Traveling by train for a vacation – it sounds comfortable and is furthermore sustainable. However, many are deterred by buying tickets, as train travel is considered expensive and often complicated to book. We have put together a few tips & tricks for you to make train travel cheaper and more relaxed.

Booking early is worth it.

Anyone who knows when and where they want to go should book their train ticket as early as possible, because not only Deutsche Bahn (DB), but almost all European railway companies use dynamic pricing systems with specific ticket quotas. Usually, this means: The first tickets are the cheapest; once they are sold out, the next more expensive quota will be released.

Comparing regional railways

It often makes sense to book train tickets not with Deutsche Bahn, but with other railway companies: For example, if you travel from Hamburg to Prague on Eurocity, you can book the ticket not only in Germany but also with České dráhy, the Czech railway. And if you want to travel from a city in Germany to Austria, it is worth taking a look at the ÖBB website for comparison.

Splitting a ticket

One can also save money by not buying a ticket for the entire journey but rather splitting it up: This means paying up to a European border, for example, with a saver fare from Deutsche Bahn and then continuing with the respective regional train. The catch is: If a train is delayed and you consequently miss the next one, you can only assert your passenger rights if you have a through ticket.

Booking platforms scour

For planning cross-border train journeys, such as from Germany to Spain, you should check offers on platforms like Trainline or Rail Europe in advance: Often, connections are offered there that are not available on the German Railways website. But be careful: Also read carefully here, as the platforms charge booking fees.

And now: Have a pleasant and cozy train ride!