Finding point-to-point fares between countries
#1
Original Poster
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Finding point-to-point fares between countries
Hello all! It's been quite a while since the last time I posted here, but I am planning another Europe stint in May.
I am currently trying to decide whether it would be more cost-effective to get a Eurail Pass or do point-to point travel. In researching the point-to-point train tickets, I have found that I can't see the fares for travel between two different countries.
For example, I want to travel from Munich to Venice, but when I enter the departure into the Bahn website fare finder, I can't see the fares. The same thing happened for the TrenItalia fare finder when I entered a Genoa to Aix-En-Provence departure. Am I doing something wrong? I'm not sure how to compare Eurail vs point-to-point if I can't see the between-country fares.
This is the tentative schedule for my trip, if it helps:
Stuttgart -> Munich
Munich -> Venice
Venice-> Genoa (or some other Northwestern Italy coastal town)
Genoa -> Aix-En-Provence
Aix -> Avignon
Avignon -> Paris
Paris -> Stuttgart
Thank you in advance!
I am currently trying to decide whether it would be more cost-effective to get a Eurail Pass or do point-to point travel. In researching the point-to-point train tickets, I have found that I can't see the fares for travel between two different countries.
For example, I want to travel from Munich to Venice, but when I enter the departure into the Bahn website fare finder, I can't see the fares. The same thing happened for the TrenItalia fare finder when I entered a Genoa to Aix-En-Provence departure. Am I doing something wrong? I'm not sure how to compare Eurail vs point-to-point if I can't see the between-country fares.
This is the tentative schedule for my trip, if it helps:
Stuttgart -> Munich
Munich -> Venice
Venice-> Genoa (or some other Northwestern Italy coastal town)
Genoa -> Aix-En-Provence
Aix -> Avignon
Avignon -> Paris
Paris -> Stuttgart
Thank you in advance!
#2


Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 37,526
Likes: 14
It's probably the dates you are entering are too far in advance (summer prices aren't entered until close to mid-June). Entering dates within a week should show all fares except discounts that require advance purchase. Trenitalia only allows booking/shows fares 4 months in advance for the fast trains. If R trains are involved those prices don't tend to show up unless you put a date within a week.
#3
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,969
Likes: 0
reiseauskunft.bahn.de definitely shows the fare for Stuffgart Hbf - München Hbf as €47 or €53.
For cross boarder trip, you need to find the "extent" of the national railroad system. For example use www.ferroviedellostato.it to find the fare of €9.30 or €16 between Genova Piazza Principe - Ventimiglia, then use www.voyage-sncf.com to find the Ventimiglia- Aix-en-Provence fare of €43. How do I know to user Ventimiglia? Use reiseauskunft.bahn.de to find the breaks in trips. Use one of the boarder stop to compute the fares.
http://www.ricksteves.com/rail/timecostmap.htm shows quick estimates if that is all you need.
For cross boarder trip, you need to find the "extent" of the national railroad system. For example use www.ferroviedellostato.it to find the fare of €9.30 or €16 between Genova Piazza Principe - Ventimiglia, then use www.voyage-sncf.com to find the Ventimiglia- Aix-en-Provence fare of €43. How do I know to user Ventimiglia? Use reiseauskunft.bahn.de to find the breaks in trips. Use one of the boarder stop to compute the fares.
http://www.ricksteves.com/rail/timecostmap.htm shows quick estimates if that is all you need.
#4


Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 37,526
Likes: 14
Also keep in mind that passes don't include seat reservations which are required on all trains in Italy except R trains and on some trains in other countries while point-to-point tickets usually include seats (on all trains in Italy except R where no seat reservations are possible). Prices are 10€ for most Italian trains, but higher in some other countries. Here's a list of seat reservation fees.
http://www.ricksteves.com/rail/pdfs/reservations.pdf
http://www.ricksteves.com/rail/pdfs/reservations.pdf
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