I live in western NY, I travel by car. There is rarely any need for a train, a bus, or a subway (because subways don't exist there). I arrived in Munich today and am feeling stressed as I try to understand a system that everyone here is used to and I feel those I ask (information desks, tourist stations, etc) don't have the patience for my lack of knowledge. I have visited NYC many times and always need some assistance but I truly feel put off here! Now I am intimidated to even ask. SO I need help. Our plans are to go to Fussen by train tomorrow, go from Fussen to Salzburg by train on Friday, Regensburg by train one day next week, and Dachau by train on our last day here. I booked a hotel in Dachau since my plans had to be altered due to flight cancellations, but I will leave for home from Dachau to the Munich airport. If one is not familiar or know someone who is familiar with what works best it can be so trying. Any help would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks
Posted by
Paradise
7072 posts
I take it you are staying in Munich tonite and not in Dachau. Please provide your hotel location in Munich so we can provide directions for getting to Füssen tomorrow morning.
What time do you hope to reach Füssen? Also, do you have a D-Ticket, or will you need to buy a ticket?
Posted by
Bellingham, WA
428 posts
A couple of things. Sometimes Germans (and other people, of course) come across as unfriendly or annoyed, even when they are not. If such a person is working at an information desk or tourist office, it is their job to answer your questions. So my advice is to forge ahead until you have your answers. Of course, you should be as friendly and appreciative as possible. Your hotel may have a person such as this who can answer your questions.
It looks like it's about 6:30pm there, so maybe get a beer (or glass of wine, Aperol spritz, what have you) and take a look at seat61.com, which provides an excellent overview of the German train system and will patiently, in English, answer most of your questions. If you don't feel you have time to do this, just get the Bahn.de app on your phone. You can buy and store your tickets there.
Google Maps provides excellent directions for using public transportation (so long as you hit the little train icon), including how to get to the start point on foot.
Posted by
OP
42 posts
I worked in customer service for the greater part of my life. 95% of people are nice, 5 % are not. I understand that; however, I was seeking information on the best routes in an area I am unfamiliar with and felt I was an annoyance and pushed aside. I have traveled much in my life and the attitude from the airport and tourist kiosks were unacceptable. I eventually asked some construction workers for advice because the train station is currently under construction. I also have tickets to Adele next week and I have no clue how to get there. I am south of the train station and have a short walk to the train station. If I was somewhat accustomed to routes on the subway, tram, buses, or trains I would not need this post. I do not own a cell phone. Yes, I know!
Posted by
Paradise
7072 posts
I am south of the train station and have a short walk to the train station.
OK, the main station in Munich, I assume. Good. Just need your response to my other questions now for the Füssen trip.
Posted by
Chicago
78 posts
I was just in Munich last week. We did have a bit of difficulty on the direction of some of the trains but got the hang of it after a day. Google and the DB app helped identify the train was going in the right direction. Being from Chicago, I'm used to seeing the end of the line listed on the car. But in Munich, that wasn't always the case. Made it harder to tell which was it was going, but we would look at the maps posted on the platform and figure it out. We took both S and U trains.
Every day we bought a family pass on the DB app. But not once - NOT ONCE - did anyone ever check if we purchased an actual ticket. 4 trips per day (sometimes 6) and no check. Even on our way to the airport on our last day - the priciest trip and one I'd wager is primarily made up of visitors without monthly passes - no one checked.
We stayed near Ostbahnof and the trip to Dachau was easy. You being near Haupbahnof should make your travels much easier. I found most Munich trains would list the train station even if it wasn't the end of the line.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7890 posts
nixit71, the culture in Europe is much more a feeling of obligation to meet the local norms and rules, as opposed to the American, let's say, "Suits" attitude of "What's in it for me?" You should not express surprise that they don't waste a lot of security labor checking tickets; Better they watch for terrorism, homeless people, and the apocryphal pickpockets that terrorize this newboard!
I hope we can give the OP the help they need. But travel preparation includes learning about local transportation in advance, as well as the long jumps. That's why guidebooks always have a section on local transit. I've been to plenty of American cities where I had to learn about the local subway. Even though I took the NY subway to high school 35 minutes every day.
I'm not a big tree-hugger, but the private car has done a lot of damage to America. Mass transportation is much more sustainable, just as apartment buildings use a fraction of the heating energy as the same number of luxurious private homes.
Posted by
106 posts
no specific instructions for you but:
yes, seat61.com--how trains in X country generally works, some specific routes, some details about the main stations in X cities;
X train company website--is there a route planner?
rome2rio.com for travel options--then go to specific train/bus line websites,
X town's metro website--follow any links/videos on route planners, how to use ticket kiosks, system maps! etc,
youtube! search for videos by travelers of train stations, train routes, metro how to's, airport transfers/transportation options, etc!
good luck!