Hello everyone, new to the forums =)

Just wanted to see how I should go about booking train reservations. I've found various train sites, but cannot seem to really understand how the "very convenient train system" works. (as quoted by others) Here are the sites I am looking at:

http://www.eurorailways.com/
http://www.raileurope.com
http://www.euraide.com/

Questions I have:
-Why do each of these sites provide different prices for the same trains?
-Why cannot I book overnight trains online?
-If I need to book in person, will I be in jeopardy of not being able to book once I get to Europe?
-I am booking with 3 other people. Is it better to get a cabin, or a sleeper? Or does it matter at all?
-What are the material differences between 1st and 2nd class?

Our itinerary:
Start in Prague; go to Germany (frankfurt or munich)

Germany to Venice

Venice to Zurich (flight out)

any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

-C

I'll offer my observations. You'll get many more qualified answers in the next day or so.

-Why do each of these sites provide different prices for the same trains?
I have only dealt with raileurope.com and bought a rail pass from them. I assume that each company is selling for whatever they can get.

-Why cannot I book overnight trains online?
Last month I reserved all my overnight bunks in Europe on the morning that I traveled. 1st class and 2nd class, T3 and T4. No problem. But nobody else was traveling in January!!! I had the cabins to myself and there were plenty of empty cabins.

-If I need to book in person, will I be in jeopardy of not being able to book once I get to Europe?
It depends on when you are traveling. The month and the day of the week are major criteria.

-I am booking with 3 other people. Is it better to get a cabin, or a sleeper? Or does it matter at all?
I don't think it matters. What matters is 1st or 2nd class when it comes to sleeping on the rail. I recommend 1st class.

-What are the material differences between 1st and 2nd class?
The material differences are mostly who your neighbors are. In 2nd class you might have a noisy family of immigrants next door or some backpacking younger folks with 'music' loud enough for everybody on the train. In 1st class you will probably have a wash basin, maybe a toilet, maybe even a shower, in your cabin. You might get continental breakfast served in your cabin. Trains in every country are different.

Regarding your itinerary I would choose Munich, Dresden, Vienna, or Budapest instead of Frankfurt unless you are planning some business there. I can't see spending much time in Zurich either. Just show up in time for your flight.

See Krakow if you can work it in. What a charm. The overnight train from Prague to Krakow has been discussed recently on this forum. I did the v-v. It's an old train but it works.

The prices are different because you are looking at booking sites not the official rail sites.

It might make more sense AND be cheaper to fly. Check out www.which budget.com for the various budget airlines in Europe. Sometimes you can get flights for a few euro. You don't have to book roundtrip on these airlines to get bargain prices as you do in the states.

Hi A,

For tickets to/from and within Germany use www.bahn.de

To/from and within Italy use www.trenitalia.com

Look for discount tickets.

Also, as noted, check on cheap flights at www.whichbudget.com

-Why do each of these sites provide different prices for the same trains?

Because as someone said, you aren't necessarily lloking at railroad sites but rather ticketing agency sites. Prices may reflect mark-ups.


-Why cannot I book overnight trains online?

You can, if you know where to do so but be aware that as a general rule you cannot book any reservable space more than 60 days or nights out. Sometimes it is easier and just as convenient to wait and book the trains once you arrive in Europe. And unless using an official railroad site it is usually cheaper, too.


-If I need to book in person, will I be in jeopardy of not being able to book once I get to Europe?

It depends on the train and the time of year in some cases.


-I am booking with 3 other people. Is it better to get a cabin, or a sleeper? Or does it matter at all?

would you spend the mnight with these same people in the same room in a motel? If so, then couchettes may work for you.


-What are the material differences between 1st and 2nd class?


First usually has fewer seats in the same amount of floor space containing more seats in 2nd Class.

2nd is cheaper than First and as a result usually fills up faster.

Intra-Europe flights can be, an alternative, although I disagree that they always "make more sense" since some people prefer to travel by rail and some people prefer to travel center city to center city.

Be aware of the checked luggage restrictions on intra-European flights (often 20 Kg per person) but o consider these as they can save a lot of time and money.

-Why do each of these sites provide different prices for the same trains?
The agents take different mark-ups, so it is worth sending e mails to four, to learn their fares for journeys you plan. I attach a list of agents. You can send e mails and phone calls to three or four agents for estimates and bookings for the rail fares. For international tickets, berths and seats Trainseurope are ten percent cheaper than German Rail UK or Ffestiniog Travel. For domestic Italian trains they are cheaper again. German Rail UK are cheaper than Trainseurope or Ffestiniog Travel for domestic trains within Germany and may be competitive with them for international trips with a big proportion of miles in Germany.

