Hello dear Fodorites. We will be travelling by train from Munich to Frankfurt International airport to catch our flight home. Can we get from Munich to Mainz or do we have to rail from Munich to Frankfurt and then from Frnakfurt to Mainz? . We have one night either in Frankfurt or Mainz and am so undecided. Any thoughts please. Appreciate your advice. Thanks

Did you check the train schedule on DB's website? Most require 1 connection between Munich and Mainz. Depending on your time of travel, some changes at Mannheim, some at Ulm, some at Frankfurt airport etc.

We stayed in Mainz at the Ibis and caught an early morning S-Bahn at a station close to the hotel for a flight from Frankfurt airport. We had also taken the train from Munich to Mainz and I remember one change, at Mannheim, I think. It was all very convenient and we would do it again. Mainz is a pleasant city and the Ibis is on the edge of the Altstadt.

Hi yk. Whats DB??website. any idea how long the train jurney would take. Really so new to all this.

Hi Geebee
The change at Mannheim, do we hav eto wait for the next train. How lon gdid it take from Munich to Mainz and is the Ibis at a convenient location? Thanks for helping.

DB is Deutsche Bahn, the German railway company. The website is http://www.bahn.de. Click the button "Internat.Guests" for the English version. Then the thing should be self-explanatory - if it isn't, let us know, we're here.

The Deutsche Bahn site is indispensable for planning rail travel in Europe. I did a quick check and there is a train leaving Munich at 9:23 that takes 3:55 to get to Mainz, with a change in Mannheim (13 minutes to change tracks). It won't be a problem to make that change; it's not a huge bahnhof. The Ibis is at Holzhofstrasse 2, a block from the Rhine and very near the Altstadt. It is a very short walk from the Mainz Süd bahnhof ( a very small one) where you can catch S-Bahn 8 that takes 27 minutes to get you to the regional bahnhof at the airport. So, in summary, the trip is a breeze and the Ibis is a good choice in Mainz,,,very convenient for eating, touring, and catching the train to the airport.

Hi Quokka n Geebee14. Thanks so much. I am a keen learner. Now, Geebee14, thanks again and May I ask - there are eight of us and hope you dont mind re this question. The change in Mannheim, o dear, I am abit nervous do we actually change trains? Are there signs in English??
Thanks . You're gems.

Yes, you'll have to change trains. You should be able to find out at the ticket window in the Munich train station (Hauptbahnhof) about platforms or tracks in Mannheim. The DB site also gives the platform you arrive at and the one you leave from. For instance, the 9:23 from Munich arrives at platform 2 and the train for Mainz leaves from #3. The platform or track number will be clearly displayed. The word you might find in German will be Gleis. There will also be train schedules conspicuously placed on each platform (some German knowledge may be required), and probably some electronic signs identifying the next train on that track (or Gleis). You may be lucky and have the tracks adjacent to each other or you may have to go down/up a set of stairs and under/over to get to your next train. However, it is set up to be easy for everyone, and you'll find it quite simple, I"m sure. Bon voyage.

- Tracks 2 and 3 in Mannheim are on the same platform, so if you get a connection that uses these you won't have to worry about stairs.

- Announcements both on the ICE trains and in the train stations are bilingual - German and English. The English usually with a heavy German accent but hopefully understandable.

- Most Germans, especially those younger than, say, 50, speak quite some English. Ask any intelligent looking face for help if you need such. If this person can't help there will be someone nearby.

- The signs on the platform display the number of the track, the number and type (IC/ICE etc.) of the train, departure time, the names of the final destination and some (usually not all) stops in between. All these don't need a translation.

- I guess you'll be having seat reservations? I'd recommend those, especially for a larger group.
So here's quokka's guide to how to find your seat:

1. The reservation ticket will state something like "1 Sitzplatz, Wg. 4, Pl. 27, 1 Gang, Tisch, Nichtraucher" (I'm using my last week's one here). This translates to:
1 Sitzplatz / in your case. 8 Sitzplätze - number of seats reserved.
Wg. 4 = "Wagen 4" - the car number.
Pl. 27 = "Platz 27" - the seat number
Gang/Mitte/Fenster - aisle/middle/window (position of seat)
Großraum/Abteil/Tisch - type of compartment: "Großraum" is the large plane-like compartment, "Abteil" is a small compartment that seats 5 or 6, "Tisch" (table) are the seats at the tables in a part of the Großraum compartment, each table seats 4 (sometimes 3), in 1st class there are also tables for 2.
Nichtraucher - non smoking, all German trains are non smoking since last summer.

2. How to find the right car and seat?
Look for the board named "Wagenstandsanzeiger" (print this out or write it down, you won't tremember that word) on the platform. This board displays all trains that depart from this track(!) showing the sequence of cars and their number. Check were, in our example, car 4 is. In the top line above you'll see a row of letters from A to G or H. Let's assume that car #4 is right underneath the letter D. You'll find signs, white on dark blue, showing the same letters above the platform, so find the D and wait underneath, car #4 should stop there ar at least nearby.
(The fun part begins if the train comes in the other way round, which is rare but happens, then everybody will be running like mad.)

3. Hop on the car with the right number. Then find your seat numbers. Reservations are on display together with the seat number above each seat. If someone is sitting in your seat even if the reservation is clearly marked you have the right to tell them off (but politely). Wave the ticket and tell them something about "reservation".

4. Seat reservations are valid for 15 minutes after departure. Either you have taken your seat by then, or someone else may take it. So if you want to, for example, visit the restaurant car during your journey leave a jacket/scarf/piece of luggage on your seat to mark it as taken.

5. German/English leaflets with the train's timetable and all connections at each stop are available on board, usually they are lying/flying around at each seat or table. If in doubt, find an intelligent-looking face in your surroundings and ask.

(I think I should save this somethere for further use...)

Have a great journey!
quokka

One thing I forgot to mention: Germans ask "Ist this seat free?", not "Is it taken?".
So if you point to an empty seat and ask something and the German doesn't understand your question, he'll say "no" if the seat is taken and "yes" if the seat is free. (I've noticed this misunderstanding with English speakers more than once on German trains.)

Hi Quokka and Geebee 14.
Thanks so much for the information and the German lesson. So very kind of you and so encouraging too. Will pass this info to my travel group and on their behalf too, thank you so much. Danka Sehr.

Have a great time and enjoy your trip!