seat reservations
 

Will be taking the train from Sofia Bul. to Bucharest. Is it less money if I buy the resv. in Sofia than to buy it from Rail Europe?

Most likely -maybe much more but at times RE can be competitive - try to book your own online - check www.seat61.com for insights on that. For general info on trains -also www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

RE is often more expensive, since it is a travel agency, not a rail company.

If you are not already familiar with seat61.com, take a look at it.

I checked, seat61 says:

"The train fare from Sofia to Bucharest is 48.21 LEV (2016 price, about €25) including seat reservation, bought at international ticket windows at Sofia station. There are always places available, even on the day of travel. 2nd class only."

You might want to read the rest of that section. Good luck, trains in that part of the world are often slooow, especially if crossing borders. And hot.

RE is often more expensive, since it is a travel agency, not a rail company.>

Not really a travel agency like in middlemen - RE is owned by the French National Railways and part by the Swiss Railways and eternal plans are to start tapping more into the European railway booking sites to also offer lower fares -this is done now in Italy I believe with TrenoItalo = I've seen $23 fares Venice - Florence for example.

But yes thursdaysd is right - currently often more expensive and a handling fee I believe.

Thanks
I will. have a rail pass so alli need is a seat resv
If necessary.

Are you sure a pass is cost effective for Eastern Europe?

Only one direct train -lv 9 am ar 7pm - seat reservations compulsory - would be cheaper in Sofia than thru RE (especially if you already have your pass - just a reservation will incur a hefty handling fee)- I'd pay more and book here simply to guarantee a seat.

"I'd pay more and book here simply to guarantee a seat."

If you read my post... seat61.com says:

"There are always places available, even on the day of travel"

And I still question the value of a pass for Eastern Europe, if the OP hasn't bought it yet.

"There are always places available, even on the day of travel">

Yes Man in Seat 61 is 100% positive of that -wonder how?

This is not eastern Europe but the Balkans and do you know how cheap a Eurail Select Pass can be in that area?

But good point - unless traveling on several trains may not be a great deal.

thanks for all the help.
maybe a rail pass might not be a good idea.

>>maybe a rail pass might not be a good idea.<<

I thought you said you have the rail pass? If not - where all are you traveling and how many train trips do you plan? Very often (not always but VERY often) just plain old point-to-point tickets are cheaper. Sometimes MUCH heaper.

oops: >>Sometimes MUCH <B>c</B>heaper. :)

I planned on getting the pass. will be going early Nov.
thanks

What countries are you going to and how many train trips -1st or 2nd cl?

$286 p.p. buys a 5-day 1st class pass in a 2-month period (flexipass) to use in Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria for example -that's about $57/day for fully flexible 1st class travel in those countries - adjoining countries up to a max of 2 more can be added on at extra price - if traveling 5 days in those countries on trains not sure how much you could save on local fully flexible first class fares.

It all depends on what countries you are traveling in (northern western European country passes cost more for same days).

So yes a pass for many may not be a great deal but for some it can be- especially if you want fully flexible first class travel and don't wish to buy tickets -discounted ones usually non-changeable from a specific train - that set the dates in stone weeks or months in advance.

Very often (not always but VERY often) just plain old point-to-point tickets are cheaper>

True with discounted tickets in 2nd class vs 1st class Eurailpass (if under 29 there is a cheaper 2nd cl youthpass) that allows fully flexible travel on virtually any train in countries selected (a few have mandatory seat reservations for a few euros) - so often it is like comparing oranges to apples.

2nd cl discounted restricted tickets are nearly always better than a pass - for 1st or 2nd class full-fare fully flexible tickets a pass is often, for someone taking more than a few long trips, a good deal.

It will be just Bulgaria and Romainia. Did plan on a few day trips. That is why i was thinking of a pass? I see the Sofia to Buch. is only 2nd class. as you said, and no service at all?

2-country Eurail Select valid in Bulgaria and romanis about $180 for 4 days of 2nd cl travel and $155 on a Saver Pass -two people traveling on one pass.

4 days is the minimum.

$155 / 4 = $39/ day fully flexible travel.

All the various days and saver - non-saver:
http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id...0select%20pass

The train fare from Sofia to Bucharest is 48.21 LEV (2016 price, about €25) including seat reservation, bought at international ticket windows at Sofia station.>

so that's about $40 - if only doing short day trips then you will be better off just buying as you go along it seems. But short day trips are return trips too. 1st cl may be a better deal for pass than 2nd cl - and most local trains don't require reservations so you can just hop on -priceless for some not having to deal with ticket window. Check www.bahn.de/en for trains where 'seat reservations are compulsory' to see if they are.

