Frankfurt
 

I'm travelling to FRA next week for six days. I need to be in Cologne but the hotels are very, very full. Some rooms are available but at exorbitant rates.

I just wonder if I am better off staying near Frankfurt airport and commuting back and forth on days 2,3,4,5. Maybe day 6 also.

I understand the high speed ICE trains take about 60 minutes to get to Cologne.

What do you think?

And one more thing...about ticket cost. There are 3 of us. Can we buy Four day or Five day pass at discounted prices?

Have you looked at places that are closer to Cologne?

There is no reason you can't take a train from Frankfurt, but I'm sure there must be places nearer to Cologne where you could stay, and cut down on both travel costs and travel times.

I would second Aviatrix. Düsseldorf comes to my mind (which gives you a good choice for the evening as well) as well as many other places outside Cologne.

Unfortunately Cologne hotels are very full. DUS is same. Day 1 and 2 are free so we could spend time in, around Frankfurt. Days 3,4,5,6 are for business in Cologne.
Any tips on train tickets?

The only way you can get reasonably affordable tickets on a high-speed train is to buy an advance purchase saver ticket (which ties you to a specific train).

It's an awful long way to go. Have you tried looking at smaller places along the Rhine (or elsewhere, for that matter)?

You can look up the connection and prices of tickets at the webpage of German Railways (DB Bahn).

Other Options for cheaper and closer lodging might be (in random order):

Netherlands and Belgium are with Germany in the Schengen Area. Therefore there are no border controls to be expected. And we share the same currency as well. No hassling around with different money as well.

Try Bonn or Königswinter.

That's what I used to do during trade shows. Stay somewhere in Bonn, rent a car and go back and forth. Definitely easier and quicker than from FRA.

Thank you everyone. With short time, I had to choose FRA hotel but in city centre. I also bought DB tickets in first class for Euro205 approx for a whole week. That ticket is only available on DB's Deutsch website, not the English one. Travel time on the express ICE service is around 64 min.