More Rail Questions
 

I am still alittle confused on the bahn site. Here are some questions:

Am I correct in thinking that I can buy a GERMAN rail pass at a train station while I am in Germany?

If I do get a German rail pass and I go on an overnight train does it count as one day or two?

If I go on the bahn site and I plug in my departure and arrival station, is it correct that the German Rail Pass would be accepted there?

Is it a good deal to buy the pass with the rental car option or it is better to shop around and do the rental car separately?

Thanks, Mille

Repost your query with a better subject, like "German Rail Pass Question" or even "German Rail Pass -- Is Overnight One Day or Two?"

As it is now, no one can tell what it's about and the people who know the answer will not bother reading your post.

Yes you can buy German railpasses at some stations - main stations i believe and last time i checked only 5- and 10-day versions and not the cheaper 4-day version or 6- and 8-day versions that are sold here. Do your homework to see where you can buy the 5- or 10-day passes if that fits your plans.

If you board the overnight train after 7pm you put the next day in as your unlimited travel day - you cannot take a connecting train to the night train however as that would require another day - only the actual night train itself.
German railpass is accepted on all regular passenger trains in Germany, ICEs and all without supplement - there are a few InterCity Sprinters for business types running a very few routes at odd times that do require a slight surcharge.

If you only need a car four or five days or less the German Rail n Drive can be a great deal - more car then you're usually better with a straight up car rental.

For pass prices in the U.S. or any questions regarding passes or passes themselves i always recommend BETS (www.budgeteuropetravel.com) and they usually don't charge Raileurope's $15-18 mailing fee. Both railpasses and rail and drives are indeed sold in the U.S. and if 4-days is all you need it may be cheaper.
Things may have changed on bahn.de and perhaps you can buy all varities of German passes there but not last time i checked. Twin passes are two names on one pass for a cheaper price.

Hi M,

Before you buy any raipasses, check the prices of your trains at www.bahn.de.

Railpasses aren't usually worth the money.

If you do need one, you buy it in the US.

((I))

PS

For most overnight trains, the railpass allows you a seat, not sleeping accomodations.

You have to pay extra for that.

Also, if you want reserved seats, which are required on high-speed trains, you have to buy a reservation.

Germany offers many types of discounted rail tickets, so a pass is often not cost-effective.

<<<If I go on the bahn site and I plug in my departure and arrival station, is it correct that the German Rail Pass would be accepted there?>>>

No, because Bahn.de will show you destination stations in just about every country in Europe. So it will give you a schedule from Rome to Naples, but that doesn't mean a German train pass will cover that trip.

I booked German train tickets online. I paid extra for the reserved seats.

I don't understand what is meant by reserved seats. The tickets I printed out don't have seat numbers on them. Does reserved simply mean that I am guaranteed a seat? Will I have an assigned seat when I get there?

<Railpasses aren't usually worth the money>.

Railpasses are always worth the money if you do you research. They can be not worth the money if you don't.

I think 'usually not worth' is not true - i can show you plenty of itineraries with the German Twin Pass that are well worth the money - the German pass is in many ways a bargain compared to other passes.

About $160 p.p. in 2nd class for 4 days with extra days only $21 a day. Thus the longer you buy the cheaper per day they get. For $21 a day even the bargain Lander Passes, highly restricted, could cost more.

And even at $40/day or about 30 euros if going as many do between Frankfurt and Munich and back even the special discounted tickets could cost more - if you do day trips from Munich to Salzburg and the Rhine boats, etc. way more.

But discounted tickets can be better but then you lose flexibility - non-changeable, non-refundable - not good if landing in Frankfurt and wishing to take the next ICE to Berlin. Or else you must build in ample fudge time and be wiling away some hours waiting or miss the train if you don't schedule fudge time.

Thus to judge the efficacy of a railpass in just dollar$ SenSe is myopic IMO.

and the advance online cheapos are often exhausted... if you plan far ahead and compare then the railpass may be a waste of money for your plans...but often not. Especially if you want flexibility to take any ole train anytime.

