Thanks. I think I'll stick to ICE trains and go ahead and order the pass this week.

I didn't check RailSaver because I figured that the Munich to Hannover + Hannover to Berlin legs are already about the cost of the 4-day pass. So it really is a no-brainer -- especially now that I find out the regional trains take quite a long time (except for that 5h+ train, but then my schedule will be limited).

Re Zugspitze, I misread the DB page. It's the KD cruises that are included. My apologies. I checked zugspitze.de and I can't seem to find info regarding what the discount is. I'm guessing it's 25% based on a random web search, but I'll try to flip through Rick Steves to see if he mentions this. He's usually quite good with logistics like these.

If it's 25% off I don't think that the discount is worth a day of the pass for me, as we'll have a car in Munich and will presumably drive if we end up wanting to go to Zugspitze. It's just the descent and ascent that we'll need to ride the trains for -- and I believe r/t is 55 euros. So 25% off is less than 15 euros, and this won't be worth a day of the pass.

Thanks again!

By the way, re the Eurail link suggested by scatcat, I see mostly combo passes for 2 or more countries. The single country passes don't list the Germany pass. But I could have missed something.

I'll try to order from BETS this week.

I've ordered the pass from BETS. The four-day pass is $200. They suggested FedEx because I leave in less than 3 weeks ($10 extra).

They'll send a 125-page timetable and a Germany rail map with the package.

They said that I can basically board any train except for ICE Sprinter trains (reservations req).

Seems like pretty good service.

Have a great trip 111op. Be sure to post back when you get home. (28 days to go but who's counting!) Barb

Thanks. I think I'll be back after you leave. Have a great time.

Nope. Sorry -- maybe back 2-3 days before you go. But have fun nonetheless!

I've my German rail pass. A stupid question re the validation:

I assume I can validate the pass on any day before the first use of the pass (that is, I don't need to validate the pass on the day I plan to use it)?

Does that sound right?

I think that my first train ride may be a very early train, and I'm not sure that the office will be open.

Since I'm only in Germany for a week, I don't care if I validate a few days before I need to use it (the pass itself, I gather, is valid for one month since validation).

Thanks!

ttt

Yes, you can validate your pass at any station at your convenience even if you won't use it that day. Present your railpass and passport to a railway official at a ticket window, who will write in the first and last dates of your travel period. Never write anything on your pass before it's been validated. Each day when you take your seat on the train, write down the date (in ink). Always do this before the conductor comes around.

111op,

do you need to go to Hannover for a particular reason?

If not, I frankly cannot see many reasons to put it on an agenda. While admittedly being biased, I believe most people would agree that Hamburg makes for a better stop than Hannover. ICE train transfer times to Berlin are about similar from both cities.

Thanks for the tip, TimS.

Yes, I need to go to Hannover. I'm visiting the Kestner Museum for some personal reasons.

I actually may think about stopping in Frankfurt that day too. (You can see I'm nuts. :-) )

I'm back and I'll add to this.

#1. It was easy to use the train pass. I got on any train I wanted. I did want to try an ICE Sprinter, but it was fully booked. It <b>is</b> possible to take a Sprinter. I'd have had to pay a 10 euro supplement.

#2. I was told the S-bahn in Berlin is included in the rail pass. This is probably the case for other cities too.

#3. The Zugspitze cable car round-trip would have cost 4 euros instead of 45 euros, I believe. I wish that I had an extra day on my pass. It would have been saved me a little money.