We purchased a 5 day East Europe pass which does NOT include Germany. The first train we will take originates in Munich German ends in Vienna. (We purchased separate ticket for the German portion.) The pass instructions state that you must validate before boarding the first train. How can we validate in a country that is not included in the pass? Will they validate on the train after we pass the border into Austria?
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19104 posts
First, I've never tried it, but I suspect you can validate a rail pass in any Eurail participating country, so probably ask at the station in the Munich airport. Second, the Eurail website says this, "When you travel by train from a non-Eurail country, it is possible to have your pass validated onboard by train staff once you enter Eurail territory". Germany is not a "non-Eurail country", but the staff should know how to validate it.
Posted by
Oak Park, Illinois
4535 posts
You would validate it in Munich BEFORE you board the train. Do not try boarding the train without it validated or the Austrians will probably fine you.
Posted by
Paradise
6663 posts
I've had German railpasses validated at a Belgian ticket counter. The Austrians don't care about whether your pass is validated prior to or during the German portion of your trip as long as it's validated once you start traveling in Austria with it. If you have it validated on the way to Austria by a train conductor in Germany, that works just as well as at a ticket window in Germany. I understand there is sometimes a fee for validation on trains though - not sure that this applies in Germany or not.
Posted by
San Francisco
14561 posts
Hi, From my experience in using Passes, I know that in the Reisezentrum in Munich Hbf. is a EurAide office. You can inquire there about validation. My guess is that having them validate it is no problem.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19104 posts
The Euraide office in Munich is near the Reisezentrum, but it is not the same thing. The Reisezentrum is run by the Bahn; Euraide is a private US company. The Reisezentrum is right inside the station from the open shed and track area and is well signed. The Euraide office is in the next hallway, around the corner from the Reisezentrum. The people at the counter in the Reisezentrum usually speak English. Here is a layout of the Munich Haubtbahnhof. The Reisezentrum is red. The Euraide office is the gray area in the Nördlicher Quergang. I'm sure Euraide can validate your pass, but if you didn't buy it from them, they will be doing you a favor. If you bought a separate ticket for the German portion, it is probably to Salzburg. You can stop in Salzburg and have your ticket validate at the Hbf there.