Hey everyone,

Last summer traveling I was plagued with overnight trains being fully booked to places I wanted to go. This year, I decided to attempt to book them before I even leave the US. So having already bought my Eurail Pass, I called Deutsche Bahn. I was amazed that I was able to reserve my "couchettes" in all of my overnight train trips, from the US. On top of that, I received my reservations in the mail a week ago.

Has anyone had any similar experiences with getting reservations in advance (not actually buying a ticket as well) from a European train company? I was really impressed. (I did have to use the little German I know in order to get an operator who spoke English)

Topping for myself.

I'm still curious if anyone else has experience with this (note that I mean simply reserving a seat/berth, not actually buying tickets). I'm wondering if this is a tactic I can rely on in the future, or if I just happened to luck out.

When traveling with a Eurailpass I bought my bunk reservations throughout Europe and in Germany as I traveled. The bunk reservation indicates "pass" or "red" for reduced.

You will probably have your bunk reservation and Eurailpass verified and held by the conductor before you get on the train. He or she will return them in the morning. For some border crossings the conductor will also hold your passport, but if not you may be awakened in the middle of the night for it. I believe that happened on the Czech/German crossing.

Yes, I am familiar with that process.

I am quite comfortable with making train reservations and using them while in Europe. It was the fact that I was able to make a reservation by just simply calling the train company and then they sent me the reservation in the mail that amazed me! Not sure if that's the norm or not...I know it's quite easy to buy train tickets and make seat reservations at the same time online with the various European train companies, but as far as only making reservations go... Since I'm not getting many replies on this, I'm going to guess I lucked out

Can you give me the phone number to call the Deutsche Bahn. I need to reserve a double sleeper. They are always booked up by the time we get to Germany.


Thanks

+49 1805-996633

I also had to ask (in German) to speak to an English operator, I got passed around a bit before a sweet woman, with wonderful english, helped me.

Best of luck.

Thanks, I'm going to try my luck tomorrow.

I needed this number also. Thank You!

I had a *mishap* and need to change or buy a new reservation for my train.

~Jay

Also, keep in mind the time difference--I believe they're open till 7 or 8pm (their time).

I think the railways' policy for booking sleepers is different from booking seats. Normally, to book a seat, you need to buy a travel ticket at the same time, or show a travel ticket. This is to prevent people from abusing the system by booking seats on several trains: if you weren't sure whether you would go on a train at 1200, 1300 or 1400, you could book a seat on all of them, so that you were sure of a seat (the cost of a seat reservation is nominal). Sleepers are a lot more expensive, so there is little danger of anyone trying this, and tickets are checked more carefully as passengers board the train.

Ahh, good point Geoff. So perhaps I may be able to do this in the future--but again, only for the sleepers.

I understand what you mean about the reservations--although I've done that while in Europe...back in my less-planned out travel days. I would simply reserve seats on several trains (though to different places) and then later that night try to figure out where I was going and try to reserve a hostel...Much more cost-efficient now when I have everything planned out