difference in train fares between raileurope and DB

Raileurope just repackages tickets provided by other companies and charges a premium for their services. Always better to purchase direct from the company that operates the train. Raileurope often does not show the full available schedule either.

Thank you for the reply - any input regarding DB? I sent an enquiry yesterday and have not heard back (looking to book tix for 8 people - site would not allow me to continue purchase online.)

The standard price for a DB flexible ticket, 2nd class from Munich to Venice on the EC87 train starting on next Sunday, 11:38am is €93. Raileurope charges $118 (which is €107) for the same train and service. That's not double but about 15% more.

Marisa, take care that those "special fares" DB offers aren't plain group rebates but also bind you to a single train. They are called "Sparpreis nn". If you miss the train, the ticket value is NIL. The standard price "Flexpreis" allows you to take any train on the same relation, you can even refund it for €17,50 at any time (without charge before first day of being valid).

For 8 people you must book through the "group" portal ( Gruppe).

https://www.bahn.de/p/view/angebot/gruppen/sparpreis-gruppe.shtml?dbkanal_007=L01_S01_D001_KIN0001_top-navi-flyout_angebote-gs_LZ01

That is the link to the "special offer" booking for groups of 6 or more. Sorry about the German but you can switch it to English at the top. My iPad was cranky about that so I did not do it for you.

Marisa, yes, it will let you book 8 tickets so no need for "email". Just underneath the drop down box for adults (you can choose up to 5)...but just underneath that is the "More than 5 passengers" link. Click on it, and you'll be taken to a screen where you can choose from 6 - 49 passengers.

Use the DB site for schedules, and for prices and purchases of tickets for trains that start or end in Germany.

Here's a great list of where to buy other train tickets, from the rail guru The Man In Seat 61: http://tinyurl.com/bo8x6o6

His site is also a fantastic resource for information about European trains.

If you miss the train, the ticket value is NIL.

Not exactly true. If you miss the train, you can still use what you paid for that ticket, less a 17,50€ penalty, toward a full fare voucher to the same destination on the same route that day. Not advisable, but not a total loss.

I once bought a full fare ticket for an ICE from FRA, fearing that the flight might be late. In retrospect, knowing what i know now and considering the significant difference between full fare and SparPreis, it would have been worth the gamble.

Thanks everyone for the replies - the group portal will only take me so far - then it wants me to fill out an enquiry so that someone can call me back - don't think that's going to work - I've requested an email reply to tell me how to proceed, we'll see if that works. Sure appreciate everyone's willingness to share!!

Marisa

@Lee: Ah, okay. That had to be a change after the last time I gambled with the "Sparpreis"… and lost. Do those "Sparpreis" refund rules also apply to international trains?

marisa,

I don't think the website will handle more than five tickets at once, but you could also have a look at www.captaintrain.com. Perhaps you could buy 4 + 4? They sell tickets at the same price as DB, so you won't have to deal with the higher Rail Europe prices.

I don't think the website will handle more than five tickets at once

It does. Just click "more than 5 travellers". But you should double check the result with what is achieved by the 4+4 approach.

The group price doesn't seem to dependent on how far in advance you purchase. With the Bahn group price for 8 adults, I got 53€ each, including less than a month out. Using 4+4 on Captraintrain, I got 39€ (less) for October, but 59€ (more) in August. So, yes, compare.

The problem with using 4 + 4 is that there are only so many tickets available at any given price level. If you buy 4 at one price, you might use up the allotment at that price, and the next 4 tickets could cost more, but you are already committed to the first 4. Or, after you buy the forst 4, someone could come in and buy the rest at that price before you get the second 4.

I believe 2nd class can be as low as 29 euro at the lowest sparpreis
fare.

The lowest fare for SparPreis in Germany is 29€ (actually 19€ for trips under 250 km), but this is a SparPreis Europa, which starts at 39€.

The standard price for a DB flexible ticket, 2nd class from Munich to
Venice on the EC87 train starting on next Sunday, 11:38am is €93.
Raileurope charges $118 (which is €107) for the same train and
service. That's not double but about 15% more.

But the SparPreis fare from the Bahn starts at 39€, which is less than half, although at a later date, the SparPreis could be 49€, a little less than half.

Last time I traveled on a train was from Frankfurt to Amsterdam. On the way back the train was 8hrs late . We got stuck on the tracks because the train was broken, then switched trains and they put the train on a slow track. After that someone on the train was sick and we stopped in the middle of somewhere and waited forever for the ambulance to come. Then they had construction and we had to wait yet again somewhere. We had our 32 anniversary party the next day and needless to say we barely made it due to being tired . They did give us free food in the form of some sugary thing and drinks. So please keep in mind trains can be very late .