On Apr 15, 2:53 pm, george wrote:
> On Apr 15, 6:10 pm, "Jen C." wrote:
>
>
>
> > Hi Everybody,
> > We (a family ot 5 with 3 kids from age 10 to 17) are going on a 12
> > day trip to Europe at the end of June. We are flying into London and
> > riding the Eurostar to Paris, after than we mostly wanted to visit
> > Germany.
>
> > I've read a lot about travel by rail, and was hoping to take a
> > whirlwind tour using a rail pass, but there are some questions that I
> > can't seem to figure out from my books and the various websites...
>
> > 1.) If we get Rail passes for everybody, (costing around $2000 total)
> > then we can ride all the trains for free after that, from Paris to
> > Munich and Salzburg and Prague and Brussels, provided we get a pass
> > that covers those countries. But we wanted to take three or four
> > Night Trains so that we can travel in maybe a Triple and a Double
> > cabin at night and not need a hotel for those nights. Of course this
> > costs extra...
>
> > But if I go towww.bahn.detomake a reservation, I can only see
> > the prices that I would pay without a rail pass. Can I make
> > reservations at the price I'd have to pay considering I must get some
> > discount because I have the pass?
>
> > 2.) Is it worth it to get tickets fromwww.bahn.deforall the train
> > travel we are going to do before we leave?
>
> > 3.) If we do have tickets are we guaranteed a seat even if the train
> > is very busy and we arrive shortly before it leaves?
>
> > 4.) Do all train stations have someplace to store our luggage for the
> > day while we see the sights?
>
> > 5.) If you must switch trains on your Night Train, are you going to
> > get cabins on the connecting train also?
>
> > 6.) Do you have to make sure you don't miss your connection, or does
> > a train conductor wake you up when it is time to switch trains?
>
> > 7.) Would it make sense to get Bahn 50 cards? Would they discount
> > the cabins on the night trains? Would the discount stack with the
> > discount of the rail pass?
>
> > 8.) Since there are 5 of us, would it make more sense to rent a car
> > and spend that time driving? I worry about navigating and parking....
>
> > 9.) It looks way cheaper to get Couchette seats on the night trains,
> > which have 6 bunks, but then we would get split up, or maybe have one
> > stranger person sleeping in our cabin. Would they typically actually
> > give us a Couchette to ourselves with one empty bunk because there are
> > 5 of us?
>
> > Thanks for any advice.
>
> > -Jen C.
>
> Germany has two excellent inexpensive means of travel for 2-5 people
> by train. First, there are the L=E4nder tickets that allow unlimited
> travel by train for a day within a German state for 2-5 people with a
> few restrictions: only travel after 9AM on weekdays, and only regional
> trains (no ICs, ICEs, or ECs). For many routes, this will not be a
> disadvantage or too great of one. They usually cost 27 euros or
> slightly more depending on the German state, and some additional
> stations in adjoining German states or countries may also be
> included. Details can be found on thewww.bahn.dewebsite, select
> English, and then look for the L=E4nder tickets in the middle of the
> page. Most local transportation (S-bahns -already considered as
> trains, U-bahns, trams, buses) is also included. Second, there is the
> Sch=F6nes Wochende ticket valid throughout all of Germany with the same
> restrictions, of course the 9AM restriction is not valid because this
> is not a weekday. The cost should be 33 euros. Local transportation
> may, or may not be covered depending on where you are.
>
> George
Thank you George and Gerry.
I guess I got carried away with my list of questions....
The Laender and Schoenes Wochende deals look great, but would be
tricky to use for our itinerary given the restrictions...
Are the Bahn 50 cards available to Americans, or are they just for
Germans and/or Europeans? If we got Bahn 50 cards, could we order
advance tickets using the discount? I'd really like to have all our
tickets ordered before we leave.
-Jen
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