Not sure what you mean by "service". Food and drink? Bring your own!!!

Any type of service like coffee?

No catering, according to seat61. If it existed the coffee would likely be undrinkable.

You will be in Europe, but you will not be in Western Europe.

Couple of train rides that may give you an idea of what travel can be like in this area.

Second half of this one (I down-played the smuggling):

https://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com...sofia-via-nis/

https://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com...o-the-balkans/

If it existed the coffee would likely be undrinkable.>

Based on what - personal experience - I was in Bucharest eons ago and coffee was drinkable then - more Turkish style than western European - I've been given comp coffee in first class on Italian trains that was IMO undrinkable.

Really coffee in Balkans undrinkable?

I am not talking about coffee in cities, I am talking about coffee on trains. Read more carefully.

You said: If it existed (on trains) the coffee would likely be undrinkable.>

I am talking about coffee on trains. Read more carefully.>

I did read and it makes no sense -saying coffee on trains is undrinkable then saying there is no coffee on trains.

Honestly, talk about willful misunderstanding. If there is coffee available on a particular train in this area it will likely be undrinkable, but there is more likely to be no coffee available. Why bring up the coffee in Bucharest if we are talking about trains?

If there is coffee available on a particular train in this area it will likely be undrinkable>

Based on how many personal experiences -where do you get that from? Seat 61?

Since I will be going in mid nov. I thought I read
A change of trains to the Romanian network.
About how far is the ride till I change trains?

The Romanian train office is really good about answering questions Mike... I have written a couple of emails to them and the responded quickly and effectively. You might write them an email and ask.

https://www.cfrcalatori.ro/

I am sure you know Tarom has a direct flight between the two cities. In case the train ride seems a little too long.

Figure what is the border station from www.bahn.de/en listing of stops.

Sofia dep 09:00 460 Schnellzug Direction: Bucuresti Nord Gara A
Subject to compulsory reservation (Sofia --> Ruse(BG)), Subject to compulsory reservation (Ruse(BG) --> Bucuresti Nord Gara A), Part of journey with sleeping-car (Giurgiu Nord --> Bucuresti Nord Gara A)
Sofia Sever dep 09:06
Svoge dep 09:38
Mezdra dep 10:29
Roman(BG) dep 10:43
Cherven Briag dep 11:03
Telish dep 11:18
Gorni Dabnik dep 11:27
Dolni Dabnik dep 11:34
Pleven dep 11:48
Levski dep 12:17
Pavlikeni dep 12:31
Gorna Orjahovica dep 13:10
Polski Trambesh dep 13:40
Bjala dep 13:54
Borovo dep 14:13
Dve Mogili dep 14:27
Ivanovo(BG) dep 14:44
Ruse(BG) dep 16:10
Giurgiu Nord dep 16:58
Videle dep 18:06
Bucuresti Nord Gara A arr 18:58

https://www.seat61.com/Bulgaria.htm

You change at Ruse. According to bahn.de it's scheduled for about six hours.

Thanks for the help!
I guess it will be alot of wine and cheese

You change at Ruse. According to bahn.de it's scheduled for about six hours.>

Yes and all your questions could be answered by yourself going to www.bahn.de/en -German railways site with schedules for all European trains and lots of details-I put in Nov 15 2017 -and got similar to what thursdaysd did - you change trains after about 6 hours -

Sofia dep 09:00 462 Schnellzug Direction: Ruse(BG) Razpredelitelna
Ruse(BG) arr 15:05

CHANGE HERE Transfer time 1:05 h - time to grab a station coffee or snacks

Ruse(BG) dep 16:10 1094 Schnellzug Direction: Bucuresti Nord Gara A
Subject to compulsory reservation (Ruse(BG) --> Giurgiu Nord), Subject to compulsory reservation (Giurgiu Nord --> Bucuresti Nord Gara A), Partially 2nd class only (Giurgiu Nord --> Bucuresti Nord Gara A)

Go to www.budgeteuropetravel.com and on its home page you will find a lengthy box with details on how to fully use www.bahn.de/en that again will tell you all that as well as to compulsory reservations - apparently none is needed until you switch to the Romanian train.

As an indication of the kind of train you will be on, in that six hours you will travel all of 186 miles.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruse,_Bulgaria

-I guess it will be alot of wine and cheese-

Good plan! Bulgaria has some really good wines. I am going in October to check out as many as possible.