France/Germany Train Tickets - Help Please
 

My sister and I are looking to do the following (we are still in the beginning stages of planning) and I need your help on what is the best 'train' package to get (individual tickets vs. eurail pass).

In August '06:

~Train from Frankfurt to Freiburg (Germany)
~Train from Freiburg to Strasbourg (France)
~Train from Strasbourg to Avignon
~Rent car for 4 days in Provence area
~Train from Avignon to CDG (fly out of CDG)

We essentially will be taking 4 train trips so what do you all suggest the best way to purchase tickets?

Thank you for your help!

Go to

www.railsaver.com

Enter your itinerary and click on "Only if it saves me money." You will be told whether point-to-point tickets are cheaper or if a particular train pass is more economical.

Thank you Eloise. I was not aware of that web site. I will definitely check it out. Thanks!

Hi K,

Also check the fares at www.bahn.de for Germany and http://www.voyages-sncf.com for France.

They often have special fares.

((I))

Eloise, I went to railsaver.com and entered my itinerary and they only offered me 1st class (even though I marked the box that said 'prefer 2nd class'). Railsaver suggested I get the 5 day pass France/Germany pass for $325. We would waste 1 of those days.

I then entered the same exact itin. and marked the box that said (I only use railpass if it saves me money) and the result was $57.00 from Frankfurt to Freiburg, $15.00 from Freiburg to Strasbourg and then they suggested a 4 day pass for $195.00 in France. We would waste 2 days.

Once we hit Avignon we will be renting a car and will only need to use the train to get from Strasbourg to Avignon and then 4 days later Avignon to CDG.

Well, on a second note ..... is Paris walkable/metro from CDG into the city or by cab?

I'm thinking we might be better off buying individual tickets????

Oh and I forgot .. Ira, I did check out bahn.de even though I know it's too early for August .. I plugged in March 11 from Frankfurt to Freibug and it came up 108Euro. Is that very expensive or are they a bit cheaper if you jump on at a certain time and plug in the dates?

Thanks!

Hi K,

I checked the rate on www.bahn.de for Feb 20 for Frankfurt/Freiburg. It is 54E.

>I'm thinking we might be better off buying individual tickets????

One usually is.

((I))

I personally checked http://www.voyages-sncf.com for train ticket from Paris to Strasbourg, but it's very difficult to understand the website during checkout as I do not speak French. I'm not sure that I can buy a ticket on here, since I reside in the US. Can anybody tell me if it's possible to buy and just print on my printer at home? (Those who understand French more readily.) Thanks
P.s. March 18-19 Leaving Paris 1043am, returning from Strasbourg 1436pm on the 19th.