Need Advice! Munich to Strasbourg to Paris
 

I am planning a trip to Europe this May and am thinking that I will visit Munich, Strasbourg, and Paris. I plan on staying in Europe for 2 1/2 to 3 weeks, spending about 3 or 4 days in each city. I will fly into Munich, travel by train between the cities, and fly out of Paris. Should I purchase a Eurail pass? If so, which one? Or should I purchase point-to-point tickets? I am on a student budget so I am trying to keep the costs low.

Any additional advice on where to stay or what to do/see in those cities is greatly appreciated!

You're previous post is similar, are you sure it doesn't answer this question?

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-and-paris.cfm

As you will be making two(?) total train trips, I fail to see how a Eurail pass makes any sense.

FYI, buying tickets well in advance can save you a lot of money especially on the Strasbourg-Paris train which is a TGV train. You want to shoot for a "Prem" ticket (non-refundable/non-changeable), which can be purchased only 90 days in advance, and they can sell out quickly.

Also, if you really want to save money, you can take a bus from Munich to Strasbourg. Looks like you can travel for about $30 USD (www.MeinFernBus.de for example - looks like the bus runs only a few times a week, direct, 6:40 travel time). I see there is also a daily direct TGV train that you might get for $60 USD if purchased early. The train is of course likely to be much more comfortable.

Andrew is correct and that $60 price is for a direct, no-change, timing, too. Book the ticket 90 days out; you can do the Munich-Strasbourg leg using the Bahn.de site. If you register you can pay online with a credit card and print your ticket out at home.

You do NOT need, or want a pass for this two-part journey.

With 3 cities in 2.5 weeks you will have time to do a couple of day trips.

Without knowing your interests it's hard to make specific, but you could do:

for Paris - Versailles, Chartres or Giverney

From Strasbourg - Colmar, the wine road south from Strasbourg, Rheims and Eparney for champagne houses

From Munich, possibly Innsbruck, some of Mad Ludwig's Castles and the bavaian alps

I would do a day trip to Salzburg too from Munich if you have time.

Where the bus makes more sense from Munich to Strasbourg is in the case where you haven't finalized your plans and need to be more flexible. Booking a week or two out, that TGV train may cost 2X or 3X more if you hadn't booked it yet, but the bus is likely still to be about $30. If you can commit months in advance to the Munich-Strasbourg train, I'd book that at the 90 day mark to get the cheapest price.

Buses are very much the down-and-outs mode here in Europe, avoid.

Take a train, far more smooth and spacious, it's the civilised option - if you book early at www.bahn.de/en Munich-Strasbourg starts at just 29 euros - $35.

Then book Strasbourg to Paris from 20 euros at www.capitainetrain.com

There's nothing wrong with the buses in Europe - I've taken them a few times in various countries. They are nothing fancy but a step up from buses in the US in my experience. I always prefer trains (doesn't everyone?) if the choice is practical and not 3X the cost or 2X the travel time or something. Someone traveling in Europe on a "student budget" as the OP notes may indeed wish to take a bus to save a few bucks.