Our European intinerary in July includes two major train connections: Berlin to Prague, and Prague to Vienna. I think these will both be on IC/ICE-class trains, if I'm not mistaken, and we'll be travelling during the day.

I have found at least two websites where one can book these trips in advance: the DB website, and the OBB website. I've also visited another more general website -- Rail Europe -- on which I can buy tickets for these particular trips.

I'd like to ask those of you with some experience with train travel in Europe for some advice, so here's a couple questions:

First, do you feel there is a significant difference between 1st- and 2nd-class seating -- or at least enough difference to justify the difference in cost?

Second, will I pay significantly more if I use one of the above websites to buy these tickets? I've seen postings on various travel boards that seem to indicate that, for instance, one pays *twice* as much booking online through the DB site as one does buying the same ticket at a DB ticket window in a train station.

Third (I know, I only said a *couple* questions): given that we're going in the peak travel season, would I encounter severely-overbooked trains if I waited until, say, the day before our trip to buy the tickets at the departure station, and find myself unable to get the tickets of my choice?

Thanks in advance.

Fritzrl

I've never tried first class seats on German trains and have always found second class quite comfortable, but that's obviously a personal matter.
I wouldn't book daytime trains in advance myself and have never had problems booking at a station a day or two in advance. Trains will be busiest around weekends (generally Friday and Sunday afternoons and evenings) and holidays. Whether you need to book will also depend on how critical your connections are: if you find your chosen train is full, can you travel a couple of hours earlier or later?

Your Berlin (Zoo)-Prague segment will be on an IC or EC train..not on an ICE.
If you use an agency such as RailEurope to buy your tickets here, rather than waiting to buy them over there, you will pay a premium for the convenience of getting the tickets here and in RailEurope's case, you'll also pay about $15.00 for shipping.

In the past, various posters, Rex is one who comes to mind, have rather inaccurately stated again and again how RailEurope marks things up 30-40% I am not sure those figures are accurate and I suspect he cannot document that claim. But you will pay MORE for booking here.

Most people, myself included, who have done so will tell you to wait until you get to Europe and then buy all your tickets at once.

The Berlin to Prague route is a busy one with several trains daily as is the Prague to Vienna route. You can easily buy a ticket because on those routes there are no "capacity controls" and they sell as many tickets as are requested....because having a ticket does not guarantee a seat. it is the seat reservations that ARE capacity controlled.

Strategy: get on the train EARLY because not everyone will have reserved a seat.

1st vs. 2nd....2nd Class is usually more crowded because it is cheaper to use. On some equipment there are fewer seats in the 1st Class section than in 2nd which may make 1st Class roomier.

Only you can ultimately decide whether the additional price is "worth it."

Have a great trip.

Check into the Prague excursion pass. You can find it on Raileurope. It is 41.00 for economy, 55.00 for first class,
and you can go in and out of Prague for 7 days after the first use of the pass.

Wow, these are really useful answers. Thank you!

So, I'm just about convinced to wait until I get to Europe to buy the tickets.

I am curious about the Prague excursion pass, too, and will check it out on the website.

Fritzrl

I can confirm there is a significant mark-up on rail fares if you buy them in the US from Rail Europe. I walked into the station in Florence to buy 2 tickets Florence-Venice one way. It ended up being about $60 for 2 on my credit card. I just priced it here on Rail Europe and it is $78 per person, before the Fed Ex fee which is *required* to send you the tickets.

I say wait until you get there...

We got back from a Germany/Austria/Italy vacation in March and got in a second-class car going to Munich and a first-class car going to Vienna. While the first-class car is definitely nicer and cozier, the second class was decent. The seats are comfortable. The biggest real difference is that our car was fairly crowded in second class, but in first class we had a car to ourselves for the entire 4-hour journey. Keep in mind though, that we were not there during tourist season so that probably made a difference.

As far as reservations are concerned, we never booked any reservations and never had any problems, but again, we were there during an off-peak time so that's probably why.

Good luck!
Tracy

Try www.euraide.com. They will get you train tickets for any European travel at no mark-up over the price you'd pay at the Munich train station, for only a one-time $45 service charge.
There is a phone number on the website, you can reach Herman with any questions; he is very accessible and helpful. He just got tickets for us for three trips in June...Vienna to Budapest, Budapest to Prague, and Prague to Frankfurt.
I've bought tickets at the station before and it worked out fine, (in Rome) but there was a fair amount of waiting in line, and wondering if I could get the desired times, trains, etc. The peace of mind of having my tickets in-hand, at least for me, is well worth the $45.

I am currently working with Herman at Euraide. Phone number in US is 941-480-1555. He is getting a railpass, TGV reservations and Thalys tickets for me and is a delight to work with. A few years ago we went into the Euraide office in Berlin and received wonderful help, so I have good feelings about this company. Yes, there is a fee of $45 which includes shipping and handling, but their other prices are exactly what would be charged in Europe, so I think it is really a good deal. (The railpasses are at the same price as other places in the US.)