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Make the most out of your rail travel in Germany
Jun 15, 2010, 1:41 pm
#121
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: BOS
Programs: AA ExecPlat, SPG Plat, HH Gold
Posts: 255
interessierterlaie, thanks for your helpful reply! I arrived in koeln today and getting the kundenkarte/wochenticket was as simple as going to the DB office in the station - no ID or german passport required.
Jun 16, 2010, 7:22 am
#122
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Germany
Programs: M&M, EB
Posts: 61
Good to here that it was that easy. 
But now to something completely different.
Most Online tickets are now also available as MMS. The conductor will scan the barcode from the display of your mobile phone. Of course you need an account at bahn.de first.
But now to something completely different.
Most Online tickets are now also available as MMS. The conductor will scan the barcode from the display of your mobile phone. Of course you need an account at bahn.de first.
Jun 16, 2010, 12:09 pm
#123
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: BRU
Programs: LH SEN, SN Gold, Eurostar Carte Blanche, BA, QF, AF
Posts: 6,856
Jun 24, 2010, 5:34 pm
#125
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Toronto
Posts: 152
Zurich to Munich / Munich to Frankfurt
I have been on the DB site looking at various options for travel in September.
As I have only used SBahn svcs before I could use some advice.
Pros and cons of taking trips w/ connections vs direct? (ZRH to Munich)
Ease of transit from Munich To FRA as opposed to going into city and then back to airport?
1st vs 2nd class?
Thanks for any advice.
As I have only used SBahn svcs before I could use some advice.
Pros and cons of taking trips w/ connections vs direct? (ZRH to Munich)
Ease of transit from Munich To FRA as opposed to going into city and then back to airport?
1st vs 2nd class?
Thanks for any advice.
Jun 26, 2010, 5:52 am
#126
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: NW OH
Programs: DL PM/KM, AC *G, AS MVP-100K
Posts: 830
Very easy using the ICE, either direct via Nürnberg, direct via Mannheim, or with a same-platform change in Mannheim. The airport (Flughafen) stop is after the city (Hbf) stop, for the trains that stop at both, and there is no need to change trains at the Hbf.
Last edited by SkyBuck; Jun 28, 2010 at 11:45 pm Reason: correction and clarification
Jun 27, 2010, 11:16 pm
#127
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Europe
Posts: 1,592
Not true - on the direct trains (which leave Munich at xx-55), Frankfurt Flughafen is the stop after Frankfurt Hbf.
Jun 28, 2010, 11:46 pm
#128
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: NW OH
Programs: DL PM/KM, AC *G, AS MVP-100K
Posts: 830
Jul 4, 2010, 8:28 am
#129
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Germany
Programs: M&M, EB
Posts: 61
Sommer Spezial
Selected routes on IC/EC trains (2nd class) for 19€ one-way.
http://www.bahn.de/p/view/angebot/ak...rspezial.shtml
Bookable: July 1st - September 30th 2010
Travel: July 04th - October 31st 2010
Offer comes with the usual limitations:
No changes
No refund
Valid only on booked train
while stocks last
etc.
Selected routes on IC/EC trains (2nd class) for 19€ one-way.
http://www.bahn.de/p/view/angebot/ak...rspezial.shtml
Bookable: July 1st - September 30th 2010
Travel: July 04th - October 31st 2010
Offer comes with the usual limitations:
No changes
No refund
Valid only on booked train
while stocks last
etc.
Aug 2, 2010, 7:27 am
#131
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Capetown
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Plat, IHG and Hilton Diamond, LH SEN, BA Gold
Posts: 10,175
Aug 5, 2010, 2:11 pm
#132
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 39
Sommer SpezialSelected routes on IC/EC trains (2nd class) for 19€ one-way.
http://www.bahn.de/p/view/angebot/ak...rspezial.shtml
Bookable: July 1st - September 30th 2010
Travel: July 04th - October 31st 2010
Offer comes with the usual limitations:
No changes
No refund
Valid only on booked train
while stocks last
etc.
Last edited by arietal; Aug 19, 2010 at 12:08 pm
Sep 18, 2010, 9:27 pm
#133
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: Accor Platinum, Marriott
Posts: 175
Flying Lawyer,
Thanks for all of this train information. I will be in Gemany in December and intend to use the rail network quite a lot. On arrival I will be taking the train from Frankfurt airport to Berlin. I note that you say "For services to Berlin you have to change either at Frankfurt Central, at Hannover or at Leipzig."