Euraide in Florida, E-mail [email protected]. Phone 1 941-480-1555. http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homep...e/homepage.htm, fax 1 941-480-1522

Trainseurope Ltd, of Cambridgeshire and London, E-mail [email protected]. Phone 00 44 900 195 0101 http://www.trainseurope.co.uk/ -

Ffestiniog Travel of Wales, E-mail [email protected], phone 00 44 176 651 2400 site http://www.festtravel.co.uk,

Inside France (Canterbury). E-mail [email protected]/. Or booking form on site www.rail-canterbury.co.uk/. Phone 0044 1227 450088.

German Rail UK in Surbiton. Phone 0044 8702 43 53 63, E-mail: [email protected] http://www.deutsche-bahn.co.uk,

Railwise Ltd. E-mail: [email protected]/. 3rd Floor, 26 Gray's Inn Road London WC1X 8HR Phone 0044 207-242-1490. Fax: 0044 207-242-1518. Site http://railwise.com/

-Why cannot I book overnight trains online?
You can indeed book overnight trains online through those agents

-If I need to book in person, will I be in jeopardy of not being able to book once I get to Europe?
Trains get full for the two weeks around Easter, from mid June to mid September, and at national holidays anytime in the year. You may then find that you cannot book.

-I am booking with 3 other people. Is it better to get a cabin, or a sleeper? Or does it matter at all?
On some trains of Europe there are 2-berth second class compartments, called type T2, and they would fit you best, but I am afraid your trains have none. On a few trains, including Venice to Zurich, there are 4 berth couchette compartments, and they fit you well. 6 berth compartments of couchettes are too crowded to sleep you well. In second class the standard second class sleeper provision is 3-berth: Prague to Germany, and Germany to Venice, give examples. To stay second class, in your party you would book three berths together, and a fourth berth, shared with European strangers, for the most adventurous amongst you. If you pay fifty percent more you can book first class, in two double comopartments.

-What are the material differences between 1st and 2nd class?
Please see notes and photographs in the detailed and able survey of rail travel, country by country, at http://www.seat61.com/. In seats in saloon cars for day travel first class have two seats one side of the passageway, and one on the other side, while in second class saloons seats are two on either side of the passage. In cars divided into compartments first class seats are an inch or so deeper than second class seats, but there is little in it. In sleeper cars the compartments are identical, but the conductor folds down one, two or three berths when he or she sets up your compartment for the night. In any sleeper (but not in T4 couchettes) you have a washbasin in your compartment. In couchette cares washbasins are in cubicles along the corridor. On none of the routes you will use are there showers.

In second class by night you might have noisy neighbours: you are fully entitled to ask the car conductor to ask for quiet, since you are not alone in your sleeplessness. In second class by day you can ask the inspector to have noise reduced, but nobody can stop children laughing or crying. The idea of a family of immigrants next door is striking. Has the writer moved a stereotype from the North American continent to Europe ? I mean, on the continent it is we anglo-saxons who are the visitors, you might say the temporary immigrants, and as the writer says they may be the source of loud music. Again, the train staff can help. Or I have been known to knock politely at a door and ask for quiet. I feel myself a pompous British ass, but less so if earlier that evening I have offered those same young neighbours a paper cup of wine (never travel without them). Reading that, I pause and recall that I do hear middle aged travellers, too, who are so enjoying the scenery that they call out to one another, with voices less mellifluous than the voices of the young.

Please write again if I can help further.

Ben Haines, London
[email protected]

In the US the best booking agent i've found and one i always recommend for her expertise is Linda at BETS (800-441-2387), whose booked all kinds of European trains for years. You may pay a bit more in US but you'll just have to show up for the train - she works thru RailEurope as nearly everyone in US does but BETS won't charge some of RE's fees, and the service over the years of my dealing with her is superb. They have a free European Planning & Rail Guide that will answer many of your questions, especially on night trains (free at www.budgeteuropetravel.com). If you want four people in the same compartment it makes sense to book ahead - can usually do 60 days in advance, sometimes 90. First class couchettes, available on some but not nearly all trains hold 4 people. Otherwise you have 6 person couchettes in 2nd class - or in the sleeper car pricey doubles or triples but few trains have quads. Anyway if you want to talk to someone who knows everything about these trains try Linda. I've also heard good things about euraide.

"The idea of a family of immigrants next door is striking. Has the writer moved a stereotype from the North American continent to Europe ? "

No, Ben. This happened, and then I paid extra to move to first class.