jhschlak

Hello,
My wife and I are planning a trip to Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, and Munich at the end of April. We are looking at the different train options and are getting very confused. We are looking at the Benilux/germany pass, since we will only be in Paris and not traveling any where else in France. Can my Benilux/Germany pass be used for part of my trip from Paris to Amsterdam? Or do I need to buy a France/Benilux/Germany pass to make this work?
Thanks in advance,
Jeff

PalenQ

Germany-Benelux pass would qualify for a Pass 2 fare ticket on the Thalys Paris-Brussels and then you'd use your Ger-Benelux pass from there on hourly IC trains that are nearly as fast as the Thalys from there.

But Pass 2 fare is still fairly expensive. Passholder fares on Thalys still require about a $20 surcharge in 2nd class and $40 or so (but meal and drinks included) in first class. this would require a significantly more expensive Eurail Select Pass (though if you buy such passes before 3-30-08 and on six day and longer you do get an extra day free - a Raileurope special.

Consider buying one of the cheap Paris-Amsterdam 25 euro tickets - in limited supply so go to www.thalys.com or www.voyages-sncf.com - this would, if you can get the 25 euro fare Thalys lists in their brochure i picked up in Paris two weeks ago, then it would be cheaper actually than using a day of travel on a EurailSelect pass and you would only look at the Benelux-Germany pass for the rest of your trip - and due to steep train fares at stations in these countries the pass could be a boon (but discount German fares also available at www.bahn.de if booked in advance) and don't require flexibility. For fully flexible tickets the pass can be worth it for just a few long train trips.

For pass prices and lots on trains in these countries i always refer folks to www.budgeteuropetravel.com, whose previous crude website is vastly improved and informative (they also have experts you can call with any train/pass questions and www.ricksteves.com.
www.bahn.de for checking ticket prices and if you want to investigate the online discounts that can be very cheap and make a pass perhaps not viable. Depends on whether you want flexibility or not and act early enough to get the fares which can be in short supply.

rkkwan

I think the OP can also save money by just buying the Thalys between Paris and Brussels. Switch to an IC between Brussels and Amsterdam which is included in the pass. Doesn't add that much time.

jhschlak

Wow, thanks for the extensive information, I will look into these options.
-Jeff

TimS

Jeff,

Have you bought your Benelux-Germany pass yet? Point-to-point tickets in the Benelux countries are quite reasonable. Booked well in advance (up to 90 days allowed) at www.bahn.de, you can get SparNight fares on the Amsterdam-Berlin night train of 49€ for a bunk in a six-person couchette and 59€ for a bunk in a four-person couchette. You can get a Dauer-Spezial fare as low as 29€ for Berlin-Munich day trains (standard 2nd class fare is 109&euro.

jhschlak

I went to both the german and french site, however I am coming up with prices in the 175 - 200 euro range. I am just entering my dates into the time table search engine and getting these results. Is there anything else I need to do. For the overnight train from Amsterdam to Berlin, do I need to choose a Sparnight fare. I am getting returns that leave Amsterdam at 2200 and arrive in berlin at 0900, but they are around 200 euro.
Thanks,
Jeff

jhschlak

I was able to find a night train from Amsterdam to Berlin for 78 euro, but the car is a day couch, which doesn't sound to comfortable. Does anyone know what a "day couch" is? I clicked on the link, but it takes me to a "couchette" page which is not a day couch? Confused again.
-Jeff

PalenQ

In four decades of riding European trains i've never heard of a day couch

will be interesting to learn what it could be

a sleeperette - reclining seat?

TimS

A "day couch" is a reclining seat. "Couchettes" are compartments usually having four or six bunks. The door locks from the inside.

The SparNight fare (or Savings fare) is the best discount fare.

What date do you wish to travel from Amsterdam to Munich? You mentioned "returns." That's a roundtrip fare. That's not what you want, is it?

jhschlak

Sorry for the miscommunication it is just a one way trip from Amsterdam to Berlin leaving Sunday evening May 4th 2008 (if I can get a Sparnight fare) If not I will leave monday morning may 5th 2008.

Thanks,
Jeff

jhschlak

I went back and revisited the bahn.de site, and the day couch is described as 2 persons in a compartment. Below this, it shows couchette is 2 persons in either 4 or 6 berth cabin. Does the day couch sound uncomfortable for a night train? It sounds like I would be in my own compartment, but I don't want to be trying to sleep in a chair for 9 hours.

PalenQ

I can conceive of reclining chairs being in a private compartment

they usually consist of an open car that is somewhat designed to give each reclining chair a bit of privacy but it's IME all in one open car.

PalenQ

I meant i can NOT conceive of reclining seats being in a totally private compartment

ira

Hi PQ,

>I meant i can NOT conceive of reclining seats being in a totally private compartment

They have them on the Amtrak trains that go west from Chicago.

PalenQ

Ira - for some reason that does not surprise me at all! Thanks

PalenQ

<and the day couch is described as 2 persons in a compartment. Below this, it shows couchette is 2 persons in either 4 or 6 berth cabin. Does the day couch sound uncomfortable for a night train?>

you can easily tell the order of comfort by the pricing

most expensive means private compartment with the most comfy bedding, etc.

so where does the day couch come in the pricing pecking order? If low expect a reclining seat perhaps

PalenQ

I had a railpass and in Jan did the overnight CNL Amsterdam-Munich and with the pass i paid 25 euro for a couchette - could of had a reclining seat i think for nearly nothing but that IME is not comfy at all

PalenQ

I also did some 4-person couchettes with the pass and these cost about 30 euros above the pass price. Well worth the few extra bucks IME

jhschlak

Thanks for all of your help everyone. I am getting a two country pass and getting the beds in a sleeperette for $30.00 more per person on top of the 2 country pass price.

-Jeff

PalenQ

please explain the $30 beds you are getting - is this a multi-person room?

And $30 seems a bargain as i was paying 25 for the cheapest 6-person couchette recently in Germany and 30 for a 4-berth

$30 is significantly cheaper - how did you swing this?

just curious