So I have determined that it will be less expensive to buy PTP tickets rather than a Eurail pass, but I am worried (perhaps unnecessarily?) about the idea of waiting until the actual April 2011 trip to buy PTP tickets as we go. I am afraid that the trains we want to take at the times we want to go will be sold out, and we will waste time waiting for transportation. Is my fear unfounded, or should I really try to book tickets in advance? My fear there is that I won't be able to get reservations for the seats I have booked (Koln to Paris for example) and will end up with a worthless PTP ticket. Please help a newbie out! TIA!
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19275 posts
If you book when you are over there, you should be able to get reservations at the time of booking. The Bahn, in fact, allows you to book online from over here, with reservations, and the reservations are about half price.
A Eurail pass does not include reservations. You have to make them separately, so you would still have a reservation problem, possible worse, because some rail companies make it much easier to buy a reservation with a ticket than just a passholder reservation.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
The main advantage to booking tickets in advance is to get a discount fare (on routes for which they are sold). However, you must be able to commit to a specific departure date and time because the ticket is non-exchangeable and non-refundable.
I'll use Koeln-Paris as an example. If you buy a 2nd class ticket when you get to Germany, the fare will be over €100. If you book well in advance (up to 92 days allowed) on either www.thalys.com or www.bahn.de, you can get a discount fare as low as €29.
Posted by
OP
Houaton, Texas, USA
19 posts
Awesome! Thank you! I really love the idea of just booking after we get there. Keeps smoe flexibility in the schedules without worrying about waiting for openening.
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
4555 posts
In most countries, when you purchase a train ticket, it includes any reservation that may be required. Those that don't require reservations are usually first-come, first serve regional or local trains, and you stand until there's a seat available. In Germany, many of the high-speed trains don't require reservations, but are available if you wish to get them in addition. If you let us know your itinerary in more detail, we can let you know the international rail company websites where you can purchase these tickets in advance...and usually with good discounts if you can commit to dates and times.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
Even in the very unlikely event of a sold-out train, you rarely have to wait very long for the next train going in the same direction. With the exception of night trains, of course.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
It is extremely rare for a train in Italy to be sold out. I have never seen it but it might be possible on an unusual holiday. Second, trains are very frequent so even if a train was full, the next will not be. Third, you cannot have a worthless PTP ticket. (That concern I do not really understand). IF the train you are riding requires a reservation it will be included in the price of the ticket -- mostly the high speed trains. Most of the other trains do not have seat reservation, so just get a ticket, validate it, and get on and find a seat. So of these trains will offer a seat reservation for an extra fee. If you miss a train with a reservation you have about 90 mins to to a ticket office and exchange ticket for a new one. Assuming that it was not an advance,no-refund ticket.