Where to purchase overnight train reservations for Frankfurt to Prague
I am going from the Rhine Valley in Germany to Prague on my vacation in December and am wanting to take the overnight train from Frankfurt to Prague. I am still debating if I need the railpass for the whole vacation (9 days - 4 in Rhine and 4 in Prague with one day travel) but I am wondering if anybody has a good company to purchase the train tickets in advance.
In 2009 I did this for my tripo through Germany, Austria, and Italy, where I bought the railpass and the reservations with the same company, but I do not remember who I used. It was very convenient and painless.
Any advice on this is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Bob
Robert
Tarentum, PA USA 11/8/12
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If the only train you will take is the CNL night train that leaves Frankfurt at 00:54 and arrives in Prague at 10:29, then you certainly don't need a railpass. If you book your ticket today on the German Rail site, you still should be able to get a discount fare.
I will be using the train for all of my travel needs for the 9 days. In Prague, I don't expect to use it often, if at all, but in the Rhine Valley area, I will be travelling from town to town, and don't have an exact itinerary. I suspect that I will not need the railpass, but I do see that there is a discount for the sleeper if you have one... So without actually doing the math, I suspect that it will be at least reasonable to think about the pass.
Are you familiar with Laender tickets? They provide unlimited rides all day long in a Land (state) in Germany. You are limited to regional trains and cannot depart until after 09:00 on weekdays (anytime on weekends).
Nordrhein-Westfalen has the Schoerer Tag Ticket NRW for €27.
Rheinland-Pfalz has the Rheinland-Pfalz-Ticket for €21.
Hesse has the Hessenticket for €31.
Here are two more special deals:
1. The Quer-Durchs-Land-Ticket allows you to travel all day long on weekdays anywhere in Germany with the same type of train and time restrictions. It costs €42.
2. The Weekend Ticket allows you to travel all day long on either a Saturday or Sunday anywhere in Germany on regional trains. No time restriction. It costs €40.
Just for the record, a single ticket from Mainz to Frankfurt costs €15.
If you take any trains while you are in Prague, the tickets will be dirt cheap.
If you decide to get the Germany-Czech Republic pass, you can pay for the sleeping accommodation for the CNL night train on the German Rail site. It costs €27.50 for a bunk in a 6-person couchette and €37.50 for a bunk in a 4-person couchette. All couchettes are the same size. The only difference is in how many bunks are pulled down. Paying a little more for a bunk in a 4-person couchette is well worth it for the extra space for both people and luggage.