I looked on the Slovenia train website (this one: http://www.slo-zeleznice.si/en/passenger-transport/tickets-and-discounts )
and it does not appear they sell the international tickets. So I assume I should buy this from OeBB?
Posted by
Pacific Northwest
2679 posts
When I did that route, I bought from the OeBB website. We bought a single transfer ticket - 30 minutes to transfer in Maribor. It was a spectacularly pretty ride.
Posted by
OP
Seattle, WA
17429 posts
Thanks, Valerie. Good to know it is a scenic trip as it takes around 6 hours. We have a choice of transferring in Maribor or Villach. Is one preferred over the other? The Villach route has a better (more leisurely) departure time.
Posted by
Pacific Northwest
2679 posts
I think I picked Maribor for the single connection and reasonable departure time. I didn't want to change trains numerous times. This was in 2012 though so the schedules look pretty different now when I just looked over the April travel dates. I see only one single stop train...leaving in the afternoon and getting to Vienna around 8...is that what you see?
Posted by
OP
Seattle, WA
17429 posts
Looking on bahn.de for September, I see two reasonable morning departures, each with a single change. The 8:05 goes via Maribor, and arrives in Vienna at 14:02. The 9:23 goes via Villach, taking slightly longer with lots of stops in Austria, arriving in Vienna at 15:35. With four of us traveling ( two adult couples) I tend to favor the later train, just to allow more time for breakfast, checkout, etc. although we have traveled enough with my sister and her husband to know that they are good at early morning departures---better than we are. (I insist on eating breakfast; my sister is happy to skip it and have an early lunch).
The trains are not available for purchase yet, so I will see how they are priced when available. That may determine our choice.