adapters for austria and germany, atm's from a band at frankfort airport and train tickets

Here's a few answers.

For practically every exit from the secure area in Frankfurt Int'l Airport, there's an ATM almost as soon as you walk out. You can't miss them. I'm pretty certain they're affiliated with a bank, but since you're hopping right on a train, I guess you don't have much choice.

" A friend of mine says he believes this train leaves every hour going to Munich." Just about.

"Can I just take an earlier one if we have purchased this one through the travel agent?" The travel agent is probably simply ordering the tickets from the Deutsche Bahn (German Railroads) website which you could easily do yourself. If you order a full price ticket, you can take any train all day long, but if you purchase the ticket in advanced, that restricts you to riding a specific train.

"My friend says you can easily buy a train ticket at some kind of kiosk at the airport and no need to have travel agent book that." Correct again. Or as noted, you could also buy the ticket online yourself.

The ATM's scattered all over the Frankfurt airport are Deutsche Bank ATM's. Deutsche Bank has an alliance with Bank of America.

You may also see some other ones with Reise Bank, or Cambrio, etc. on them. Do NOT use those, as they give you the same crappy rate as the Money Exchanges.

Once you land at the airport, all you have to do is go through passport control, pick up your luggage if you have checked any, and walk out the door. You don't have to have your suitcase checked, etc. Customs is a non-issue unless you are one of those people that looks extra, extra shady, or are bringing in suitcases full of money.

If you are ok paying full fare for your ticket, there is a Deutsche Bahn ticket counter at the long distance train station in the Squaire. These tickets never run out, and if your flight lands early, you can be on your way. This station is connected to terminal 1, and is about a 10 min. walk from arrivals. Which airline are you using?

All of the ATMs in the airport in Frankfort (KY) dispense US currency. Also, there are no trains from Fankfort to Munich.

Now, if you are actually talking about Frankfurt, in Germany, ...

ICE 623 actually leaves FRA at 11:37 (it arrives at 11:34). 3½ hours is plenty of time to get to the Fernbahnhof, IF your flight arrives on time. About the type of ticket, - I seriously doubt that any US booking agent uses the Bahn website. Most likely they use RailEurope. In that case, you might be charged $97 (plus the agent's markup) for a train-specific, non-refundable (on the day you arrive) ticket with reservation. That same ticket from the Bahn would cost 63,50€ (about $90). A full fare ticket, which would be usable if you arrived late, would have cost at least $155 from RailEurope, $150 from the Bahn. There is a ticket counter in the FRA Fernbahnhof where you could purchase the ticket for the next train to Munich for 101€ ($143) plus 4,50€ ($6.40) for an optional seat reservation (less than $150 total).

In my experience, immigration (passport check) takes at most 15-20 minutes. From there, customs, if you have nothing to declare, is a walk-through. Getting to the Fernbahnhof from a Terminal 1 gate (concourses A, B, C) takes another 20-30 minutes. You'll pass bank ATMs on your way and there is at least one in the Fernbahnhof. I've never been charged a fee from the Germany bank to use an ATM.

You can currently book that train ticket online through DB for 59 euros per person in 2nd class or buying it in the station on the day of departure would likely cost the full fare of 101 euros per person. You do have time to make this train departure as long as your flight is not seriously delayed. Advance-booking is also the way to get the best price for Munich-Vienna.

Your iPhone charger only requires the small adaptor plug that Rick sells for a dollar. Most hotels do now provide hairdryers, and if you've already booked hotels, they could confirm that. Otherwise, a travel hairdryer that is dual-voltage also only needs the little adaptor plug.

Thank you. Will look for Deutsche Bank atm's at Frankfurt airport and stay away from Reise or Cambrio Banks.

I am checking with our travel agent to see if she purchased a full fare on the train from Frankfurt to Munich or advanced fare ticket....may be one in the same. I will leave our advanced purchase ticket from Munich to Vienna alone since it is more economical.

I am going to buy the European electrical adapter from Rick Steves. Do I need a voltage converter also? I obviously do not understand all of the things needed to be able to use our electronics and electrical devices. Thank you so much for your help.

Do you walk from Terminal Gate 1 (we are arriving on Delta Airlines from Atlanta GA) to the Fernbahnhof or is there a shuttle or tram that takes you there?

As previously mentioned, you'll only need the small "Euro" Plug Adaptor with two round pins to charge your iPhone in Germany and Austria. You can find those at electronics stores such as Radio Shack, travel stores, online from places like Magellans or the RS travel store or even in airports (although the last option will be the most expensive). I'd suggest packing along a couple of Adaptors, as they're easy to misplace.

One other important point to mention is that if you're travelling with an iPhone, you'll have to be VERY careful with data roaming charges, as they can be HUGE. Be sure to check with your home cell network to find out what the costs will be. Also, your iPhone may or may not work on European cell systems, depending on which model it is and which network you're with at home.

Regarding the ATM's, you won't have any trouble finding one at FRA, as there are lots of them. Be sure to notify your financial institutions that you'll be travelling, so they don't "freeze" your cards when they detect transaction activity in Europe. This website provides some information on ATM locations.