But make it clear...as Ira (who I hate to contradict as he is IMO Fodor's MVP poster due to the many conscise informative and always polite to the point posts he makes) implies, many folks overbuy railpasses in general - often blindy thinking they are great deals. It's so easy to do research now with actual in-europe fees that it's relatively easy to see the benefits of a pass or not.

Hello milliebest. I booked my reservations through Rail Europe this morning at 1.800.438.7245. They were very helpful and compared point to point fares vs Rail Pass. In my case, it was cost effective to purchase point to point tickets.

FYI, I did not realize the rail fares were similar to airfares in that, if I had purchased my Eurostar tickets (Paris to London) in November, I would have saved 50%. I was told that the rail systems will be extremely busy due to the Spring break.

Rail Europe will also explain how to count your days. I remember reading something about connecting trains counting as two days.

Hi BoniseA

>I booked German train tickets online. I paid extra for the reserved seats.
....The tickets I printed out don't have seat numbers on them.

Are you certain?

It should have a train number, a car number and a seat number.

Alternatively, did you get an email with a seat confirmation notice?

>Does reserved simply mean that I am guaranteed a seat?

Yes.

>Will I have an assigned seat when I get there?

You should.

From whom did you buy the tickets?

((I))

Hi PQ,

>Railpasses are always worth the money if you do your research. <

>many folks overbuy railpasses in general - often blindy thinking they are great deals. <

I agree with you on both counts. :)

((I))

BoniseA:
>I booked German train tickets online. I paid extra for the reserved seats.
....The tickets I printed out don't have seat numbers on them.<

Does the printout ticket say anything about "1 Sitzplatz, Wg. xy, Pl. xyz" underneath the blue word "Reservierung"? If yes, "Wg." (Wagen) xy is the car number, "Pl." (Platz) xyz is the seat number. I don't know why they use those stupid abbreviations.

If the field under "Reservierung" is empty, then you won't have a reservation unless you have a separate confirmation or e-mail with car and seat number.

Thank you Quokka and Ira,

I booked through bahn.de

Ira, after your response I was looking at the tickets and wondering how to read them. I could definitely pick out the word Reservierung, so I knew they were reserved.

Quokka, then I saw your reponse and I had the entire answer. We're in wagon 23 and places 61 and 63.

Woo Hoo!!

Great!

Good for you, M.

((I))

milliebest - what did you do?

Since the title is so broad, can I chime in on the Railpass v Ticketed Travel debate?

From Kassel, DE to Florence, IT; for two, one way, second class. I figure 365E (Kassel-Basel 185, Basel-Chiasso 100, Chiasso-Firenze 80). Round trip = 730E = $982US

Eurail Select Pass Saver 3 countries, 5 days = $365US * 2 travelers = $730US

The cost appears lower, first class travel, three extra days of travel.

What am I missing? Thanks.

Rail passes can be very good value in countries which have good rail systems and high standard fares - like Germany or Switzerland. They are not of much use in countries with limited rail systems and cheap local fares, such as Greece or Croatia.

Regardless of country, the MORE you use a railpass the more economical it becomes.

And last I heard you do not need a seat reservation to ride an ICE in Germany.

Has that changed?

Hi F,

www.bahn.de routes you from Kassel to Munich and thence to Florence.

It won't sell the tickets on the internet (neither will trenitalia), but they can be bought in Germany.

You can buy Kassel/Munich for 29E ($39). Munich to Florence is $110. I'm not sure if this is the sleeper price, or just the seat price, as I got it from www.railsaver.com.

Much cheaper than a railpass.

((I))

<You can buy Kassel/Munich for 29E ($39).>

is this full fare or one of those potentially hard to get fares with restrictions - i think a flexible ticket - regular fare should cost much more than that. Value of a pass is not just dollars and cents but dollars and sense - flexibile to take any train any time, at least in Germany where ICEs and nearly no other trains require reservations. Trains in Italy do and you must figure that into the price - Es trains cost 15 euro supplement with the pass.

