Author Topic: How to purchase European train tickets (Read 4289 times)

Drago · « **on:** November 25, 2012, 03:29:13 PM »

I'm looking to buy train tickets from Vienna to Salzburg r-t for one day in mid-December.

Few questions:
-Do infants need a paying fare?
-Is it advisable to wait till it's closer to the date, or to buy it in advance?
-Are the tickets cancellable?
-I'm seeing around 160 euro in second class for the 3 of us (2 adults, 1 infant). Seems high to me for a 2.5 hr ride. Thoughts?
-For such a short trip, any reason to think second class wouldn't be any good? (When I took second class in the past, it was an overnight and wasn't a nice experience.) Worth 15 euro for an upgrade one way to first class?
-Any better web sites to search? Perhaps European ones?
+
Thanks all

Centurion · « **Reply #1 on:** November 25, 2012, 03:34:41 PM »

whatever you do DO NOT purchase on board..

Finckmyster · « **Reply #2 on:** November 25, 2012, 06:26:40 PM »

I Used RailEurope twice to by Euro Tickets

http://www.raileurope.com/european-trains/eurostar/how-to-book.html?WT.mc_id=google.Eurostar+Sitelinks.cpc&WT.term=eurostar+ticket&WT.campaign=2177&WT.source=google&WT.medium=cpc&WT.content=609089567&gclid=CNfZmoqi67MCFQf0nAodkWIA-Q&WT.srch=1&cshift_ck=8F0A1EF7-4538-488D-8DDD-13689FC04756csCE9vxQ1K

Call and they will answer all your questions. I would recommend them for Europe train tickets

eli1571 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 26, 2012, 11:15:27 AM »

try deutche bahn,
hinterglemm ??

Drago · « **Reply #4 on:** November 26, 2012, 01:28:44 PM »

Quote from: Finckmyster on November 25, 2012, 06:26:40 PM

I Used RailEurope twice to by Euro Tickets

http://www.raileurope.com/european-trains/eurostar/how-to-book.html?WT.mc_id=google.Eurostar+Sitelinks.cpc&WT.term=eurostar+ticket&WT.campaign=2177&WT.source=google&WT.medium=cpc&WT.content=609089567&gclid=CNfZmoqi67MCFQf0nAodkWIA-Q&WT.srch=1&cshift_ck=8F0A1EF7-4538-488D-8DDD-13689FC04756csCE9vxQ1K

Call and they will answer all your questions. I would recommend them for Europe train tickets

Is that the actual train company, or is it an agent?

Finckmyster · « **Reply #5 on:** November 26, 2012, 11:47:35 PM »

Quote from: Drago on November 26, 2012, 01:28:44 PM

Is that the actual train company, or is it an agent?

Agent.

eli1571 · « **Reply #6 on:** November 28, 2012, 12:56:51 PM »

db is the actual company u can also try nmbs.
look them up online.

danz · « **Reply #7 on:** November 28, 2012, 01:45:31 PM »

try http://www.oebb.at/en/index.jsp

Drago · « **Reply #8 on:** December 12, 2012, 03:33:12 PM »

Quote from: danz on November 28, 2012, 01:45:31 PM

try http://www.oebb.at/en/index.jsp

Thanks!
Just booked 2 tix for 86 euro, down from the 140 euro I saw when I first checked.

Drago · « **Reply #9 on:** August 21, 2013, 11:12:56 AM »

This is kinda cool.
If you transit Germany, you can buy a train pass that'll give you kids for free.
http://first2board.com/thedealmommy/traveling-through-europe-with-kids-15-or-under-use-this-trick-to-get-all-of-them-around-for-free/

Dan · « **Reply #10 on:** August 21, 2013, 11:40:42 AM »

Quote from: Drago on August 21, 2013, 11:12:56 AM

If you transit Germany, you can buy a train pass that'll give you kids for free.

No thanks, they may give you kids for free but you can't fool me. Those things cost $$$$$$$ in the long run.

Drago · « **Reply #11 on:** August 21, 2013, 12:06:22 PM »

Quote from: Dan on August 21, 2013, 11:40:42 AM

No thanks, they may give you kids for free but you can't fool me. Those things cost $$$$$$$ in the long run.

What do you mean? Incidentals? Or train rides in general?

@Yehuda · « **Reply #12 on:** May 08, 2014, 10:55:24 AM »

RailEurope-world.com (which a Rail Europe chat rep told me is not an affiliated site) wants to charge a 16 euro booking fee. Any idea if that fee is waived if I just buy at the station?

@Yehuda · « **Reply #13 on:** May 08, 2014, 11:00:44 AM »

I really should just be asking, is there anyway to book a train before leaving US w/o paying online booking fees?

mendoul · « **Reply #14 on:** May 08, 2014, 11:15:28 AM »

Voyagesncf.fr

Thalys

Tgv

Eurostar

ad120 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 08, 2014, 12:09:56 PM »

buy tickets from the train company of the country you are traveling in advance. I didn't and it cost me. However if you are traveling between 2 countries i.e. Italy to Switzerland, cross refrence as Trenitalia is cheaper then the Swiss company.

@Yehuda · « **Reply #16 on:** May 08, 2014, 01:14:20 PM »

Sorry I should have clarified. This is within Spain and the train I want is the high-speed AVE train run by Renfe. I tried checking Renfe's website, but they say there's no train for that route, at least on the day I need. But on other sites like RailEurope, there are trains that day...

SRM · « **Reply #17 on:** May 08, 2014, 02:48:14 PM »

I've never been on a train in Europe and was wondering how strict they are with passenger names on tickets. More precisely I want to book all the seats in an overnight cabin but one of the seats will remain empty, will they give me trouble for having a ticket that technically doesn't belong to a person?

@Yehuda · « **Reply #18 on:** May 08, 2014, 04:26:37 PM »

FYI, I got Renfe to work and booked RT tickets Madrid-Toledo for 20.30 eur pax w/ no fees.

Read about it here: http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=850.msg809308#msg809308

ad120 · « **Reply #19 on:** May 09, 2014, 12:58:06 AM »

Quote from: SRM on May 08, 2014, 02:48:14 PM

I've never been on a train in Europe and was wondering how strict they are with passenger names on tickets. More precisely I want to book all the seats in an overnight cabin but one of the seats will remain empty, will they give me trouble for having a ticket that technically doesn't belong to a person?

never got ID'ed on trenitalia. and Lugano>Milan>Venice wasn't even asked for a ticket.
However I wouldn't advise traveling without one.