I am travelling from Cochem to Koln on Monday, and then purchasing an Europa-Spezial ticket from Koln to Amsterdam and have a couple of questions.
Is there any reason I would need more than an hour between trains?
For the Europa-Spezial ticket for the journey to Amsterdam, there are two types: AP1, 38 Euro for 2 passengers, and AP26, 58 Euro. What is the difference?
What is the difference between a seat in the Centre aisle coach and a compartment? I would like to be able to see scenery.
Finally, the ticket from Cochem to Koln is about 58 Euro/2 passengers. Is there any way for a lower fare? Should I buy this ticket in advance?
Thank you!
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%26gt; For the Europa-Spezial ticket for the journey to Amsterdam, there are two types: AP1, 38 Euro for 2 passengers, and AP26, 58 Euro. What is the difference?
The price. There is a certain contingent of these tickets in a number of different price categories. The cheapest will sell out first of course.
%26gt; What is the difference between a seat in the Centre aisle coach and a compartment? I would like to be able to see scenery.
seat plan ICE-3
ice-fanpage.de/ice_service/sitzplaene_ice3_f…
compartment: e.g. car 26/36 seat 71-96
centre aisle: the majority
Best seats for sightseeing are in the lounges in the front/end cars. However you cannot book them directly online.
%26gt; Finally, the ticket from Cochem to Koln is about 58 Euro/2 passengers. Is there any way for a lower fare? Should I buy this ticket in advance?
regional trains
No need to buy normal price tickets in advance. You can buy same for the same price on spot.
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Thanks Abalada - I really appreciate your expertise!
Today I am purchasing the tickets and realized I have a technical question.
Perhaps it is the same in Germany, but in the US, we have credit cards (with interest rates, etc), and also have plastic VISA debit cards. A debit card pulls money directly out of a bank account, and has a VISA logo on it. Debit cards are accepeted by almost any retailer that accepts credit cards. However, for some travel purposes, like hotel room bookings, US retailers will only accept credit cards - not debit cards.
Is there such a distinction in Germany and does it matter whether you technically book with a debit card or credit card? I was planning to purchase my train tickets with my debit card, but I know I need to have it available when I use the ticket . I guess I have the same question with other train systems, as I%26#39;ll be purchasing tickets online (thanks to your suggestion!) with Thalys also.
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What in Germany runs under credit card are actually nearly always debit cards. The bills are summarizes and withdrawn once a month directly from your account.
Than there are the MAESTRO bank cards, often also referred as EC-cards (their predecessor). Here each bill is withdrawn directly from your account.
Preference is on the latter. Credit cards are not liked by German shop owners for the high fees they have to pay. If a customer pays by Maestro the fees are lower.
However if a shop, hotel or railway company say they will accept credit cards this includes also the debit cards of the same card organisation. The online sites and most shops verify the cards electronically. As long the credit card organisation is acknowledging a card in this process, they will accept it. No difference if it is a credit or debit card.
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Dear buffkids,
When you use your debit card in Europe, it is treated as a credit card by the shopkeeper, but your money is still automatically deducted from your account like the debit card. When your debit card is used as a credit card, then you do not need to enter your pin number. The Visa or Mastercard symbol on your card allows you to use the card in this way.
Take note - there will be a 3% international transaction fee on all purchases made in a currency other than U.S. Dollars. My advice is to withdraw cash from an ATM (paying 1% or 2% fee from the German bank and determin what your bank will charge you) and pay in cash. Train ticket machines take cash as well as credit cards.
For example, I used an ATM card from a credit union that did not charge me a fee for using a foreign ATM. So, I only paid the 1% fee to withdraw money. This might not seem like a lot, but after your trip, an additional 3% can really add up.
Regarding your trip from Cochem to Koeln, if you are traveling on the weekend, get a Schoeneswochenende ticket for 33 Euros. This allows you and 4 other people to travel together anywhere in Germany on Regional Trains. They are a little bit slower, but it also allows you more time to take in the view.
And - if you have a bit of time, on your way, stop off at Moselkern and hike the 1 hour walk to Burg Eltz. It is fantastic!
http://www.burg-eltz.de/e_index.html
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I keep thinking I won%26#39;t have more questions, but I do!
I have read on Bahn.de that the purchased %26quot;the online ticket is only valid for you personally in conjunction with your means of identification%26quot;
Am I able to buy two tickets in a single purchase; one for me and one for my husband, with my credit card in my name? or does he need to go through the process himself and purchase his own ticket with his own credit card.
Also, I think I am at the point of entering the credit card information. The option for credit card has two fields to complete. I expected to enter %26quot;account number%26quot; or %26quot;credti card number%26quot; but it asks for Online Ticket ID number, instead. Is this where I enter my credit card number?
Thansk!
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%26gt; Am I able to buy two tickets in a single purchase; one for me and one for my husband, with my credit card in my name?
No. That%26#39;s a bad idea.
Buy ONE ticket for TWO persons.
If you buy seperate tickets you exclude yourself from some types of discounts (if available). And if you buy a seat reservation with a ticket, the system will only book 2 seats next to each other if both persons are on the same ticket.
%26gt; The option for credit card has two fields to complete. I expected to enter %26quot;account number%26quot; or %26quot;credti card number%26quot; but it asks for Online Ticket ID number, instead. Is this where I enter my credit card number?
Now it get%26#39;s a bit complicated.
There are 3 types of possible %26quot;means of identification%26quot;
a) BahnCard (a DB discount card) - you won%26#39;t have
b) credit card
c) EC-card aka Maestro card of a German bank - you won%26#39;t have
Thus only option b) is left for you
Independent from this is the mode of payment.
You could use your credit card %26quot;A%26quot; as identification and use your credit card %26quot;B%26quot; to pay for the ticket. Import is that you can present credit card %26quot;A%26quot; to the conductor together with the Online-Ticket.
If you use the same credit card for identification and payment this means you have to give the credit card number (once as Online Ticket ID number) and expiring date of the card twice into the form.
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