Family trip To German with GRP

Base on the number of days and your wish list, it seems like you will become more familiar with train stations than locations. Cut your destinations down to 5-7(max) so you can enjoy your stay. You will loose 1/2 day every time you move since you want to use rail.

What are the ages of the family? Are you arriving at Duesseldorf airport?

Duesseldorf to Cologne is a local network ticket.

Munich, Nuremberg, Salzburg are all within the scope of a Bayern Ticket. You will be limited to using regional trains and traveling after 9 am on weekdays (any time weekends). So Munich to Nuremberg would take 1 hour and 45 minutes using a Regional Express train vs 1 hour and 5 minutes on an ICE train. 43 Eur for a 4-person Bayern Ticket.

Hamburg to Bremen and same day return can be done with a Niedersachsen Ticket for 35 EUR for 4, and you really don't gain much time using an IC train with a pass day.

Berlin to Potsdam day trip is a VBB day ticket.

Are you traveling between now and Jan 31 so you can take advantage of the Autumn GRP Special Prices?

Do you have suggestion that some of the journey might be cheaper to buy point ticket/personal ticket other than GRP so I will know which of the city I will cut?

If we buy GRP do we need to reserve train in advance? Or can we just hop on at the time we want to catch the train?

Thank you,

2 are above 50, 1 is 30, 1 is 27 years old. Yess we will arrive at Dusseldorf ticket. Is it right is we buy ticket in Airport to Dusseldorf Hbf we will free to use any transport in Dusseldorf??
And yess we will travel this October. We have already booked all hotel and plan the itinerary. Just confuse either worth it or not but GRP

GRP there is no need to reserve any trains within Germany. If you want seat reservations, they are 4.50 EUR per person. Of course, pass is not valid Salzburg to Vienna to Prague. Prague to Berlin only for the German portion. But there are other low cost options for these trips.

A 10-day 2nd class GRP Twin Flex is 540 EUR, so that is basically 27 EUR per person per day. So if there are lower per person costs using local network tickets or Laender tickets, like the Bayern Ticket, use them for those trips. A trip with a Bayern Ticket is 43 EUR, so that comes to less then 11 EUR per person.

If you have time to get the GRP by mail, the 7-day Twin is available at special rate of 340 EUR. That would be worth it IMO. It is also available through Rail Europe, but cost a bit more.

Yes, when you land at Duesseldorf, you can buy local network ticket to Duesseldorf Hbf. There is an S-Bahn station in the terminal for trains to D'dorf Hbf if you will be staying there that day. Otherwise, take the Monorail to the airport mainline station if you want to go direct to Cologne.

Ooo The GRP is has different price if we buy it online and offline. Good to know. Thank u. Yess we will stay one night in dusseldorf.

Also want to ask? Since the GRP will not cover the local train(tram/bus), is it cheaper for some of the places if we buy welcome pass card for transportation or we just buy one by one each time we take train/bus?

The GRP is valid for some destinations outside Germany but NOT for...

Salzburg - Vienna
Vienna - Prague
Prague - Dresden

Innsbruck - Salzburg (via Kufstein) and Nuremberg - Innsbruck (via Kufstein) are possible with the GRP on DB-Oebb Eurocity trains only. Other trains and routes are not possible with the GRP.

That leaves you with these NINE trips, possibly on a GRP:

D'dorf - Cologne - Frankfurt (Stuttgart) - Munich - Nuremberg - Innsbruck - Salzburg / Dresden - Berlin - Hamburg - D'dorf.

So you could buy 3 separate tickets for the non-GRP trips + a 10-day GRP to cover the other 9 (or use the 10th day pass to cover PART of the train tip to Dresden and pay separately for the German border to Dresden.)

If you buy the 7-day GRP you still have 9 travel days to cover + the other three - so you will obviously need additional tickets (probably D'dorf - Cologne on a local VRS day pass (€34/4) + Munich - Nuremberg on a Bayern Ticket day pass (€43/4.)

Have you looked into renting a car? It could be cheaper and gives you more flexibility. Even with a car I think you have too many stops. May want to take a few out.

The GRP is valid for local trips, its just a matter of why use a pass-day that cost you over 100 EUR for 4 when you can buy out of a ticket machine for 10 to 40 EUR. Plus these tickets are good for U-Bahn, tram, bus for the rest of the day. Duesseldorf Airport to Duesseldorf Hbf is a price level A3 ticket costing 2.80 EUR per person. Since there are 4 of you, you can buy a 4-pack of tickets for 10.20 EUR. That is just single ticket valid for 90 minutes. Day tickets are 7 EUR per person.

