Transportation options Frankfurt airport to Boppard on 9/28/22

I have no personal experience with this but an acquaintance of mine used Sixt a year or so ago, when she was traveling with a bad ankle. They picked her and her friend up at an airport in Germany (can't remember which one) and drove them about an hour or so away to where they were staying. She said it was a very good experience and the price was not terribly unreasonable.

I checked the Sixt website and they do offer that from Frankfurt airport. https://www.sixt.com/ride/frankfurt/airport-transfer/

That said, I wouldn't worry too much about rush hour heading to Boppard, especially if you are sitting in first class.

Hi drewp. In looking at the https://www.bahn.com/en website I see a 9:00am train from the Frankfurt airport on S8, changing in Mainz to RE2 (8 minute transfer time) on to Boppard. You are looking at a 9:08 leaving from the Main Station in Frankfurt. There is no need to go that route. There is a station at the airport where you can begin your journey. I don't think there will be many people on those routes this time of year. You can buy tickets at the airport station. Enjoy your trip.

right now it looks like our best bet (fastest & one connection) is first class on Regional Express RE2

This is a regional train and the difference between first and second class is basically the color of the seats (no kidding, unfortunately) and the expectation that there would be a little more space. As suggested above, take the S-bahn to Mainz and transfer there to the local train to Boppard. I would travel 2nd class (not sure if the S-Bahn has a first class at all).

As Threadwear points out, this is a 2-train sequence with a change in Mainz, 9:00 - 10:39.

Use this as your Frankfurt Airport station: Frankfurt(Main)Flugh
Use this as your destination: Boppard Hbf

The standard DB fare for two is not €82.60 - it's €48.20, just like it says at the DB site. You can buy this ticket from a machine at the "Regionalbahnhof" airport station, or in advance at the same price. This ticket can be used at anytime you wish on the S-Bahn and regional trains on that same day.

Cheaper: If you buy tickets to Mainz (€5.60 ea.) plus one Rheinland-pfalz ticket (day pass) for two (€31) you will pay less - €42.20. Buy the first ticket (RMV ticket) at the station from a machine just prior to departure. Buy the R-P ticket for Mainz > Boppard at the same time, or buy it in advance. The R-P ticket can be used at anytime you wish on the S-Bahn and regional trains that same day; the RMV ticket must be used shortly after purchase at the station.

Read about the Rheinland-Pfalz ticket here if you like.

Ticket machines will look like these, with RMV and DB logos.

"What if I don't make my connection in Mainz?" No problem. As long as you use the regional trains to Boppard, you can take any of the later trains that leave Mainz that same day. Your scheduled train is supposed to leave Mainz at 9:51. But there's a regional train that leaves Mainz 12 minutes later at 10:03 too.

With the current airlines' chaos, I wouldn't buy tickets in advance, in the event your flight has a substantial delay. My last two post-COVID flights were significantly delayed- one by 24 hours, and one by 4-5 hours.
That being said , we were in Boppard this past May, and had a wonderful trip. Don't forget the chairlift ( in town) which offers a panorama view of the area.
Safe travels!

Pat, buying discounted "saver fare" tickets for the IC, ICE, EC (etc.) trains is indeed risky if you cannot make your scheduled train because of a flight delay. However, the FRA > Boppard journey will not include these trains - only the "Nahverkehr" trains (S-Bahn and REGIONAL trains) which can be used at any hour the same day, no matter what time your ticket might say. As long as one's flight still arrives on the same day, a delay won't create any train ticket problems.

Russ, thx , I always learn from you, and your input for our trip this past spring was Invaluable!
Safe travels!

Been a few years since my last Germany trip, do the rail ticket machines now accept U.S. - issued credit or debit cards?

In our recent experience in Germany, we did have problems with the ticket machines not accepting our credit cards (they required pin #). However, we downloaded the DB Navigator app and purchased our tickets via the app, no problems.
Safe travels!

Pat, thanks! I’ll just hit the ATM at FRA and use Euros at the ticket machine just like before for my Boppard ticket.

Ray, the ticket machines don't like giving out alot of change, so often won't accept 20 Euro notes. We found cash worked in the ticket machines if a minimal amount of change was due.

I have a great, senior citizen travel card and get to ride 1st class on the S-bahns and regional trains all over Hessen. This summer, I could do it all over Germany with the 9€ ticket. Believe me, there is signifigent difference between 1s and 2nd class on the regional trains. For one, you will most likely have the whole section to yourself except on the S-bahns, as there is always another senior or two. In the mornings, this is great. I always get a seat when the rest of the train is packed. On the Regional trains, you get a lot more space, there are more tables that have plugs for your phone, ipad, etc. and the seats are more comfortable. Also, there are no WC on the S-bahns, but there are on the regional trains.

Get your ticket when you land. Grab some pastries to eat on the train later too.

Thanks everyone! You are always so helpful!!

On the Regional trains, you get a lot more space, there are more tables that have plugs for your phone, ipad, etc.

That's true for some types of trains. But the most used train type on the "SÜWEX" Mainz-Koblenz, Stadler class 429.1, has sockets and wlan in the whole train, not only in first class. On the other hand, the first class has only 23 seats. I go to a piano lovers meeting in Boppard three times a year and have had the pleasure of standing in first class a few times. I then found myself a seat in second class.