Rail Tiickets from Munich

"We're planning on taking the night train from Munich to Ljubljana for which tickets cannot be gotten online... It seems the options are to call Deutsche Bahn or use a booking service like Raileurope... If the only additional cost is their $7.95-$35 shipping/handling that doesn't seem like a bad deal. So am I missing anything here? "

The night train trip takes 6.5 hours and means getting off at 6 a.m. in Ljubljana - doesn't sound like a very restful night to me. This trip takes less than 5 hours using DB's IC Bus. I've used this bus previously from Ljubljana - nice ride and scenery. There's a daily, direct IC bus leaving Munich at 15:45, arriving Ljubljana 20:39. Sparpreis Europa fares are as low as €38 for two - including reservations (so about the same price as the high-end shipping of the other tickets!) IC Bus tickets are available online, I believe. I would use the IC Bus again in a heartbeat.

There is also a 6 hour direct EC connection leaving Munich Hbf just after noon, with an advance purchase online fare of 49€/P, or another 6 hour connection with one quick change in Villach, leaving Munich Hbf at just after 8:00 with a 39€/P fare.

If you really want the night train, Euraide can probably get the ticket for you. They print the ticket at their ticket automat at the Reisezentrum in Munich Hbf for the same price you would pay over there and mail them to you for a fee.

If any vendor has a different price for the night train tickets, then that's the only difference. Rail Europe is reliable and is selling the same tickets for either home delivery or to print at a German station. I think that buying five days ahead in Germany is a fine plan if you're flexible on the type of compartment you will take. I personally have never wanted to pay the cost of a single ($161 from Rail Europe) and would be more likely to take a place in double for $99 or a triple for $87 (nonchangeable, nonrefundable rates). I also don't disagree with the daytime options suggested above.

I took the bus from Munich to Ljubljana last summer, and the trip was so uneventful that I have absolutely no memory of it. The walk-up fare was 39 euros.

Thanks, our time in Munich is already so limited I didn't want to cut into it but the bus is sounding like a good option.