Austrian Rail Discounts for Family of 4?

Train options with the Einfach Raus ticket are "limited" - limited to regional trains. I don't call that real limited, because there are more regional train than non-regional trains. But yes, the trains available with the Einfach Raus ticket take more time. Economy has it's "price". Unlike Germany, which has discount Sparpreis tickets between literally any two stations in Germany, Austrian Rail does not provide that benefit. They do match Germany's Europa Spezial ticket for fares with their own Sparschiene between locations outside Austria. The moral here - stay out of Austria.

Lee, Thanks for the advice . You confirmed what I had already surmised. The Einfach Raus option is possible for a day trip to Hallstatt, but not for Melk (lengthy trip) We would like to tour the Melk abbey, and then cruise/ bike the Danube, but will save this option for another trip (perhaps a trip combining the Czech Rebublic, Hungary, etc.) We have already taken advantage of the Sparschiene ticket to travel from Salzburg to Bolzano (our next destination on the trip).

If you are willing to backtrack a little, I found Europa-Spezial fares from Traunstein to Vienna for €29 per adult. Children under 15 would be free. Unfortunately it is using the limited stop RailJet, so no stop in Melk. It stops in St. Pölten, which might be closer to Melk. In 2009, I was planning to go from Regensburg or Landshut to Vienna, then come back on regional trains via Melk and Krems, but I would be alone and the Einfach Raus ticket is only for 2-5 people. I think the Austrian Rail website says the the Vorteil Familie card is only available to Austrian citizens.

Lee, Thanks for the information. Salzburg will be our home base after spending a few nights in Munich. Our daughters are 21 and 19, so child discounts definitely aren't applicable anymore. We will probably take a day trip to Berchtesgaden instead of Melk.

I don't know how much you thought it would cost to take a day trip from Salzburg to Melk, but, since you are going first from Munich to Salzburg, a Bahn Europa-Spezial ticket from Munich to Melk would be €29 pP. You could schedule a one hour stopover in Salzburg and stash you stuff in a locker, then come back to "Munich" via Salzburg on another Europa-Spezial ticket, get off to get your stuff in Salzburg and miss the train to Munich. I've never been to Melk, but I have been to Berchtesgaden twice. I liked it so much, I wouldn't spend all the extra time and expense going to Melk when Berchtesgaden is so close. You can buy a €29 Bayern-Ticket in Salzburg and use it for the train to Berchtesgaden via Freilassing. That will take about 1h15m each way. The Bayern-Ticket will also cover any bus transportation in Berchtesgaden including the bus to the base of the mountain for the Eagles' Nest. For a little more, you can take the RVO 840 bus (Walzmann Express) from slip 6 in front of the Salzburg Bahnhof to Berchtesgaden Bahnhof in 46 min. That would cost €9 per person for RVO Tagestickets, all day passes for RVO buses, including the RT bus from Salzburg and any buses in Berchtesgaden. The Bayern-Ticket does not cover the Watzmann Express bus in Austria.

Lee, Thanks for the information. My wife has been to Berchtesgaden once, while traveling as as student many years ago. I think we'll utilize the bus service for a few more euros. Melk certainly doesn't make sense as a day trip at 70 euros a piece for roundtrip travel from Salzburg. I like your idea about the Europa - Spezial ticket out of Munich, but we'll keep it simple and go to Berchtesgaden instead. We aren't on a budget, but like having a little extra money for the "important" things, e.g. beer, pretzels, and gelato(while in Italy). In fact, we'll probably be found at the Augustiner Braustubl each night while in Salzburg.