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From Bolzano to Innsbruck

Posted by (Spokane) on

Hello,

We will be spending 5 nights in Castelrotto (arriving May 31st). I am looking into making a day trip to Innsbruck. My impression is that it is a beautiful 2 hr. train ride through great Alpine scenery into Innsbruck. Would you concur?

Regarding the train reservations, I needed the following clarifications:

  1. Is it okay if I used the Austrian OBB website instead of Trenitalia to make the (advance) reservations?

  2. Is it worth it to spend extra for 1st class on the EC trains.

  3. Should I pay extra for guaranteed seat reservation -- the charge is minimal...about 3 euros per person. When I look into seat reservation I get options for Side-by-Side, 4 Seater Booths etc. We are a family of 3 with an 8 year old boy. I assume the 4 Seater Booth would be appropriate?

Thanks for your help!!

Posted by
28483 posts

That is a pretty ride. When I bought a train ticket from Bolzano (through Austria) to Germany last year, I had to go to an OBB counter in the Bolzano train station, so I think OBB's website is the place for you.

I've never in my life bought a first-class train ticket. To me, it would be an unnecessary expense, but perhaps someone else can explain the benefits of first class on that particular trip. One of the things I like about second class is that you're more likely to meet chatty locals there, as opposed to the businessmen or wealthier tourists inhabiting first class.

Traveling with an 8-year-old, I would tend to pay for the seat reservations, just in case. Be sure that the table seating is available even if you only buy 3 tickets. Just within the last few days someone mentioned that table seating somewhere (I think it was in Spain but am not sure) required booking all four seats. Your train journey will be about 2 hours, so I think you'll be OK as long as one of you is seated with your son.

Posted by
75 posts

Thanks for your helpful response acraven.

In most cases I prefer to make advance reservations for train travel. But my impression is there's no real benefit with these EC trains -- the fare will be the same even if I were to buy tickets on the day of travel. Is this correct? Though, with an 8 year old, to insure contiguous seat availability I might be better off with advance booking.

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