Purchase Tickets

Pre-book the long trips Frankfurt-Berlin, Berlin-Munich and Munich-Frankfurt. For the trips within Bavaria you can buy a Bayern-Ticket for 21 euros that will give you free travel throughout Bavaria including city transport. But make sure single tickets or returns for day trips aren't cheaper.

Except for a few mistakenly (IMO) privatized lines, all of the rail transportation in Germany is under the control of Deutsche Bahn (the Bahn). The Bahn actually operates the express trains (ICE/IC/EC). Regional trains (RE/RB) are operated by subsidiaries of the Bahn in each Land (state). Usually, the most inexpensive option for regional travel is a Länder-Ticket for that state. These are passes good for unlimited travel on regional trains in that state for a day. Next is point-point tickets. For a few, short trips on regional trains, point-point might be the least expensive option. For longer distance travel, the Bahn has discounted, advance purchase Savings Fare tickets. These require commitment to a specific (date and time) train and are non-refundable, but offer big cost savings. There are full fare, "standard" tickets which are always available at a counter and are fully refundable/transferable. Today, the most expensive option is a rail pass. There was a time when these passes were cost effective, but in resent years, they have priced themselves out of the market.

To give one example of the savings possible by booking in advance and accepting non-exchangeable and non-refundable fares: Berlin to Dresden was €38 per person full fare, but €19 for one and €29 for two in advance. So, on this one round trip, we saved €94! Here's how to do it. You book the ticket (one at a time) on the Bahn website, using Rick's tutorial: http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/db_tips.htm. You get the ticket in an e-mail, as a PDF attachment. You print out the ticket (it may say you need A4 paper, but 8.5 x 11 works fine). On the train, you show your printout and the credit card you used to buy it to the conductor. They scan your printout, swipe your card, and you're set. Very easy. On the other hand if you can accept the full fares (the Bahn website will show both full and discounted), you can wait until you get to Germany to buy tickets. You can buy from machines which have an English option (reports here say that they accept US credit cards; they definitely accept euro cash) or from ticket windows (I believe this has a small surcharge). A tip I learned on this Helpline: while reservations are not required on most routes, they are only €4 and are a very good idea, particularly for longer routes and/or if you want to sit together. On our Dresden to Berlin leg, the train was the "compartment" style; it was quite full and people were sitting in the aisle on their luggage. But with our reservations, we just went to our assigned seats, stowed our bags, and had no problems.