various Germany questions
 

Appeciated if anyone could help with these questions:

1. I plan to buy a German TWIN RAIL pass. Most of the days, I will be traveling with my partner but one day I will not be. Is it possible to use the pass just for one person?

Also, can I add days on to the pass once I'm in Germany?

2. Is the area around the railroad station in Munich as seedy as they say it is? Since I will be arriving late in Munich, I was going to book a room around there just for 1 night.

I also plan to visit Salzburg. Is that worth an overnight stay? I will have 4 days in Munich so wanted to allocate my time wisely.

3. HOw convenient is it to stay in Bad Homburg instead of Frankfurt? I will be in Frankfurt during a trade fair and room rates are exorbitant.

thanks!

I apologize for answering since I do not the answers to the precise questions you ask - - but I wonder if you have done a cost analysis on www.railsaver.com - - of this plan to purchase your pass(es).

Best wishes,

Rex

I did do a cost analysis and the rail pass is a lot cheaper since I will be traveling across Germany. I checked the bahn.de site but did't know if 1 person could use the pass.

thanks

Ad 2: You don't have to go very far away from the station and find perfectly respectable quarters. Suggest you take a look at the Red Michelin Guide for Deutschland. It need not be the most recent issue.Probably available in your local library, or take a "peek" at Borders, etc. Look at the locator map(s) for places near the main station (Haptbahnhof)and select those within your price range. Then make a reservation. I have never been disappointed in picking my hotel or pension from the Guide.

Ad 3:Bad Homburg has frequent train connections on the S-Bahn (suburban train) to Frankfurt Hbf. (main station) and places in between.

I liked Salzburg. It has a great atmosphere. You won't regret it if you decide to stay the night. It would be a lot less rushed.

Have fun!
:)

http://members.eunet.at/schnoell/

FYI - The hotel above was recommended to us for Salzburg. We booked it after Christmas and had to cancel due to sickness. I hope to visit it sometime this year!

I don't actually KNOW the answer to your railpass question but - considering the price is discounted for "two traveling together" I would guess that you could be penalized if you show a conductor your pass and you are traveling alone.
If you're going on a short day-trip alone that day, just buy a ticket -they're very inexpensive...

Just want to add, if you buy your passes from www.ricksteves.com, you can pose your questions to his staff. He gives 'freebies' with the passes and sometimes discounts for travel products.

He has an excellent tutorial on using trains on the website as well.

The area around the Munich train station is very busy, but not particularly a bad area. We stay at Hotel Uhland, in a residential type area, which is about a 6 block walk to the station. We had a nice day trip to Salzburg last March, had plenty of time to walk around and see the sights.

The 4* Maritim is a three-minute walk from the München Hbf. It could have been cleaner, especially for €175, but I'd go back.

The only restriction on a rail pass for two people is that you cannot travel separately (ie, one person goes to Düsseldorf and the other goes to Bonn). There will obviously be no problem if one person wants to travel alone. You are not cheating the railway because the railpass for two people is more expensive than a pass for one person. If your partner wants to lose out on a day's travel, then the railway is not losing anything.

thanks everyone. Keep the response coming. I'm going in mid-February so it will be cold!

1. I'm still curious to see if I can add days to my pass when I"m in Germany - i guess I might call the Rick steve folks

2. How about Bad Homburg? Or I can stay in the apple wine district (Sachsenhausen) of Frankfurt. The day I"m in Frankfurt hotel rates are through the roof, so those are my 2 options.

3. I found a very good rate at the Munich Le Meridien who looks like a very nice hotel but it's very close to the railroad, thus my questions about the area.

4. Any recommendations for the Lake Constance area? Just found out I have to be in the surrounding area.

thanks again everyone!

Hi tarocake:

Just came back from a trade fair in Frankfurt! Have a very good hotel for you to try. It is in the city of Bad Soden. It is at the end of the S-3 bahn line. The S-3 runs right under Messe ( I am sure that is where your trade fair is located!) It was about a 15-20 min ride from the hotel to Messe.
Worked out very well for me!
Hotel is:
Rheinischer Hof - Bad Soden/Taunus
Rate was around 168EU for a large double room!