Which of these options is preferable? (in terms of convenience).
Also, as I will have about 2.5 hours between flight arrival and train departure does anyone know whether it is possible to purchase a German sim card either at the airport or in the station?
Thanks for any advice.
Pierre48
Thanks for all of this train information. I will be in Gemany in December and intend to use the rail network quite a lot. On arrival I will be taking the train from Frankfurt airport to Berlin. I note that you say "For services to Berlin you have to change either at Frankfurt Central, at Hannover or at Leipzig."
Which of these options is preferable? (in terms of convenience).
Also, as I will have about 2.5 hours between flight arrival and train departure does anyone know whether it is possible to purchase a German sim card either at the airport or in the station?
Thanks for any advice.
Pierre48
Sep 19, 2010, 11:38 am
#134
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Programs: Mucci, BA silver
Posts: 562
They are probably equally convenient. At every of those stations you get of the train, switch platforms and enter the next train. It's more a matter of ticket and connection rather than station.
Do you travel first class or second class? If you travel first class, Frankfurt Central is the only station (of those three) that has a dedicated first class lounge with free non-alcoholic beverages, wine, beer, and sparkling wine. You can also have a little snack. The other three stations with a first class lounge are Berlin, Hamburg and Munich.
Not commonly known: When traveling first class you can visit the lounge in Berlin on your arrival, too.
What type of ticket do you have? If you have a ticket that is linked to a specific train (Zugbindung), it's probably easier to connect through Frankfurt Central, because if needed you can always take an inexpensive regional train to get there should the train in Frankfurt airport be delayed. If you miss a connecting train due to a delay, you are allowed to take the next train. But that's still stressing. With a flexible ticket that obviously doesn't matter.
I would base my decision on the schedule rather the station, minimizing the number of times I have to switch trains if there are several similar connections available and taking ICE, IC, EC, RE in this order of preference.
Regarding SIM cards: I don't know if there are any shops at the airport that sell SIM cards.
You can, however, order a SIM card and have it ship to a German address such as the place where you are staying in Berlin. http://www.fonic.de offers inexpensive prepaid SIM cards. You probably need someone with a German bank account, though, to deduct an initial 19.99 Euro purchase. There are other companies, as well, but I don't know which one requires an ID check.
If you want to purchase a SIM card in a shop, your bets are higher around Frankfurt Central than Frankfurt Airport.
Do you travel first class or second class? If you travel first class, Frankfurt Central is the only station (of those three) that has a dedicated first class lounge with free non-alcoholic beverages, wine, beer, and sparkling wine. You can also have a little snack. The other three stations with a first class lounge are Berlin, Hamburg and Munich.
Not commonly known: When traveling first class you can visit the lounge in Berlin on your arrival, too.
What type of ticket do you have? If you have a ticket that is linked to a specific train (Zugbindung), it's probably easier to connect through Frankfurt Central, because if needed you can always take an inexpensive regional train to get there should the train in Frankfurt airport be delayed. If you miss a connecting train due to a delay, you are allowed to take the next train. But that's still stressing. With a flexible ticket that obviously doesn't matter.
I would base my decision on the schedule rather the station, minimizing the number of times I have to switch trains if there are several similar connections available and taking ICE, IC, EC, RE in this order of preference.
Regarding SIM cards: I don't know if there are any shops at the airport that sell SIM cards.
You can, however, order a SIM card and have it ship to a German address such as the place where you are staying in Berlin. http://www.fonic.de offers inexpensive prepaid SIM cards. You probably need someone with a German bank account, though, to deduct an initial 19.99 Euro purchase. There are other companies, as well, but I don't know which one requires an ID check.
If you want to purchase a SIM card in a shop, your bets are higher around Frankfurt Central than Frankfurt Airport.
Sep 19, 2010, 6:39 pm
#135
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: Accor Platinum, Marriott
Posts: 175
HAM76,
Thanks for all that information. I will probably travel first class as the fares seem quite inexpensive when purchased well in advance. Also, thanks for the tip about Frankfurt Central. I will take that option. I presume that this station must be selected in the "via" box on the Bahn website when ordering the tickets.
Thanks for all that information. I will probably travel first class as the fares seem quite inexpensive when purchased well in advance. Also, thanks for the tip about Frankfurt Central. I will take that option. I presume that this station must be selected in the "via" box on the Bahn website when ordering the tickets.