Fransiska and Dimitri

what country are you from? The reason I ask, if you are a resident of Europe, Turkey or Russia you are not eligible for buying the German Rail Pass.

Thank u all for the reply. It is really helpful. Dear Aly, never consider renting a car since all of us don’t have experience for driving oversear😀. Always depends on foot and public transport.

Dear Nigel, we are from Indonesia.

I am thinking that i might cut for visiting Innsbruck and stay a day more in Salzbruck.

And want to ask, if there any rental offer in Stuttgart station for luggages? I am thinking for visiting Stuttgard after a day in Cologne before going to Frankfurt. We will stay in Frankfurt for 2 days. Is it possible?

I was thinking that Innsbruck was a bit of an outlier (and time waster).

Going from Cologne to Stuttgart, you will pass through Frankfurt and probably have to change trains there. If you want to stop in Stuttgart for half a day, better would be to do it between Frankfurt and Munich. Many of the trains from Frankfurt to Munich stop at Stuttgart on the way. There are luggage lockers at Stuttgart Hbf where you can store your bags.

BTW, Here is the Deutsche Bahn agent in Indonesia. Maybe can help you get a GRP quickly.

RailandRails
Jalan Raya Tanjung Barat n. 7
Jalan Batu Tulis Raya No. 2A
Jakarta Pusat
10120
Indonesia
Phone: +6221 352 4788
Fax: +6221 350 2727

Thank u Sam. Now I will move Stuttgart Itinerary plan after visiting Frankfurt, since after Frankfurt we will visit Munich.

Now the 7-day flex pass works perfect, and it is 20% off now for travel until January 31.
1) Cologne to Frankfurt
2) Frankfurt to Munich with a stopover in Stuttgart.
3) Munich to Nuremberg
4) Nuremberg to Salzburg
5) Prague to Berlin. Note, you need to buy tickets from Prague to Bad Schandau, just over the German border. That should only be about 15 EUR per person for an anytime ticket. I believe you need to show the German conductor your pass when the crew changes at the border.
6) Berlin to Hamburg
7) Hamburg to Duesseldorf

There are 2 rail routes between Cologne and Frankfurt. The high speed route that takes as little as 1 hour. The train reaches speed of up to 350 kph. The other route takes longer, 2 hours and 20 minutes, but much more scenic as it travels along the Rhine River through the famous gorge that is lined with castles on the way. So take your pick.

Hi,

Between Düsseldorf and Cologne you can take the S-Bahn. No need to use a Pass day between these two or even take a regional train, the same going to Potsdam from Berlin, which costs 3.40 Euro since the ride goes into Zone C.

In regards to seat reservations to ensure all 4 of you are sitting together, I would suggest them for going on the ICE from Frankfurt to Stuttgart, and for the ride on the ICE Stuttgart to Munich.

If you just hop one, still doable in Germany, you may not end up sitting together, if that's important to you. On the ICE I still hop on but it's tedious looking for an unoccupied seat in 2nd class. Other times I get the seat reservation

Your last ride to Düsseldorf is from Hamburg? If so, I would also get a seat reservation since that is also an ICE route.

Thank u Sam for helping break it down my journey to make it clear which GRP i should buy.

Thank u Fred for train information since I check from Dusseldorf to Cologne will cost over €15 for regional train.
And are there any important information while using GRP we should know? Based on what I have read, each time we hop on the train we should write down the date or we will be fined.

Also want to ask outside this about the weather. Since German weather is sometimes unpredictable and check yahoo weather already, in the morning will be above 21C and at night will be drop. Is it cold, a lot of wind? Since it is autumn season, we all prepare to bring thick amd warm cloth.

Thank you

Which source are you using for your railfare quotes? If the Bahn you get fast trains automatically, and the fast train prices. If you dig down and check the box for local trains you will get the VRS trains which are cheaper and only take 7 minutes longer Düsseldorf Hbf to Köln Hbf.

I am sure you have read the German Rail Pass Flyer with the Conditions of Use.
https://www.bahn.com/en/view/mdb/bahnintern/international/redaktion_bahn.com/pdf-datein/pdf_2018/mdb_268059_german_rail_pass_2018.pdf

Pay attention especially to paragraphs 5, 6, 7, 11.