Let me know how you make out!
JOHN

Hey, bmw732002 -

How did that price compare with the downtown rate? Did you feel at all deprived because your bed wasn't right in the middle of the action?

No you cannot add days on to your pass in Germany - only at time of issuance. Current twin pass rates start at 4 days of travel in one month period - a bargain $135 per person for a twin pass. One person can travel without the other but you can't take separate trains as you have one pass with two names on it. Both people must be present, or at least their passports at time of activation - activation means you take the pass up to a ticket window and they start the one month period, then you have four boxes on it to fill in the date you want it to be active, from midnight to midnight. If you take overnight train, many in Germany, it's one day as you put the following day on as your unlimited travel day. German passes pass into Salzburg, a German station for your purposes. The $135 rate is such a bargain - compare fares at www.bahn.de - German rail web site for fares in Euros and compare. Not much travel warrants pass. Bad Humbug is 11 miles by trains every few minutes from Frankfurt, so a snap getting there - pass is valid even on S-Bahns, commueter rail systems as this one since they are run by the railway. U-Bahns, or metros run by municipalities are not. You can call Rick Steves and have to pay long distance charges but i recommend calling Budget Europe (800-441-9413), whom i've bought many passes from, and their staff all has traveled for years on trains in Germany and will definitely answer all your questions without obligation - they also don't charge RailEurope's $15 order fee though they are a RailEurope agent. Prices for railpasses in US are uniform, no deviations allowed by handling fees are. The folks at Budget Europe are really superb - ask them to send you their fine free European Planning and Rail Guide that has a detailed chapter on German train travel. You may also consider the new Germany and Denmark railpass and the Germany-Benelux pass good all over Germany, Belgium Netherlands and Luxembourg. Bon voyage!

As for the Munich train station area - i've walked around there a lot and it is not unsafe, albeit a bit seedy in terms of some redlight activity but there are major hotels there - i'd have no qualms about staying in the convenient for rail traveles locale.

to PalQ or anyone else:

Do I have to know what the exact dates are that I intend to use the pass, when I activate?

You mention there are 4 boxes (for a 4 day pass). After I activate, my schedule is in flex and I don't know if I would know the exact dates I plan to use it.

No you only have to use the 4, or how ever many days you buy at time of purchase, be it 4, 5 or up to the max of 10, within the overall one-month time frame. A 4 day pass has four boxes that you fill in as you go along with that day's date before boarding the train - you do not declare in advance what exact dates you'll be using. And be sure you know what the date is - sometimes you lose track when traveling as you can't change the date once entering or it will appear you've been changing dates - chaning a 21-5-05 to an 22-5-05 with the slight of a pen. Dates must be put in in ink, using the European dating method - day of month first then month than year. If you have any questions call Budget Europe, they're the experts - i relay info i learned by using dozens and railpasses i've bought from them - instructions as to dating and activation will come with the pass.

Le Meridien is a wonderful hotel. Very good concierge at the desk. Just across from the train station. My daughter and I stayed there and never felt it that seedy or unsafe near the station. If you have found a good price for the Meridien I would stay there.

Robespiere:

Rates dowtown were at least 2 to 3 times higher!! They get those prices at fair times!!
Had no problems. Went out to dinner with customers downtown and either took the train back (very reliable and safe) or for the real late nights took a cab! Ouch! $50.00 a shot! My Messe entrance ticket let me use the S-Bahn and U-Bahn trains for FREE!! Nice Touch!
Hotel is literally at the train station in a residential setting! Nice quiet town with good bars and resturants. Kinda liked the relief from the crazy Messe and downtown traffic!
John

Thanks, John. We had a similar experience in K&ouml;ln. We got a <u>huge</u> triple in a modern hotel for &euro;65 in a quiet residential suburb and rode the U-Bahn for 50&cent; a day.

I rest my case.

We stayed at the Le Meridien during Oktoberfest time and found the hotel
very nice. we walked to the fest and back with no trouble.