One other point to mention is that there are TWO rail stations at FRA, a Fernbahnhof and a Regionalbahnhof. Be sure that you go to the correct one to connect with your train. If you're using an "express train" you'll likely be departing from the Fernbahnhof. As I recall, there's a DB office at the Fernbahnhof and they have Kiosks as well as staffed ticket desks. I normally just stop there to buy tickets.

Happy travels!

Hi,

I was in the Frankfurt airport a few weeks ago, arrived by Delta and needed to leave by train for Stuttgart. You'll need to switch airport terminals which is very easy to go to the terminal with the train station - lots of signs to find the tram to take you to the other terminal. The train area has kiosks and a DB ticket office. From there, you'll either take the escalator down for certain trains or escalator up & around for other types of trains. The DB ticket office can help you with any questions.

I arrived and was on a train within 90 minutes. There's a couple of quick-bite eateries near where you wait until you're close to time-to-board.

I also agree with the hairdryer comment. I haven't been in a European hotel in years that didn't have a hairdryer.

If your plane arrives in Terminal 1, you simply walk to the Fernbahnhof. As the other poster mentioned, just follow the signs.

I bought my last few plug adapters at my local Ace Hardware store. They are easy to find locally without paying a shipping fee.

do I need a voltage adaptor to use with the plug adapter in Germany and Austria???? All I will be charging or using is the iPhone so need to charge it.

Only taking iPhone for pictures and will text or receive texts only in an emergency....am adding the plan for when we are there....28 days. Verizon didn't mention roaming charges but don't think they would apply to taking photos and texting only.

Thank all of you.

Delta uses Terminal 2.

You will need to either take the shuttle bus from this terminal over to the long distance train station, or take the Sky Train to Terminal 1, and then walk to the train station.

Here is a map of the airport, which will help you to orient yourself and see where things are located.
http://www.frankfurt-airport.com/content/frankfurt_airport/en/directions/airport_maps1.html

Thank you so much, we were thinking it arrived at terminal 1!!!!!

For your iphone charger all you need is a plug adaptor. If you look at your charger, you will notice that the US plug can slide out and you can insert different types of plugs.

Thank you!

Just to clarify a couple of points....

If your iPhone charger is the same as mine, it's a small white cube with a non-removable AC Plug on one side and a USB plug & cord on the other. If that's the case you won't need a Voltage Converter. You can double-check that by looking at the label on the bottom of the charger (you'll need a magnifying glass). It should say "Input Voltage 100-240 VAC", which means it will operate just fine in Europe with only a Plug Adaptor.

As you're with Verizon, it would help to know which model of iPhone you're using? Although you're only planning to use the phone for texts and photos, the voice section will also be active which means that if anyone calls you, you will be billed for EACH incoming call at the applicable rates on your Verizon roaming plan. Assuming your phone will work on GSM cell networks, you MUST disable the cellular data section as data roaming charges will add up quickly and will be very expensive. You might want to speak with Verizon C.S. so that you're absolutely clear on the various aspects of roaming in Europe, and the costs.

Adapter
If you get the adapter at Ace, either the Northern Europe or Southern Europe adapter will work in Germany or Austria. Only the Southern Europe version will work in Italy, and then not in every receptacle in Italy. The Italian receptacles accept a pin diameter up to Ø4 mm (5/32"); the Northern Europe adapter has a Ø4.8 mm (about 3/16") pin. The smaller diameter pin of the Southern Europe adapter will fit in a Northern (Schuko) receptacle.

FRA, T2 to T1
The Bahn website shows the schedule of the bus from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1. Note, these buses are not a shuttle making a loop between T2 and T1, they are on longer routes that just happen to include the airport terminals. The timing is somewhat erratic. Although there are 6 buses and hour, they aren't a regular 10 minutes apart. Sometimes they are only 5 minutes apart; a couple of time an hour, it's 15 minutes. On the Skyline, however, the cars run on a regular, short wait schedule. For that reason, I would take the Skyline.

But if you take the bus, know that it lets you off in front of Terminal 1, but the foot route to the Fernbahnhof goes up an escalator inside the Terminal to a pedestrian bridge across the access road.

If you're staying in a hotel then there's a pretty good chance there'll be a hair dryer in your room--check the website for amenities or email them to ask--why lug a hair dryer? I do bring a dual-voltage curling brush and have the adapters others have noted so I can charge my phone and camera. My first trip abroad was to London and I was thrilled to discover that my hotel room already had a plug for American appliances, but I'm always prepared anyway as that is not the norm in other countries.

As for money, I always get mine in advance from my local bank, have a terrible fear of something happening to my debit card and like to be prepared--I travel solo so there's a bit more anxiety involved re money.

Thank all of you for your immense help.

BTW, if there is not a hair dryer in the room, ask at the front desk. I know of at least one pension owner in Germany who has hair dryers but doesn't put then in the rooms. H e says that if the guest has to ask for the dryers, they are much less likely to walk away.

"Rick Steves recommends using an atm associated with a bank to lower fees"

I think what RS suggest is that you use an ATM outside of the bank that owns it in case you have problems with the machine someone in the bank might be able to help you. You can also check in your bank's website the European banks they have agreement to not charge you fees.