As Nigel said, ride Regional trains only from Duesseldorf to Cologne and the VRS fare is 11.50 EUR per person, but you can also use a VRS TagesTicket 5 Personen Price Level 5 for 36.40 EUR. That will cover all 4 of you traveling together for the whole day after 9 am M-F (anytime weekends) between Duesseldorf Hbf and Cologne, so you can use local city transport in Cologne for the rest of the day. At that price, you usually buy from a ticket machine and if you buy from a ticket agent, it is a 2 EUR service fee. Maybe worth it to deal with complicated local transport options.

The next best option would be a Nord Rhein-Westfalen Group day ticket for 45 EUR. Again covers all 4 of you, but must be used after 9 am and only regional transport. If it is a Saturday or Sunday, you can use it anytime. That is for all transport in the German Land of Nord Rhein-Westfalen, which includes Duesseldorf and Cologne for the rest of the day until 3 am the next day.

As far as weather, you should be prepared for as low as 5 deg C. Weather is variable. Could be rain and wind, but also at least a few nice days with some luck. If it gets colder, maybe a short shopping trip is in order.

Dear Nigel, I searched the train at goeuro web which yes it is bahn. Now i have other option which is cheaper.

And Want to ask any idea where we can get King’s ticket for Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwagen castle? On the website is no longet available. I have already listed all the place we will visit and one of them is the castles. But i though that it is ok 2 weeks before arrival the ticket still available, so i just tried to reserve the ticket and it is no longer available.

And Is it true that most of the attractions and sightseeings in Germany we can’t buy online and have to buy it at the time we come to the place. I have looked for cologne cathedral but there no online ticket.

To look at train schedules and prices, use www.bahn.com
Goeuro is a travel agency. Deutsche Bahn operates the trains, so they will show you all the trains and price information.

Cologne Cathedral, there is no need to buy in advance. 4 EUR entrance, or 8 EUR entrance/treasury/tower climb.

Since advance tickets for Neuschwanstein have to be mailed and you are in Indonesia, I don't think there is time, and really no need. The important thing is to have a reservation on-line for entrance and should be at least 1 1/2 hour after you arrive at the ticket office so you can pay for the tickets and walk up to the castle in time for your tour.
https://www.hohenschwangau.de/1392.0.html

That’s way the reservation is fully booked. I have already email and they say that the reservation has reach the limit and suggest me to buy it on the spot, but it isn’t guarantee.

The only reservation available if I change my itinerary between Frankfurt and Munich. So Dusseldorf - Cologne - Munich - Frankfurt. The journey take longer than the first itinerary

You say you have all your hotel reservations made. If you have flexibility to change, you could go Frankfurt to Stuttgart to Nuremberg, then to Munich and Fuessen (Neuschwanstein) a day or two later. If you are trying to reserve on a weekend day, that could be the problem.

Yes, have already reserved but not paid in advance, can be cancel two days before arrival. Still not available for that route, for the date we arrive in Munich. 😩... The only chance we have of we put Munich first

Hiii,

Want to ask, is it any other way which is cheaper to go to Neuschwanstein Castle via Fussen other that with bayern ticket? Since the bayern ticket for weekdays valid from 9AM, we won’t be able to use this. We have reservation and must pick up ticket aroud 10.30 so we plan to start from Munich to Fussen around 7AM.

Thank u

In that case, if you have gotten 7 day Twin Flex Passes, use the pass for that day. The pass is not valid for the local bus Fuessen to Neuschwanstein and back, but it is a cheap local ticket, not more than 3 EUR per person. If you do get the Kings Ticket, I believe the bus is included. Then you can leave Munich on the 7:51 train to Fuessen, arriving at 9:56, then the 73 bus at 10:05 getting to Neuschwanstein at 10:13.

Since you use one of your pass days for this trip, use the Bayern ticket for the trip to Nuremberg. Take one of the faster local trains like the 11:04 Regional Express that takes 1 hour and 45 minutes. If you are not using any local transport in Munich or Nuremberg that day, there is a special ticket called a Regio-Ticket Munich-Nuremberg for 40 EUR for all 4 of you. If you do want local transport covered, get the Bayern Ticket for 43 EUR for all 4 of you.

Thanks Sam. Really help a lot