I know exactly which train I need, but Euraid charges $45 shipping and handling just for the reservation (overnight train T3 from Munich to Venice). There's no charge if I wait until I get to Munich - but that's only two days ahead of time and I'm afraid the T3's might be taken. Is there another way to reserve a T3 sleeper without the high fee?

If you are an american express card holder you can try their travel agency, make their reservations with their local representative, the handeling fee its around 10 USD. I guess Visa and mastercad most have similar traveling services. I had the same dilema as you, and didnt wanted to pay 45 USD but did wanted to get a reservation.

Hi mb,

You can make your booking online at
http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

You will need to register.

As you work your way through the various pages, you will find the type of reservation on the next to last page.

3 bed compartment is one of the options.

Thanks, Ira - but are you sure you can make just a reservation/payment for a sleeper via this site? I tried getting through to the page you described, but found it very confusing because I gto to the point where they wanted my cc info, without having the opportunity to indicate that we already have passes and just need to pay the fee for the sleeper and make the reservation. Have you actually done this? Did I give up too soon?

Diego: thank you, too. My MC travel services charge $25. Not as good as yours, but better than Euraid's fee. Unless I can figure out how to follow Ira's suggestion (or anyone else's?), I'll go with yours.

Hi mb,

I'm sorry. I didn't realize that you had a railpass.

You are going to have to pay for the reservation separately.

If it is very important that you get that train, I suggest that you bite the bullet and pay the S&H.

BTW, we did that trip during the day. It is very beautiful.

mberry,

Two years ago I did just what you are wanting to do on the bahn site. I believe there was a spot for "comments", where I indicated that I wanted "just sleeper reservations, as we had railpasses". They were sent to my US address, no problem.

A warning:
all comunications after the original order were in German, which I have some comfort in. Don't know if that would unnerve you, in which case, Euraide would be your best bet.

~Liz

After trying a variety of sources (railpass.com will only do it if you buy your pass from them, my MBNA cc travel agent doesn't handle trains, etc.) with no luck, I finally called EurAide. Not only were they friendly and efficient, the $45 S&H was reduced to $35 because I asked to pick up the tickets when I got to Munich.

Of course, $10 hardly matters in the end, considering the total for this T3 sleeper car is more than double the cost of any night on my trip (except Venice), but we wanted an experience we wouldn't get in the states. I'll report back later on whether it was worth it!