Hi PQ,

Full fare is 89E.

How did you get the 29E to come up on bahn.de?

<You can buy Kassel/Munich for 29E ($39). Munich to Florence is $110. I'm not sure if this is the sleeper price, or just the seat price, as I got it from www.railsaver.com.

Much cheaper than a railpass>

you are of course comparing apples or oranges - first class pass to second class fares? there are huge benefits to first class, especially on the long trip to Florence IMO

Hey PQ,

How come the sudden urge to wave the flag for 1cl, unrestricted tickets? (This isn't the only thread.) :)

Some people can't afford 1cl.

((I))

Hi flyer,

Look a month in advance.

((I))

because the pass flyer349 is considering is first class pass and i honestly do believe that first class, especially on long trips is infinitely better than 2nd class - i've had maybe 60 first class passes and would only go that way but that is my opinion. But i have ridden in 2nd class as well and always look and see - often it's packed and i have a spare seat next to me to put my bag on, more room for luggage - oh i could give 1,000 reasons why the average novice tourist should go first class on trains - it's not a sudden urge as i've always said that.

My usual retort to someone who says 2nd class is the same as first is that they've probably never ridden first class. I've always been a big booster for first class and in first class passes often stack up better vis-a-vis first class fares.

Same as you could stay in a Motel 6 - perfectly adequate and modern, etc. but most would prefer something more luxurious.

I have always said apply to your train travel the same criteria as you do to picking a hotel or restaurant - cheapest is not always the best.

Few folks on this forum are in the low budget travel category and like Motel 6 2nd class is perfectly adequate.

Like hotels i would not simply base something on whether it's cheaper or not - especially if the person is going on their first rail trip.

Just my prejuidice on a board where spending 200 euros a night on a hotel is de rigeuer it seems yet saving a few bucks on rail travel and sacrificing quality seems to be the norm.

That's my honest take on the matter - first class is almost always worth the extra price, especially for folks over 35!

My train tip this Jan 2007 i rode maybe 100 different trains in six countries and in first class on nearly everyone i had a seat to myself - often a solo window seat with an aisle as well and often empty seats just to flop my backpack on.

I diligently checked 2nd class on these trains and they were often fairly full - at times SRO full. (I think the discount online fares are insuring full trains in 2nd class - and in France even in 1st class on TGVs as railways)

I was always glad to be in first class -I also have some knee problems where i need to stretch out - much more conducive in 1st class.

First class IMO is well worth the extra money - especially for groups who want to find seats together and folks with young kids as they make have a row of empty seats to frolick in.

Now some countries the difference is greater - like UK a huge huge difference - 2nd class there is typically littered with newspapers and drinks cans, seats are very cramped - so low that at times i have trouble getting out of them whilst first class is the most luxurious of any in Europe - the old British class system i guess. And in 1st class on trains like Virgin you get not only complimentary drinks but veritable meals - the free food keeps coming by.

Other countries like Austria or Switzerland, especially Suisse because journeys are so short the difference between classes is not as severe - though there ALWAYS is a comfort difference and of course Swiss trains often have domed panoramic cars in first class and rarely in 2nd.

So it's my opinion that first class is worth every penny and i've been posting to the effect for years. I appreciate your opinions and whatever suits you is fine.

<Some people can't afford 1cl.>

may a handful on this board but from what i've read about restaurants and hotels they can and IMO should afford first class.

this double standard about scouring to save a few bucks with the cheapest tickets has always boggled my mind - kind of a game it seems. Again to me use the same criteria you do with hotels, etc.

If you're staying in hostels go 2nd class.

and folks under 26 who can buy the much cheaper youth passes OK - they probably are the few on this board that can't afford first class.

ICE's don't have a reservation requirement. Things may change after the DB stocks get to the stock exchange on Monday.