Train seat reservation
 

Hi !
I'm slowly looking to book ahaed our trains for our trip in july. I've got some questions:
We will be 2 adults and 2 kids (4 and 8 years old)

1) with kids should we book first or second class ? I'm affraid that people will be disturb by kids in first class (dont get me wrong our kids can be quiet !)

2) When i choose to reserve seat on first class the system told me that they select only 2 seats (free tickets) and ask me to choose compartment type. When I select one ther's no way i can see which seats were reserved. Since only 2 free seats are select does it means that I will only got reservation for 2 seats ?

3) when I choose second class ticket (9 euros fee) they offer me those choices: any .

Open saloon Open saloon with table . Compartment . Parent-and-child compartment . Family cabin .

Which one should we choose ? Once again I cant sea seat number or disposition on the train.


Thanks !

Family Cabin sounds perfect - what could be better- anyway check www.seat61.com for possible insights on this all or keep topping until some of our German rail experts chime in - for general info on German trains (1st vs 2nd class, etc) check also www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

I'd go for first class unless kids are yes loud - if not a much more relaxed ride - first class does attract business types however but there are usually Quiet Cars for them if they want total silence.

If you book first class, you have two reservations free (for the adults), so you must add two more reservations (for a fee).

In the box "Total number of seats", choose "4" and the system will guide you through the process (maybe you are luck and a table with 4 seats is still available).

Of course, you can travel first class with kids. Why not?

However, first class does not offer family cabins which will be perfect for you. So, if you choose second class, tick the box "4 seats" and set "Total number of seats" to 4 and choose "family cabin". It will not show the seat plan, because you have no choice anyway.

family cabins sound better than 1st class - and kids can let lose with noise, etc.

Test

<i> Train seat reservation
Posted by: chosebinne on Apr 14, 16 at 3:34pm</i>

Very few German trains require a seat reservation. I wouldn't bother. Money can be better spent.

Many German trains now at least in 2nd class are quite full - in 2nd class I would reserve but not in first class. And they cost just a few euros per seat. I'd try to book the Family Cabins in any case

My exp with German trains is limited to fast trains. These I have seen fully booked some times. And when not good luck to find 4 seats together. First or second.

You will want four eats together, and that screams for seat reservations - without, chances are slim.

even in first class with often empty seats the chance of finding 4 together is nil - make reservations if you need to sit together or even get seats at times in either class.

Thanks for those answers.

Finally we habve booked our first train ride. We have paid for seat reservations since we will be travelleing in a summer on a saturday. We really want to be seated together. We reserved our seat before seing all your answer so we haven't booked a family cabin. We have book a regulard cabin, open salon, with 3 seat and a table between us. That should be ok.

We could benifit some help for our next reservations :

1- Dresden-Nuremberg on tuesday july 19 + daytrip from Nuremberg
2- Nuremberg-Salzburg on saturday july 23 + daytrip to Berchestgaden
3- Salzburg-Munich on tuesday july 26
4- Munich-Cochem on saturday july 30 + 2-3 hours stop in Ulm.

Should we book ahed for those place or regional pass bought on site would be better ?

For Dresden-Nürnberg book tommorow morning - you should get tickets for 19€.

For Nürnberg-Salzburg book on April 23, for Salzburg-München on April 26 and for München-Cochem on April 30.

For the daytrips, yon may buy Länder-Tickets or regional tickets when you are there.

For Nürnberg-Salzburg book on April 23, for Salzburg-München on April 26>

Or you can use the Bavarian Lander Ticket on both of these train links- but if you can get a 19 euro or so fare then the faster trains will be not only faster but more comfy. But the regional trains with the Lander Ticket need no advance reservation or booking - just buy that pass at stations in Germany.

I've made a dummy search for july 18 for the trip Dresde-Nuremberg. The only 19 euro tick is for the ICE that leave Dresen at 18:23. That's too late for us. That ICE also takes longer than regional trains.

All other departures (from 9 am) are on the Quer-durchs-Land-Ticket (52 euros for the whole family)

The Quer-durchs-Land-Ticket is a bargain for your family! Book it tommorrow, ASAP.

The system works like this:

The ticket sale starts exactly 90 days before travel date, at midnight. You can choose between different fares, but for certain fares, restrictions apply.

There are contingents for the cheap fares, so they sell out quickly (that has already happened for July 18 - it is now late afternoon of April 18 and the cheap tickets are already gone. They have been booked in the morning).

I don't know if I got the same thing but I can see 52 euro for all the july 18 departure. The Quer-durchs-Land-Ticket seems to always be taht price.


One other option is to book Dresden-Nuremberg with a stop in Leipzig or Erfurt. Is any of those 2 place deserve a 3 hours stop ?

It would be Dresden- Leipzig IC then Leipzig-Erfurt ICE and Erfuurt-Nuremberg ICE. The cost would be 57 euro for the whole family (including seats réservations)

Erfurt has a pretty Old Town, especially the Krämerbrücke - a bridge with houses on top. It is in walking distance from the train station. Erfurt would make a good break. Leipzig is very modern around the station, with a mix of socialist architecture and 1990ties shopping malls and office buildings.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kr%C3%A4merbr%C3%BCcke

Thanks traveller !

How many time should we stay in Erfurt ? we also have to eat !

Erfurt Old Town is a good place to have lunch. There are many restaurants in the half-timbered houses. With lunch and walking from/to the station, 2 1/2 to 3 hours would be reasonable.

Erfurt is a nice large city - you could also get off at Weimar, a smaller gem of a city that would be a fine meal place for just a few hours. Same train line - just before Erfurt

we bought our tickets last night, I think we got a good deal.

Train (IC) leaves Dresden at 9:20.

Arrival in Leipzig at 10:28. We have a transfer there and only 7 minutes to do it. We arrive at track 13 and leave at track 13, I guess they are not too far ! Can you reassure me about that ?

Train (ICE) leave Leipzig at 10:35. Arrival in Erfurt at 11:18. Then we have 3 hours before our nex train. Time to take a walk and have a quick lunch. I guess we can found locket at the train station for our luggage, I'm I wrong ?

Train (Ice) leave Erfurt at 14:34 and arrive in Nuremberg at 17:28.

We arrive at track 13 and leave at track 13, I guess they are not too far ! Can you reassure me about that ?>

Well yes that is the same platform you come in on -may be the same train re-numbered going out? sometimes two trains are stacked on the same track - perhaps the train you come on in splits in Dresden, etc - anyone if train is on time - a kind of possible if in Germany nowadays - you should have no problem.

Your train arrives at track 13 and leaves from track 12. Both tracks are at the same platform, so your way is just 10 metres or so.

Erfurt main station has lockers.

The distance to the Krämerbrücke is 1.1km.

I made a typo ! We arrive at track 13 and leave from track 12. Thanks for your answers !

Yes just cross the platform but ALWAYS check the overhead monniker to see if there have been any platform changes - always possible in Germany if one train due to arrive at platform 12 say is late and is still sitting there, etc. There should be placards with the names of the destinations also on each train car (some trains may split en route).

did you get the optional seat reservations with your ticket - if not you may want to make some on the longer trips if in 2nd class as that can indeed at times be full - you can always stand and wait for seats to open up but a few euros may guarantee you a seat - can do on www.bahn.de/en site - seat reservation only or easily at any train station in Germany.

Thanks PalenQ. Yes we made seat reservation. It's 9 euros but it's not that much to buy peace of mind !

peace of mind can be priceless when you really have not experienced something yourself and may be thinking the worst!