Rail Pass

We%26#39;re flying into FRA mid-Dec to visit Christmas markets and small towns around Nuremberg, Munich, Rothenberg, Black Forest area etc. We%26#39;re considering taking the train from place to place. Any suggestions on purchasing a rail pass for 8-9 days versus individual rail tickets for each segment? We%26#39;re not young travelers anymore and would like to have 1st class option and to try high speed trains when possible.

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All German states including Baden-Wuerttemberg ( www.tourismus-bw.de ) and Bavaria have Lander tickets allowing a group of 2-5 people to travel by train for a day within the state and also a few nearby places outside the state. Tickets are typically 28-30€ and allow the use of all local public transportation (buses, trams, U-bahns, S-bahns) within that state. The tickets are valid from 9AM to 3AM the next day on weekdays, and from midnight to 3AM the next day on Saturdays and Sundays. Excluded from use are the fast ICs, ECs and ICEs. There is also the Schönes Wochende ticket on weekends which has similar restrictions, but is valid for all of Germany but local transportation may or may not be included. www.bahn.de

Therefore, going to or from Frankfurt would be the best time to ride the higher speed ICE trains.

In and around major cities there is excellent public transportation, and the local transportation network%26#39;s group day pass will be the cheapest travel option.

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%26gt; would like to have 1st class option and to try high speed trains when possible.

In this case a rail pass maybe indeed the best option. The Länder-Tickets marcopolko suggested are only available for 2nd class and cover only regional trains.

bahn.de/international/…german_rail_pass.shtml

However you need the pass only for the longer trips.

If a route is served by regional trains only and is inside the same state it makes no sense to waste a rail pass day on this. E.g. Nuremberg to Rothenburg. A 24 hour ticket for this route is EUR 14,20 for 1-6 persons, albeit only 2 of them must be older than 18 years. And such a local transport ticket has the additional advantage that it covers also the U-Bahn (metro), trams and buses in Nuremberg.

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I have often purchased a 3-day Germanrail pass for my long distance days and/or on the same day that I wish to use the K-D boats to travel the Rhein Gorge (between Bacharach and Oberwesel for example). I combine this with a 2-nd class ticket for a local train in the immediate area. For two, then a Laender ticket for the day would be used.

The high speed trains are fantastic and extremely comfortable and usually uncrowded in 1st class. The Alpenstrasse is one ICE with a route to/from Koblenz on the Rhein, stopping in places like Nuremberg on its way to Munich, if I recall correctly.

Based on your itinerary, perhaps the German rail pass could be used for 1st class, Munich-Rothenburg, or Munich-Freiburg (Black Forest) depending on your schedule, then completing the day%26#39;s use of the pass to get to whatever small village you wish to stay in.

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Google %26quot;Rick Steves%26quot; to get to his website for a good summary of German rail passes.

The First Class passes cost about 50% more than the Standard or Second Class. I don%26#39;t think the extra cost is worth it. Second Class is very comfortable, especially when compared to an airplane or bus. For the longer distance journeys (say over two hours) buy a reservation to insure that you have a seat. And spend the difference between First and Second Class on a nice meal at your destination.

If you are a couple travelling together, check out the Twin Passes for extra savings.

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