I'm pricing my options and as of now, the individual tickets are considerably cheaper than the rail pass. However, I'm not ready to commit to reservations and it seems prices go up as time goes on. I read an excellent post by Russ detailing the situations in which the Rail Pass make sense, and I checked the box next to many of those, esp that I am hesitant to lock into certain trains this far out. I'd rather just get on the next train when I'm ready to go.
The prices for most of the trips for two people as of now are about 38 to 44 euros. Traveling in June.
Aachen to Cologne
Cologne to Bingen (via Bonn)
St Goar or Boppard to Bingen
Bingen to Wurzburg
Wurzburg to Nurnberg
Wurzburg to Bamberg
Freiburg to Zurich
Should I expect that the rates on these routes will increase significantly if we wait until either 30 days out or the day before or day of our travel? Or will they always net out cheaper than the Rail Pass?
Thanks!
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
Celeste, I suggest you look up the prices for each of these trips (on https://www.bahn.com/en/view/index.shtml ) for tomorrow.
The "advance purchase" and "buy on the day full price" prices are fixed, what happens is that the cheap fares sell out, leaving only the full price tickets, which is what business travellers and others who travel at short notice pay.
For short distances, there is no discount for advance purchase.
For example, I just looked up Würzburg to Nürnberg for tomorrow, and was quoted fares from €19 to €30. Prices will not go above that.
Posted by
Green Bay
21161 posts
Keep in mind that many of these trips can be done using regional trains within a specific Land (equivalent to a US state, more or less). so look at Laender tickets for some of these journeys, like Aachen to Cologne, St Goar or Boppard to Bingen, Wurzburg to Nurnberg, Wurzburg to Bamberg. These you pay a set price of 25 EUR (varies) and 5 or 6 EUR for the second person. Travel all day after 9 am weekdays (all day on weekends).
https://www.bahn.com/en/view/offers/regional/index.shtml?dbkanal_007=L04_S02_D002_KIN0060_ST-REGIONALE-ANGEBOTE_LZ01
Others are relatively short haul and using regional trains does not cost very much time, so you can use a Quer durchs Land ticket described above.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
I'm not ready to commit to reservations
Keep in mind that reservations are not required on German trains, although sometimes they are recommended. However, Saving Fare tickets, those purchased in advance at a discount, are train specific, which is almost like having a reservation.
You show 7 days of travel. A 2nd class German Rail Twin Pass for 7 days is 398€ from the Bahn (about 57€/day). If you use the pass before May 31, RailEurope's special right now is $390 for 7 days (~52€/day)
Looking at your travel legs, I think the only one for which an advance purchase, train specific ticket would be warranted would be from Bingen to Würzburg using an ICE from Frankfurt to Würzburg.
Aachen to Cologne would take 36 minutes with an ICE and cost 45€ for two, full fare, or 38€ for two with advance purchase. The hourly regional RE takes only a little longer, 53 minutes, and the walk up local fare from VRS is 35€ for two.
If you purchase a VRM ticket from Cologne to Bonn it will cost 7,80€ each. From Bonn, a Rheinland-Pfalz-Ticket for two at 29€ will take you to Bingen (or anywhere else in RL-P). Just under 45€.
Boppard (or St. Goar) to Bingen: Rheinland-Pfalz-Ticket for 29€.
Würzburg to Nürnberg: use a purchase-at-the-time Bayern-Ticket for 31€ for two. Use an RE. It takes at most half and hour longer than the ICE.
Würzberg to Bamberg: use one of several Regio-ticket, 26€ for two. There are only regional trains on this run, so using a rail pass would not get you anything.
Freiburg to Zürich: a German-Rail pass would only get you to Basel, which costs you 28€ for two with a Baden-Württemberg-Ticket. Even with a rail pass, you would have to buy Basel to Zürich separate. Either way, if you are willing to commit in advance, you can get Freiburg all the way to Zürich for as low as 38€.
Posted by
OP
North Georgia, USA
1155 posts
I just saw the excellent responses to my question and wanted to say thank you. I hate when people don't respond to folks' taking time to help them out, and I apologize for it having taken so long for me to respond. Thanks!