Hi we are a couple travelling Dusseldorf - Cochem - Munich - Salzberg - Ljubljana in Jun 2016. Full details are:
Dusseldorf - Cochem 16 Jun
Cochem - Munich 19 Jun
Munich - Salzberg 22 Jun
Salzberg - Ljubljana 23 Jun
We have booked hotel accommodation in each location so would like to travel (depart) mid morning i.e. between 10:00 and 11:00 but could be flexible with this if discounts are available.
Can anyone advise on the most cost effective way to do this by rail? Can we, for instance save money by booking in advance? Can we save by booking Dusseldorf - Munich via Cochem etc.
All help gratefully received!!
Posted by
Green Bay
21166 posts
Yes, you can save a lot of money buying nonrefundable non-changeable tickets in advance. But first, are you arriving at Duesseldorf airport and going directly to Cochem, or spending time in Duesseldorf first?
You can only book stop-over tickets on a 24 hour basis. So you would need separate tickets for D'dorf-Cochem and Cochem-Munich. Munich-Salzburg can be done with a Bayern Ticket. Salzburg-Ljubljana can be done for 38 euro total for two with a Sparschiene fare.
I ask about arrival because you might just want to get a full fare ticket on arrival since your plane could be delayed making an advance ticket worthless. The savings for an advance ticket is only 50% and it is not too expensive to begin with.
Posted by
Washington DC
28100 posts
For the Salzburg-Ljubljana leg, the Austrian Railways web site shows a 10:12 AM departure, arriving at 2:31 PM. There's currently a non-changeable/non-refundable fare of 19 euros per person as well as a flexible (refundable) fare of 48.10 euros. I have no idea how long that 19-euro fare is likely to be available. It seems like a really good deal.
Add 10 euros if you prefer first class, and/or 3 euros for a seat reservation.
Posted by
Paradise
7072 posts
Dusseldorf - Cochem 16 Jun
As Sam indicates, a pre-purchased saver fare is for a specific train journey and may have to be forfeited if you've just flown in and you don't make the train you scheduled. Regular fares are around €70 for two at a ticket machine (from DUS.) But if you depart from ether DUS or D'dorf's main station after 9 am, you don't have to pay full fare, and you don't have to pre-purchase either - you can buy a Quer durchs Land Ticket (day pass) for two adults at the same machines for €52 - Ride the RE trains that depart DUS at :50 after every hour (and Düsseldorf's main station at :58 after) to Cochem (with a change in Koblenz) and you'll arrive in less than 3 hours. The QdL ticket is valid for additional journeys the same day.
Cochem - Munich 19 Jun - Buy online NOW at DB for the best price - I see €48/2 on your travel date.
Munich - Salzburg 22 Jun Bayern Ticket, €28, or Guten Tag Ticket, €26. No pre-purchase needed. Buy from ticket machine in Munich.
It looks like you'll total out at about €160-€170 for both of you if you can snag those Austrian Railways tickets at €38/2.
Posted by
San Francisco
14980 posts
Hi,
Where are you staying in Düsseldorf and Munich?
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
Use this Bahn webpage to look up schedules and fares.
As Russ pointed out, using regional trains and a Quer-durchs-Land-Ticket is 26€/person for two and only ½ hour slower, at most, than what you would get with a limited refundability, train specific ticket. Regional trains run every hour from Duesseldorf to Cochem. In fact, if you leave yourself an hour's cushion to allow for a late arrival, regional trains could end up being faster.
When looking up schedule, it is advisable to use the name Salzburg, as that is the correct name. There are towns named Salzberg.