I was wondering how accurate the prices on the Rick Steves' rail maps are. I'll be buying point-to-point tickets for the following: Krakow-Prague (overnight), Prague-Munich (overnight), Munich-Ljubljana (overnight), Ljubljana-Milan, Milan-Genoa, Genoa-Florence, Florence-Sienna, Sienna-Orvieto, Orvieto-Rome.
Is there any train that I need to book aside from the overnight trains? How can I get the cheaper prices? From home and on the day I travel?
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19092 posts
The prices in your book may not be based on the latest prices. Also, they will be based on full fare tickets, not the discounted tickets you can get, either from here online or over there a few days in advance.
For prices within Italy, look at www.trenitalia.com. If you buy before midnight the day before travel, you can get a 20% reduction with the "Amica" fare.
I don't think there is a Prague-Munich night train. There is one from Prague that stops in Dresden, but you would only spend 2-1/2 hours on it and then have to take regular train from there. There are direct and one change trains during the day from Prague to Munich, and they only take about 6 hours.
Posted by
Colorado Springs, CO, US
16 posts
That's a lot of point to points. Have you considered going with a railpass?
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
4555 posts
For trains starting or ending in Germany, you can find schedules and prices at www.bahn.de. You can score some amazing bargains by booking early on the web. The only "overnights" from Prague to Munich involve four changes and take 13-15 hours, more than twice as long as the daytime runs, and there are no sleeping accomodations available. Far better to take an evening train and arrive late at night.
Posted by
OP
Laval, QC, Canada
82 posts
Thanks for the replies! I somehow knew planned the whole day to do Prague-Munich but wrote it down as overnight. My bad.
I calculated both with a railpass and point-to-point. Railpass doesn't make any sense since Czech Republic isn't part of the Eurail Select or Global and that train travel is pretty cheap in Italy. I believe I would save at least 150$ by buying point-to-point.