I was a solo traveler in Germany - summer 2011. I had no problem at all buying a train ticket at the station, just before departure. I had a Germany/Austria flexipass, but some days warranted buying a single ticket.

PalenQ,

I think everyone is going to do their own math. On our upcoming trip we're only doing one intra-Germany trip. All the rest involve a neighboring country. And buying these tickets through Bahn.com makes them a real value. I am booking lots of hotels on points, and so don't mind planning ahead.

But I do agree it's probably best not to buy an advance purchase ticket for travel scheduled to commence within a few hours of one's expected arrival in the country. Too much possibility of flight delay.

Hi Paleq: the ride to heaven is from Hollental Valley (Hell valey) to Himmelreich (Kingdom of Heaven)- thje

Sorry . Imeant to say Horberg-Triberg-St. Georgen segment in the Black Forest.

Henda - I'll have to look that one up! thanks

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%B6..._(Black_Forest)

ah yyeh Henda - I have ridden that railway thru the gorge - took train from Freibourg up into Black Forest to Titisee if I have that name right - a large lake that is a popular place to hike around, literally - then I took train back to Freibourg via that line to Karlstadt, I believe.

So yes that is a great scenic rail line.

I took a scenic train from Freibourg to Seebrugg, where there is that lovely Alpine lake folks love to hike around and then took the train to Titsse and Donaueschingen - where the head waters of the Danube River are and then took the train Henda mentions back to Offenburg and back to Freibourg - a really nice day of scenic trains and nice smallish mountain towns!