One more questions: when you say that Bayern ticket also cover local transport it's for which lenght ? let's take an example: We leave Salzburg at 10 AM, we should arrive Munich around noon. Does the bayern pass cover local transpourt (ubahn, tram, metro bus whatever) for the rest of the day ? In Munich our hotel (motel one OST) is near OST station.

>>One more questions: when you say that Bayern ticket also cover local transport it's for which lenght ? let's take an example: We leave Salzburg at 10 AM, we should arrive Munich around noon. Does the bayern pass cover local transpourt (ubahn, tram, metro bus whatever) for the rest of the day ? <<

It does, cf. https://www.bahn.de/p_en/view/offers...a-ticket.shtml.

However, the Meridian dep. Salzburg 10.15, 11.15 etc. will stop at Munich Ostbahnhof anyway (note: the Bayern Ticket is not valid on the EC 218 dep. 10:00). You can use the Bayernticket for any ride within the Munich transport system (Münchener Verkehrsverbund) for the rest of the day till 03:00 am next day (cf. "Period of validity" in the link above).

>>We already know our itinerary so we should be able to get reduced price tickets for the long rides.

We'll see the price difference with the first class but it's almost sure the we're gonna reserved our seats.<<

If you decide to go on reduced tickets you always should doublecheck the prices for first class. Just an example: I will go from Augsburg to Cologne next monday. The reduced price for the fastest (not cheapest) train is 162 E. return in 2nd class and 180 E. in first class. Moreover, there ist no reservation fee for first class, reservation fee for 2nd class is 4.50 per person (!). So, for a very small supplement you may gain a lot more of comfort.

Yes lots of folks automatically buy the cheapest 2nd class ticket without checking on first class and the example that sla019 gives shows that first-class may be not much more and for a little more you IME get a whole lot more comfort.

>>I've made some dummy search in 3 months:

Berlin-Dresden; 38 Euro
Dresden- Nuremberg: 52 Euro
Nuremberg-Salzburg: 38-48 Euro
Salzburg-Munich: 38 Euro
Munich-Cologne: 118-158.

A total between 284 and 334 Euro.<<

In view of this I cannot imagine that you will safe anything if using reduced train-specific tickets. What you seem to need is a 4 day *twin* pass (i.e. for 2 adults and all children) for the trips Berlin - Dresden, Dresden - Nuremberg, Nuremberg - Salzburg and Munich - Cologne, the price is 308 E. 2nd class for all of you (415E first class), if booked online at the DB web site: http://www.bahn.com/i/view/USA/en/pr...ss-flexi.shtml

Individual tickets for two sum up to ca. 600 E.

For the remaining trips no fast trains are available (except for the Salzburg - Munich line, but the destination Munich Ostbahnhof implies switching to S-Bahn at Munich Hbf when using RJ / EC, which will take as long as a direct Meridian ride), so on these days you can safe money by using regional tickets and still have flexibility.

(BTW, looking for an original Bavarian "Wirtshaus" not geared to chinese tourists near your hotel? Zum Brünnstein, Elsässser Str. 36 (ask at the hotel desk to make a reservation)).

>> Individual tickets for two sum up to ca. 600 E.

How do make those maths ? the price i,.ve shown is for all of us.

If i remove the Salzburg-Munich leg the cost is between 246 and 296 Euro.

iT also seems that the Munich-Cologne is too high. I've made some other search ans i could get that leg for 38 Euro (if I buy at the moment the tickets are sold). So 4 legs at 38 Euros = 152 Euro. That's a lot of savings,

Thanks about the recommandation for the Wirtshaus even if I dont know what it is !

Everything is so complex these days - takes a math genius to figure it all out and so many nuances - getting a pass does one thing -makes it all so easy but may cost more.

>>How do make those maths ? the price i,.ve shown is for all of us. <<

Sorry, didn't realize that. And yes, you can get very cheap tickets for the Munich - Cologne trip if you are flexible in time and book on the very first day of availability. However, you probably will have to transfer at Mannheim to a slow IC, so your total travel time will increase by one or two hours.

A "Wirtshaus" is a tavern. And the Brünstein at Munich Ostbahnhof is a fine example of a traditional Bavarian one.

railpasses too cover some city transports - S-Bahn lines run by the railways which go right thru the heart of Munich but it would not be smart to use a day on a pass for that - but if arriving in Munich by long-distance train on a day when you may use the pass you can travel from the main station to the town centre and around on the pass until midnight that day.

Bavarian Passes cover all transports - making them a better deal even.

BTW German Railpasses periodically go on sale with the caveat of an extra day or two so before making any decision based on maths check to see if there is such a special going on - they have come and gone several times in the past few years.