Hi everyone.
Our big Christmas trip is getting closer and some train tickets have been released - which has lead to questions about booking train tickets. I was just going to book individual tickets to each destination however appreciate any advice or tips that people have. Here's our itinerary, all travel once we arrive in Prague will be via train:
3rd December - Prague 3 nights
6th December - Nuremberg 2 nights
8th December - Rothenburg overnight
9th December - Munich 3 nights (assume some usage of public transport here due to size of city and also plan to visit Nuescbhwanstein Castle)
12th December - Strasbourg 2 nights
14th December - Paris 3 nights
Back to London on the 17th - Eurostar ticket already booked.
We are booking tickets online from New Zealand.

I have been looking on the DB website which I can see some tickets are for that train only, and you have the option of a flexible ticket which has some appeal incase you miss the transfer (some transfer times are tight e.g 4 mins. I assume these are easy to make or they wouldn't sell the ticket in that way). I have been comparing to Trainline website where I can't seem to work out if they're flexible tickets or not and I'm just getting confused!

Thanks in advance!

You have a pre-set itinerary - the suggestions below are for two pre-purchased fares + several buy-as-you-go fares.

6th December - Nuremberg 2 nights

The German Railways IC bus takes only 3.5 hours. The starting price for these tickets once they first go on sale at DB (in September) is €15ea. incl. seat reservation for a time-specific ticket.

8th December - Rothenburg overnight:

No prepurchase needed. Buy a VGN Tagesticket plus day pass €20/2) at Nuremberg station (ticket machine) and ride the regional trains at any time of day. Trip takes 1.25 - 1.75 hours depending on dep. time - https://www.vgn.de/en/tickets/all-day-ticket-plus/

9th December - Munich 3 nights (+ N'stein)

No pre-purchase needed. Buy a Bayern Ticket day pass (€31/2) at Munich station (ticket machine) and ride the regional trains at any hour to Munich. Leave at 9:06, trip takes 3.25 hours.

Use the same ticket when you travel to N'stein (almost 5 hours there and back on trains and buses. Tour lasts only half an hour. I wouldn't bother.)

12th December - Strasbourg 2 nights

Prepurchase time-specific tickets at DB. The 8:28 train takes 3.75 hours. Fares begin at around €29 ea. at DB. Buy ASAP - prices rise as tickets sell.

Strasbourg - Paris: check with French Railways.

Thanks!
I think I'm starting to make sense of the German stuff now, thanks for the advice.
Re munich to strasbourg - is that just general info from timetables? I tried searching but just said not available yet...
Thanks

I believe even on deepest discounted tickets you adjust your own transfer time or if first train is late you could board a later train.

Fussgaenger has said it all - check www.seat61.com for lots of info on booking own tickets online. (Only need to use German DB railways site www.bahn.de/en - easy to use.) For lots of general info European trains also check BETS-European Rail Experts and www.ricksteves.com. www.oui.sncf for Strasbourg to Paris.

Hi katrinaallen,

Yes, it's very easy to adjust the connection time. When you input your data for the journey, click on "change other data," then un-check "prefer fast connections," and click on the drop-down menu at "Duration of transfer." You can change it from "standard" to "at least 10 minutes," "at least 15 minutes," etc. As I've gotten older, I started to lengthen the duration of transfer to 20 minutes -- I have been on trains arriving late that would then require me to run around flying up & down stairs with suitcases, and I no longer find joy in doing that! I would far prefer to have time to grab a sandwich or a magazine or a cup of coffee at a kiosk during a transfer than having to rush.

But having said that... if the DB is showing a connection of 4 minutes, it's because people under normal conditions can make that connection. It's likely that you would only have to cross a platform, and you'd be sitting on the new train for 3 minutes, impatient for it to leave! And if you do happen to miss a connection because a train is late, you can just get on the next train to your destination, no problem.

Have fun as you plan, and as you work it all out!

s

you can just get on the next train to your destination, no problem>

Do discounted seats come with seat reservations - think not so book a seat reservation too at time of booking - maybe they do but think not.