We are sailing from NYC to Hamburg, Germany on the QM2, then traveling by train before taking another cruise out of Venice. We will be staying in Hamburg for 2 days, then on to Berlin, Prague, Salzburg for 2 days each, then on to Venice for 1 night where we’ll embark the cruise ship. After that cruise which ends in Civitavecchia we’re going to Pisa and Milan for 2 days each before returning to Venice to return to the States.
We’re purchasing an 8-day 3 country EurRail saver pass since we’ll be traveling in Germany, Austria and Italy and purchasing the tickets to & from the border to Prague.
The information posted earlier about train travel between Berlin & Prague was invaluable and answered some of my questions. However, I have a few more and would appreciate additional advice.
[ol][*]Because we are starting & ending our trip via cruise ship, we will have more luggage than we normally would have, i.e. 2 26” suitcases each weighing about 50 lbs. We will have trouble getting these on trains?
[*]We looked into having our luggage shipped from Hamburg to Venice, but the service for the ships won’t do it because it doesn’t meet their 10-day minimum. I checked luggagefree.com and their charge for the 2 bags would be $900!!!! For that kind of money, I’d rather carry them. Can anyone recommend a more reasonably priced shipping service?
[*]If we’re using the EurRail pass from Berlin to Schona (is Schona and Bad Schandau the same place?) then purchasing a ticket from Schona to Prague, can we buy the ticket for Schona-Prague while in Berlin or on the train?
[*]Will we need reservations for any of the sections, i.e. Hamburg-Berlin, Berlin to Prague (via Schona), Prague-Salzburg (via Summerau), Salzburg-Venice, Civitavecchia-Pisa, Pisa-Milan, and Milan-Venice.
[*]Should we make the train reservations on line or when we get to Europe?[/ol]
Your advice and recommendations will greatly appreciated.
PS — I doubt the 8 day railpass will save you any money. I’d probably do point to point tickets for this trip.
Depends on how strong you are
Schöna is the very last stop on the German side. Bad Schandau is more inland, and is the last stop where fast trains stop. But you don’t need a ticket from Schona or from Bad Schandau. What you need, is a ticket from Bad Schandau Gr. to Prague. Gr means Grenze, German word for border. This is not a station, but a virtual point where you cross the border. Physically, it lies between Schöna and Dolní Žleb stations. The ticket from Bad Schandau Gr. to Prague is considered domestic and should cost €11.20. And you should definitely buy it in Berlin, because when you enter Czech republic without a valid ticket, you will be charged an extra fee by the Czech board staff.
You won’t need them on Berlin-Prague and Prague-Linz trains, as these are usually half-empty and it’s no problem finding a seat. On other lines, especially Hamburg-Berlin and Milan-Venice, I would buy the reservation. Usually it is sufficient to buy them on the day of the journey, which will be a little more convenient as well, regarding flexibility. Ask locals.
If you have any questions about Prague or Czech and Slovak republics, ask me.
There is a good travel agency that is able to issue rail tickets in the upper hall of Prague main station, called WASTEELS. The staff speaks good English and knows everything about European rail transport. They can also give you tips on how to save money on each particular trip. It is open daily until 6PM. But even if they are closed, you can always go to the domestic ticket office in Prague and show them a piece of paper with this sentence:
“1x (2x, 3x) Praha – Summerau statni hranice. Dale mame Eurail.” and show them your Eurail.
Means: “Once (twice, thrice) Prague to Summerau borderpoint. For further trip, we have Eurail.” That’s necessary to mention, since the ticket to a virtual borderpoint may only be issued only if you have proof you have some other valid ticket beyond that point, as the borderpoint is not a station, just a virtual point.
If you have any questions about Prague or Czech and Slovak republics, ask me.