valley before, well, it's not only more impressive than Heidelberg; it's closer to FRA and it's on the way to Brussels. Even if you're heading south after your first stop, it's still a good place to go. The whole area is a UNESCO-designated and protected world heritage sight. Direct trains from FRA get you to Bingen, the gateway to the valley, in about 45 minutes; cost is 7.30€ for a regular ticket. See some castles and try some of the wine:

http://www.welterbe-mittelrheintal.d...php?id=318&L=3

You might want to stay in or visit Oberwesel if you go there. "Wine Witch Night" is on April 30; the townsfolk crown a new wine queen and burn a straw witch (symbolic way of ending the 2011 season) to start the new wine-growing season. Fireworks, wine stands, and music round out the fun.

BTW: The QDL ticket should be available at the DB ticket machines in Frankfurt airport, which have an English interface and accept credit cards. The counter will charge you 2€ extra.

Thank you very much Hans and Russ for your info. I've been really busy and didn't have time to 'surf' Fodors lately. So it's kinda late reply
Russ, thanks a lot for your detailed answer. Yes, I'm the one who will head to Brussels after FRA. My plan is #2, when we arrive FRA airport, we'll go straight to Frankfurt and drop bags at hotel and then visit H'berg as a daytrip. So QDL should've been money-saver for us
Your suggest about the Middle Rhine Valley sounds great, but we have only 1 day around Frankfurt and my wife'd like to see H'berg during our stay in Frankfurt, so this area would definitely be lined up for our next trip (or the trip after next trip).
In fact, I really like to enjoy castles and wine there, but since we have only 10 days for our vacation and we'd like to focus on Belgium and Holland, especially Keukenhof (that's my wife's idea again). Thanks again for your answer, I really appreciate.
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