thinking of taking urlaubs-express night train from Salzburg or Munich Ost to Hamburg this summer. Timing works well for us. Family of 5, so we would need to do a 4 person couchette and husband in a single bunk in another 4 person couchette. Looking for reviews. We would not have a car. We prefer a night train.
Posted by
Augsburg, Bavaria
2342 posts
You might want to compare prices with those of the regular ÖBB nightjet (going from Linz to Hamburg). A dummy booking for a random date in june for a coucette compartment shows a price of €365 for the UEX and of €219 for the ÖBB NJ ("Sparpreis Europa", book asap). Travel time from Salzburg to Linz is one hour (no extra cost): Salzburg dep. 22:12, Linz arr. 22:14; Linz dep. 22:33, Hamburg arr. 8:44.
[EDIT: reviews of the UEX on tripadvisor are rather critical: https://www.tripadvisor.de/ShowTopic-g1-i11063-k10765504-Autoreisezug-Train_Travel.html]
Posted by
Green Bay
20199 posts
You could be a big happy family with a 6-person couchette on the NightJet, by paying for the 6th bunk. Over 5 puts you into the group discount territory, so may not be that much more.
Posted by
Augsburg, Bavaria
2342 posts
You could be a big happy family with a 6-person couchette on the NightJet, by paying for the 6th bunk.
On the NJ, you can book a family compartment at a global price. Minimum occupancy is 2 adults + 1 kid. With 5 travellers the difference to the price of 6 single bunks will be neglegible.
Posted by
OP
washington, dc
389 posts
thanks for replies. For July 2 travel, couchette for 5 in 6 person cabin (not even booking the 6th person) is over 400 euros. Plus, oebb.at is not giving showing me a ticket from Salzburg -Linz-Hamburg on the NJ. Only from Linz with 9 euros each to Linz adding another $50. We might just take the day train and get a good night's sleep, esp. if we take the other NJ 5 days earlier from Italy.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16894 posts
There's no direct NightJet to Hamburg from either Salzburg or Munich. From Salzburg, you can connect at Linz at 22:15 or Wels at 22:30 (NightJet originating in Vienna) or from Munich you can connect at Mannheim at midnight (NightJet originating in Zurich). If using a flexi style of rail pass, either of these connections would use parts of 2 travel days.
Posted by
Washington DC
27197 posts
I highly recommend the hotel + day-train option. There's just no comparison in how you'll feel the next day.
Posted by
San Francisco
14548 posts
@ elaine...If you want the night train connecting Munich to Hamburg, I believe you mean dep Munich Hbf (central station ), NOT Munich Ost. I've taken that route a few times.
"We prefer a night train." The locals you encounter (and they are indeed all locals) are just ordinary folks....no concerns on safety, etc. If they can do it, so can you. I don't use the couchette option, which do sell out. I have 3 night train rides planned this time to maximize trip days.