After posting, I searched for an email for bahn.de and emailed their UK office. Per people's post, you can't extend the days. also, two people MUST travel together at all times, which is disappointing, so I will have to supplment the pass with other tickets. Has anyone had any different experiences. I might follow up with them just to be clear that I phrased the question correctly.

Here's the text verbatim.

&quot;Thank you for your e-mail.
Unfortunately the twin pass is only valid when you travel together and it is
not possible to buy additional days once you bought then pass.&quot;

You do not have to travel together - one person can travel without the other. I have clarified this with RailEurope, who sells these passes in the US. Call Raileurope and ask: 1-800438-7245. I sincerely think the bahn site e-mail has it wrong. Sincerely.

I think bahn.de may have given the correct answer to the wrong question.

Depending on your itinerary, it often makes sense to buy a 4- or 5-day railpass even if you plan to travel on other days too. I'd suggest using the twinpass to cover long journeys - like Berlin to Munich or something like that - and then for your shorter jaunts and daytrips to purchase the daypasses available for travel on local trains, which you can buy as you go from a counter or a machine. That way, you can make some of your trip decisions as you go rather easily.

The daypasses run between 22 and 30 Euros per day per traveling group of 5 or fewer. The rules of use vary a bit from state to state, but the basic idea is that you can travel as you please on local trains after 9 am weekdays and anytime on Sat or Sun. Weekday travel is restricted to the state you are in; you can cross state lines on Sat or Sun. These passes are called &quot;Laender-Tickets&quot; or &quot;Happy weekend tickets&quot;; you can read about them under regional offers at www.bahn.de.

If you wanted to travel from Munich to Salzburg, for example, a trip within the state of Bavaria, you could use a daypass to get there - or get there and back - as long as you use the local (RE, RB, S) trains. These trains are fine for short jaunts, but for longer distances, they become inconvenient as they will require you to change often to reach your destination.

I followed up with bahn.de and the pass is NOT valid with 1 person traveling by themselves. (I called raileurope and they told me a different answer). Here's the exchange verbatim.

Bahn's answer

&quot;Unfortunately not the pass is only valid when you travel together.&quot;



&gt; Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2005 9:13 PM
&gt; To: Deutsche Bahn UK
&gt; Subject: RE: Germany Twin rail pass questions CS
&gt;
&gt; thanks for the quick response. Just to clarify, my friend is going to stay
&gt; in town and not travel at all for one day. That day, I will be traveling by
&gt; myself.
&gt;
&gt; Is this OK under the pass?

The area around Hauptbahnhof in Munich isn't dangerous, just not the nicest area of town. If you want to be right by the station, no problem. There are more sex shops there and questionable types hanging around, but it's still not that bad. But, you can easily get to nicer parts of town in minutes on the S-bahn or U-bahn.

You can either do Salzburg on a daytrip from Munich or spend the night if you want to soak up the atmosphere more.

I have asked this question to the highest of higher ups and Raileurope and the answer is yes - only one person need travel the other doesn't have to. this is 100% sure in my mind. You don't give the RailEurope answer in above post - i'm sure they told you the same. Why would the DB require two people to travel when only one wants to - it's to their benefit to have only one travel i would think - you still have to use a day of travel with one or two folks on the train. If the answer is still no please respond as then i have to make some calls so i know what the situation is as i often travel on saverpasses and sometimes partners don't go - like in Berlin i took the S-Bahn and my friend didn't even though we had both taken the train here from Frankfurt that day. S-Bahns are free with railpasses but require the use of a day on a pass.

There are a few sex shops and strip joints around the train station howeven it is not an unsafe area. We always stay there because it is so close to Karlstor and the fussganger zone. Several hotels to check out there are the Drei Lowen and Drei Lowen Residenze (our favorite) the Meredian, Germania, Deutsches Theatere, and 5-6 blocks away in a quite residential neighborhood the Uhland. We have stayed at the Uhland which is almost across the street from Teresianwiese (Oktoberfest grounds). It is very nice and quite reasonable.

The area around the main train station in Munich is fine. I would suggest the Hotel Amba right across the street. I would stay over night in Salzburg as well.

