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English Living Abroad - Traveling throughout Germany and Europe by train and airplane.

Transportation - Trains, Airlines & Car Rentals

train travel

Deutsche Bahn
Phone: 351 46 10
Website: www.bahn.de - English language information and timetable.

Trains are an inexpensive way to see nearby cities and can be a fun alternative to driving through Germany or to nearby countries. Take the time to explore the website and learn all of your options.

You can buy tickets online, over the phone, at the station reservation desk or at the easy to use Kiosks that have a variety of language options. Trains leave ON TIME! Do not get there late or you will miss your train. If you do miss your train - don't despair, another one will be coming along soon. Tickets that are not reserved for a specific compartment or seat are good for up to three months.

When calling to make a reservation, ask for help in English. If you wait until you get to the train station to ask questions or make reservations, you may have difficulty finding someone who can help you in English. You can buy tickets on the train but they will be more expensive.

You can reserve seats in first or second class, silent areas and family areas. Train compartments are designated as 1st and 2nd class by the 1 or 2 on the doors or walls. Reserved compartments should have your name on a reservation card.

There are many specials for train travel and you should explore your options online before reserving your tickets. For instance, Children up to 14 travel free and you can save up to 70% when traveling with six or more people.

Ask if the train is air conditioned in the warmer months. A crowded train can be hot and smelly.

There is usually plenty of room for luggage storage - but pack light and save the hassle of struggling to get your bags up the train steps.

When crossing borders you will need to get your ticket stamped and your passport stamped twice - by each country you are crossing the border of.

Train Code Definitions

CNL

City Night Line
All trains reach the city center of their destination before the first scheduled train of the day. There are four categories of reservations ranging from reclining seats to two bed cabins with a shower and toilet. Safety can be an issue d1dae7

on overnight trains. Reserve far in advance to get the best choices.

ICE ICE and ICE T
Hourly or two hourly service between major cities and neighboring countries. Power sockets for laptops, on board restaurant, special compartments for families and more.
IC / EC InterCity and EuroCity
The IC trains link major centers throughout Germany and trains generally run at hourly intervals. EuroCity trains connect Germany with major cities in neighboring countries.
IRE

Inter Regional Express
The InterRegioExpress connects cities and offers traveling in comfortable modern trains. It leaves at regular intervals and links local to long-distance trains.

RB

Regional Bahn
The RegionalBahn offers a basic service from all local stations. It provides the connection between the regions and the city centers. It also gives connections to the RegionalExpress.

SE

StadtExpress
The StadtExpress offers quick direct connections to city centers. Outside of the S-Bahn network it stops at all stations, within the S-Bahn network it only stops at selected stations

S-Bahn

The S-Bahn runs frequently and is the basic means of traveling within cities and high density areas.


Airline travel

Traveling in Europe by air is cheap and easy with the many budget airline companies to choose from. Each airline covers a limited area so connections can be complicated and you may need to travel different airlines to get to your final destination. READ the rules and stipulations carefully before you purchase tickets. The airlines have large fees for changes and strict rules for travel and luggage.

Budget Airlines by German City

Berlin Berlin Schönefeld: Air Berlin, Condor, Germanwings
Berlin Tegel: Air Berlin, Condor, HLX
Berlin Tempelhof: DBA, Dauair, InterSky
Budget Airlines
English websites

Air Berlin

Condor

DBA

Dauair

Germanwings

HLX

InterSky

RyanAir

WizzAir

Cologne/Bonn
Köln
Air Berlin, Condor, HLX, Germanwings
Düsseldorf Air Berlin, Condor
Dresden

Air Berlin, Condor, Germanwings

Frankfurt

Frankfurt am Main: Air Berlin, Condor
Frankfurt Hahn: Ryanair, WizzAir

Hamburg

Hamburg (HAM): Air Berlin, Condor, Germanwings, HLX
Hamburg Lubeck: Ryanair

Munich

Air Berlin, Condor, Germanwings, HLX

Stuttgart

Air Berlin, Condor, Germanwings, HLX


car rental

Traveling Europe by car can be a cheaper alternative for families and allow more flexibility to explore your destinations. You will need to be prepared to pay for local taxes, insurance, road tolls and parking in addition to the car rental.

Car Rental Websites

Dresden Phone Numbers
www.avis.com Chose country in drop down list 0351 866800
www.budget.com Type city and country in "Pick up location" field to view cars and prices in European cities. 0351 4845548
www.hertz.de Type in city and country in Quick Quote field 0351 8023890
www.nationalcar.com Choose country from drop down list. 0351 4967595

Restrictions on Travel: Make sure you tell your rental agency about any country you may be driving in. There are some limitations and rules depending on the country.

Insurance: You can buy insurance through the car rental agency, but Travel Guard sells insurance online that is valid throughout Europe. Check with your car rental company first to make sure they will honor Travel Guard insurance. Theft insurance is recommended in Italy and the Czech Republic.