Job Discussion Forums

run-jp · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2003 6:47 am Post subject: Getting around: bus or train?

Hi,
soon on my way to Budapest for a CELTA course, but will fly to munich first forsome Kultur. It's been 20 years, so I wanted to see lovely Barvaria again. My visit to the
www.bahn.de web site wasnt so helpful. Short of buying a rail pass(for over 30 y.o.) what are some ways to save, travelling around?
During the course, I ll hit Vienna once (yes, i know its in Austria) and after it Ill spend around 10 days checking out Poland and Germany before visitng friends near Dunkerque and, lastly, London.
eleven years ago, I did some hitching around the BRD but I imagine that isnt so efficient/doable in these times of "security". So for a non-Euro p-port holder, is it best to take night buses and pay as you go. . .. or fork out the $ for a rail pass? Any good bus company web pages would be appreciated.

Thanks, Tom

P.S. Viva Miroslav Klosse (siegt)!

Hod · Joined: 28 Apr 2003 Posts: 1613 Location: Home

I think www.bahn.de is brilliant. Click on �international guests� and it�s all in English too. Deutsche Bahn never ceases to amaze me; you can catch a train to almost anywhere. Saying that, it�s not cheap. A bahn card (details on the web site) is a good option if you�re travelling a lot.

At the weekends, you can go anywhere in Germany for 25 Euro on a Wochenende ticket.

Most German towns have a Mitfahrzentrale, a sort of official hitchhiking agency taking a small commission to match drivers with passengers. I don�t think I�ve seen Die Mitfahrzentrale in one single guidebook, which is unbelievable as it�s the cheapest option by far.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

The Mitfahrzentralen are good. Consider also the German Rail Pass. Check it out on the Deutsche Bahn site. I wish all countries had railway systems as good as this !

Mariana · Joined: 03 Feb 2003 Posts: 26 Location: Bavaria

Bayern tickets during the week are a good bet. (Only in Bavaria, obviously, although as long as you get on the train in Bavaria, you can use it as far as Salzburg over the border.)By the way, up to 5 people can travel on a Bayern ticket or a SchoenesWochende ticket, so if you take 4 friends with you, it'll be even cheaper!
Yrs
Mariana.

run-jp · Posted: Mon May 05, 2003 5:41 am Post subject: Thanks all

Nice to read your posts, especially about the Mitfahrzentralen. didnt know they existed. got some options now Very Happy

Tschuss!