Hi,

I called raileurope and they told me only 1 person needs to travel (bahn told me 2 people need to, I emailed their UK site).

I guess someone can try again and see if they get the same answer by contact Bahn.de. I'm curious too to see what the answer is or if this is a change in policy.

also, can u buy the railpasses in Europe or are they only sold here in the US?

According to these web sites, the twin pass requires the two people to travel together at all times.

http://mgrsti5839c.seamlesstech.biz/...amp;SearchYN=N

http://www.europeonrail.com/shopping...il+Pass%2DTwin

http://www.edtrav.com/germanrail_pass.shtml

http://www.alleuroperail.com/eurail_...3b3c33a8203afb

http://ricksteves.raileurope.com/us/..._twin_pass.htm

http://www.railplus.co.nz/raileurope/german.asp

This twinpass discussion seems loopy to me. I've used a twinpass without my companion. There's no reason for them to disallow travel to one person just because the other person stayed home. If you wanted to buy two regular tickets and throw one away, that's your choice. If you want to use up a twin pass travel day on one person, that's your choice. When these websites say &quot;Rates are per person for two adults traveling together at all times&quot;, that simply means that the 2nd person can't be traveling separately on some other train.

If Bahn told you otherwise, I think you got bad advice from someone who perhaps wasn't totally proficient in English or something.

But hey, there's always some quirky possibility that things aren't as they have been. If you want to run your question by one of the most informed posters on German trains I know, you can post to &quot;abalada&quot; on the following forum:

www.eurotrip.com/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=8

The Lake Constance (Bodensee) area is beautiful. We were there for three nights June 2004. We stayed in Meersburg at 3 Stuben and loved it. Beautiful city and very quiet at night. If you go to this area make sure you go to Mainau Island. I'm not a huge garden fan but this was incredible.

Re: Eurailpasses in europe. yes you can buy them in the few Eurail Aid (including EurAide in Munich station) but in eurail Aid offices in a few dozen large stations. These place are supposed to help people with Eurailpasses with problems,including when they lose their pass selling them a new one. Eurailpasses however are sold at about 20% than corresponding US dollar prices so you pay quite a bit more. Some country passes can be bought in Europe but some cannot - such as BritRail (can be bought outside of Britain but not in Britain) and France Passes - not anywhere in France SNCF tells me but in other European countries. German passes i don't believe can be bought in Germany or if they can not at the incredible bargain rates now in US. But for Eurails you have to go to a Eurail Aid office - in Paris there is only one that sells Eurailpasses - in the Gare Saint-Lazare, international ticket counter sells many European railpasses - but not France passes - i asked as recently as Sept. If in Europe you can have someone at home in US buy you a pass in US and then have it mailed to you. But RailEurope or their agents are prohibited from mailing directly to Europe. Europeans are not entitled to use Eurailpasses.

German Railpasses can be purchased in Germany but only at certain large stations (like Frankfurt Hbf.) and when purchased in Germany - if things haven't changed - they are valid for only a certain number of pre-determined days (5 is the minimum; and I don't think you can just add one day if that's all you want.) They are indeed more expensive there by around 20%; I think that's because of the VAT tax charged over there.

It was probably a fluke, but when a conductor stamps your pass, make sure it is the correct date. We were on our first date of the pass, and in the afternoon, the conductor stamped a second box. He showed me that the first box (stamped that morning) was stamped with the date several days previously. He refused to believe us when we insisted in was stamped that morning. It took us a return visit to the Euraid office at Berlin Zoo station to have new passes issued, and then only because the guy who had validated our passes remembered it had only been the day before and because we showed him our passports which showed our date of entry into Germany was two days after that first date stamped. Otherwise we would have lost a day on the pass. Taught us to always make sure they have stamped the correct date.

I went to the central railway station in Dresden (yes, it is IN GERMANY) to make sure about the twin pass.

The answer is that you need to travel two persons together. Raileurope is wrong.

The reason is (as far as I was told) that the price for the twin pass is reduced vs. the single pass. To get this reduction two people must travel together.

Ingo

thanks everyone for the responses. and thanks Ingo for checking at the station.