We will be staying in the Hanover area in September for four days and then taking the train to Bruges. Is there any reason we would need to book our train ahead of time? Could we just book tickets a day or two ahead? Non-refundable tickets seem to be quite a bit less expensive - waiting might give us some flexibility.
Posted by
Green Bay
21166 posts
But you are playing with fire by waiting too long to buy. Right now 12 days out the price goes from 60 EUR to 70 EUR, 8 days out to 100 EUR, 3 days out to 110 EUR, and finally 121 EUR on departure day. As each price level sells out for that particular train, the price goes up. At the very least, buy 2 weeks in advance in order to get the low price, and even that is no guarantee. If you want the price offered today, you should buy today because it won't go down, only up as time goes by.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Actually, prices don't go up, but the cheaper tickets sell out fast. Prices are set before the scheduled are published. So the longer you wait to purchase, the more likely that your ticket will cost more.
Posted by
OP
5 posts
Thank you - that helps!
Posted by
San Francisco
14980 posts
Take the ICE Hannover Hbf to Köln Hbf, then to Brugge via Brussels, where you transfer to Brugge. If you buy the discounted non-refundable tickets at the earliest date allowed, you save but at the expense of sacrificing flexibility since you are locked in to a specific date, time of departure. Basically, it's a matter of which holds more value to you ...the savings or flexibility