Advice traveling within Europe
Apr 14, 2011, 12:32 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: AMS
Programs: Flying Blue Gold
Posts: 1,849
As you've posted in the rail travel section, I assume your primary interest is going by train.
Best to make a start with www.seat61.com for an overview of European rail companies and recommended routes as well as www.bahn.com/i/view/index.shtml for continent wide timetables.
Best to make a start with www.seat61.com for an overview of European rail companies and recommended routes as well as www.bahn.com/i/view/index.shtml for continent wide timetables.
Apr 14, 2011, 1:43 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 6
Adventure- the seven days will cover Amsterdam, Zurich and Frankfurt. I will be in Paris for a couple of days while Im working so Ill be able to check the city out during that time.
I am thinking of trains but would flying be better?
I am thinking of trains but would flying be better?
Apr 14, 2011, 2:10 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 948
Are you going to Zurich and Frankfurt on business? If not, why did you pick those cities? I'd rather spend my time in the area between Paris and Amsterdam. Tons to see and do there without trying to get all over the continent in a week.
Apr 14, 2011, 4:00 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 6
there are some clubs I wanted to check out in zurich and frankfurt
Apr 14, 2011, 5:04 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Dalat, Vietnam
Programs: Vietnam, Asiana, Singapore, EVA, Southwest
Posts: 934
I think the consensus here is that Paris and Amsterdam are two of the most fascinating cities in Europe, and Zurich and Frankfurt are dead boring! Suit yourself, but I do like train travel within Europe over flying since there's no need for lengthy trips from city center to an airport. The other factor is that doing all of these cities in only 7 days does not really allow for much of anything in depth. Spend the least amount of time in Frankfurt!
Apr 14, 2011, 6:23 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: PEK
Programs: A3*G, UA Gold EY Silver
Posts: 8,954
I would also skip Frankfurt on this trip. As far as travelling between Paris and Amsterdam, the train's a no-brainer. As for other destinations, check on Bahn's website what the travel time is. Then decide if it's worth an overnight train ride or if it's better to fly.
Apr 15, 2011, 2:40 am
#9
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Europe
Posts: 1,589
On the other hand, if the OP definitely wants to visit Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Zurich, Frankfurt is a convenient mid-way stopping off point between the other two cities.
Journey time Amsterdam - Frankfurt and Frankfurt - Zurich is only about 4 hours (for each leg) on direct trains; and you should be able to get some decent savings fares on the DB website.
Journey time Amsterdam - Frankfurt and Frankfurt - Zurich is only about 4 hours (for each leg) on direct trains; and you should be able to get some decent savings fares on the DB website.
Apr 15, 2011, 8:13 am
#10
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 948
On the other hand, if the OP definitely wants to visit Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Zurich, Frankfurt is a convenient mid-way stopping off point between the other two cities.
Journey time Amsterdam - Frankfurt and Frankfurt - Zurich is only about 4 hours (for each leg) on direct trains; and you should be able to get some decent savings fares on the DB website.
Journey time Amsterdam - Frankfurt and Frankfurt - Zurich is only about 4 hours (for each leg) on direct trains; and you should be able to get some decent savings fares on the DB website.
Apr 15, 2011, 9:11 am
#11
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Amsterdam
Programs: KLM, Thalys
Posts: 308
On the other hand, if the OP definitely wants to visit Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Zurich, Frankfurt is a convenient mid-way stopping off point between the other two cities.
Journey time Amsterdam - Frankfurt and Frankfurt - Zurich is only about 4 hours (for each leg) on direct trains; and you should be able to get some decent savings fares on the DB website.
Journey time Amsterdam - Frankfurt and Frankfurt - Zurich is only about 4 hours (for each leg) on direct trains; and you should be able to get some decent savings fares on the DB website.
Apr 15, 2011, 9:50 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 6
thanks for everyones advice. Yes I am specifically looking to visit each of those areas. Let me try to be more clear.
Business meetings on june 28th in paris. Would like to be there by the 27th to prepare. I can leave LAX as early as june 23rd. company will fly me into paris and I can leave from wherever I want. If I arrive in paris on 24th I will have hotel covered until the 28th so I figure I will start my trip in paris. From paris I can then travel to each of my destinations.
Business meetings on june 28th in paris. Would like to be there by the 27th to prepare. I can leave LAX as early as june 23rd. company will fly me into paris and I can leave from wherever I want. If I arrive in paris on 24th I will have hotel covered until the 28th so I figure I will start my trip in paris. From paris I can then travel to each of my destinations.
Apr 16, 2011, 10:49 am
#13
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 24
However you travel (train or plane), book your tickets online as early as possible, you will save a lot!
For Paris-Amsterdam and Paris-Frankfurt (or vice versa), check www.voyages-sncf.com (from 35 and 39 euro respectively).
For Amsterdam-Frankfurt, check www.nshighspeed.nl and www.bahn.de
For Frankfurt-Zurich, check www.bahn.de and Swiss Railways at: https://www.sbb.ch/mct/wi/shop/b2c/tree.do?key=30 (choose the major cities option).
Both are available from 39 euro in advance.
Zurich is out of your way, and if you book a through ticket from there to either Paris or Amsterdam (or vice versa), it will be rather expensive (77 euro). Instead, you may consider buying separate tickets, connecting in Strasbourg (and it's definitely worth stopping there for a couple of hours!): one from the SBB website above (to Strasbourg) and the other on the SNCF website to Paris. If the SBB does not give you a convenient inexpensive connection to Strasbourg, instead buy a 19 euro ticket from Zurich to Kehl (last town in Germany, just before Strasbourg) on the DB website and go via Germany.
You may also consider flying between Basel and Amsterdam on easyJet, or using the night train for this route, having booked it on the DB website (the train starts/ends in Zurich, yet it's much cheaper to use it from Basel, if you book online!).
For Paris-Amsterdam and Paris-Frankfurt (or vice versa), check www.voyages-sncf.com (from 35 and 39 euro respectively).
For Amsterdam-Frankfurt, check www.nshighspeed.nl and www.bahn.de
For Frankfurt-Zurich, check www.bahn.de and Swiss Railways at: https://www.sbb.ch/mct/wi/shop/b2c/tree.do?key=30 (choose the major cities option).
Both are available from 39 euro in advance.
Zurich is out of your way, and if you book a through ticket from there to either Paris or Amsterdam (or vice versa), it will be rather expensive (77 euro). Instead, you may consider buying separate tickets, connecting in Strasbourg (and it's definitely worth stopping there for a couple of hours!): one from the SBB website above (to Strasbourg) and the other on the SNCF website to Paris. If the SBB does not give you a convenient inexpensive connection to Strasbourg, instead buy a 19 euro ticket from Zurich to Kehl (last town in Germany, just before Strasbourg) on the DB website and go via Germany.
You may also consider flying between Basel and Amsterdam on easyJet, or using the night train for this route, having booked it on the DB website (the train starts/ends in Zurich, yet it's much cheaper to use it from Basel, if you book online!).
Last edited by nofrills; Apr 17, 2011 at 7:04 am
Apr 16, 2011, 5:47 pm
#15
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: New York
Posts: 1,257
There's also a streetcar (line 2 - should take 9 minutes).
Last edited by Track; Apr 16, 2011 at 5:58 pm