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German Rail Passes arrive QUICKLY

So, I just ordered my German Rail Pass from the www.germanrailpasses.com site. Some things I'll share (from the perspective of someone in the United States):

  1. Be careful where you have the pass sent, because it is shipped "signature required".
  2. By joining the free version of UPS MyChoice, I could log on and pre-sign for the package, which was a lifesaver for me.
  3. Ignore the projected timing on the GermanRailPass site. I used standard shipping, and it should have arrived around Feb. 18. But it actually got here today, on Feb. 5! So they must be printed somewhere in the U.S. or have a distribution center here.

This was kind of funny because it actually would have been easier for me if it had arrived later in the month, but it all worked out.

Posted by
2527 posts

Per the website, there is a "fulfillment and operations" office in Orem, Utah.

Posted by
5362 posts

Germans do not use this product; it is for American tourists, so for sure it is printed and produced in the US.

Posted by
14481 posts

Hi,

The Pass can arrive much earlier than the date projected. I ordered on-line the 10 day Pass from Eurail on Dec 29 to get the extra day promo feature, ie, pay for 10 days but get 11 days usage. The deadline was Dec 31. It was standard shipping by UPS, ie free shipping to my home address, since I was not going to pay extra for shipping, never have. They told me to expect the Pass by Jan 18. It arrived on Jan 6, exactly one week later. Pretty much like yours. I have 6 months to activate it, ie June 30, 2016, and then two more months to use up the 11 days, ie Aug 30. This all fits into the travel plans in June, all the better for the extra travel day, day or night train.

Posted by
7209 posts

There are various passes that let you train all over Germany at dirt cheap prices.

Posted by
101 posts

@Laura - exactly.

One more question for any of you who have used the German Rail Pass: How did you carry it?

I was hoping it would be a credit-sized card or something small, but it's actually a paper that is about 3 x 8 inches, so it's large for any of the wallets I currently have. I'm traveling really light, and would like to find something thin but protective to slip it into -- perhaps something that is also designed for a passport because they need to be presented together, and I can only keep track of so many things at once.

Posted by
14481 posts

I use a neck pouch but for carrying the rail Pass. I wear a waist belt made by Eagle Creek on the outside of my pants just below my belt The rail Pass so as to keep it from getting too wrinkled is kept in a plastic envelope, which I cut with a scissor to tailor it just a bit bigger than the length and width of the Pass, put a light rubber band around it so that when checking if the pass has been put back into its proper slot, I only need to feel for the rubber band with my fingers...no need to do anything cumbersome as pulling everything out of the waist belt. The fingers serve as the eyes.

Even if a pickpocket unzips the waist belt, ...unlikely as the first defense line...he won't know the Pass is there or any cash since that is also hidden away.... all concealed in a covered plastic envelope, all tucked way.