Malperthuis
Traveller
3 comments
Posted 7 years ago
We are trying to budget for our tour through Romania in June 2017. One of our questions is whether to buy a Eurrail pass or rather a point to point. I have difficulty in determining the actual fares and hope you can give us estimates on the FARES for:
1. Direct night train from Vienna to Brasov (5 June 2017) , (and the name/ code of this train)
2. The train from Brasov to Bucharest (16 June 2017)
3. The direct night train from Bucharest to Vienna (18 June 2017).
I am (65) and my husband (69). We would like a sleeper. Does one reserve that separately from the train ticket? Is there a surcharge for the sleeper or is that included in the rail ticket? If it means a surcharge, how much would that be?
Can I reserve the ticket and the sleeper whilst still in South Africa (we leave the 23rd May 2017) or do I have to do that in Europe? If so where? (We will be on a boat cruise from 29 May till the morning of 5 June and will leave Passau for Vienna on the 5th.)
We will be in Munich from 24-26 May and Salzburg from 27 - 29 May when we will leave for Passau.
Would Bayern passes cover our travel needs on those days? I understand a pass for 2 is about 29 Euro?
Thank you. We are looking forward to your advice
Flo
Traveller
10723 comments
Hi!
You can buy tickets for the Vienna - Brasov and Bucharest - Vienna night trains online from Austrian Railways ÖBB: [ux]https://rail.shop/oebb[/ux]
It might be also available via [ux]https://rail.shop/acprail/[/ux]
However I think that only regular fares are available online; for saver fares it is best to phone up Austrian Railways at +43 5 1717
Tickets sold via phone can be retrieved at ticket machines or ticket desks in Austria.
Fares from Vienna include ticket plus reservation.
The night trains are:
[u]https://rail.cc/en/eurail-night-train/vienna-bucharest-en-347/50[/u]
[u]https://rail.cc/en/eurail-night-train/bucharest-vienna-en-346/49[/u]
At the links you will find the reservation prices that apply when travelling with Eurail. Reservations should be available via phone from Austrian Railways as well.
The Brasov to Bucharest train can easily be bought locally; otherwise check the website of Romanian Railways CFR: [ux]rail.shop/cfr[/ux]
One way fare is about 10€ in 2nd class.
In principle it wouldnt be a problem to book the tickets whilst in Europe, for instance at Munich; however it might be more convenient to avoid queuing and to have your sleeper cabin secure and book online in advance.
The "Bayern Ticket" would cover travel from Munich to Salzburg as well as from Salzburg to Passau; however it is valid only on board of regional trains. It is not valid on long distance trains (= Intercity, Eurocity, Railjet, ICE). The regional trains between Munich and Salzburg are branded "Meridian", trains from Salzburg to Passau are ordinary "Regionalbahn" and "Regionalexpress".
The Bayern Ticket costs 23€ for one traveller plus 5€ extra for additional travellers. For you it would be 28€ then. Available online at [ux]http://bahn.rail.cc/[/ux] or locally at ticket machines or ticket desks.
If you opt for the Eurail pass, you can support our work buy purchasing it via our partner link to eurail.com: [ux]http://rail.shop/eurail/[/ux] - thank you!
Flo 8)
Malperthuis
Traveller
3 comments
Hi Flo
Thank you for your links and information. It seems to us now that a 2 month 5 day 4 countries Eurail pass (€ 626 for two) will be worth our while. A Point to point ticket with sleeper cabin (Vienna to Bucharest) is $386.00 for two people - so double that if we travel back as well.
My questions:
1. How much would the surcharge be if we use the Eurail pass and want a sleeper cabin on the Dacia from Vienna to Bucharest?
2. Does an overnight trip count as two days or one day? I.e. would a return trip from Vienna to Bucharest count as four days?
Thanks
Flo
Traveller
10723 comments
Hi!
Where did you get the quote for 626€ for a 4 country, 5 travel days Eurail pass for two travellers?
The price should be 712€ or with the current 20% discount (no refund, no exchange!) it is 572€ at the official website [ux]http://rail.shop/eurail/[/ux].
The surcharges for the night train are listed here (scroll down a bit):
[u]https://rail.cc/en/eurail-night-train/vienna-bucharest-en-347/50[/u]
[u]https://rail.cc/en/eurail-night-train/bucharest-vienna-en-346/49[/u]
From Vienna to Brasov you can make use of the 1900 rule (see [u]https://rail.cc/en/eurail-night-train[/u]) using just one travel day; on the return journey from Bucharest to Vienna you would need two travel days.
Flo 8)
Malperthuis
Traveller
3 comments
Thanks Flo. The € 626 for the railpass include insurance and shipping to South Africa. Delivery here might be a problem. Can one pick it up in Europe instead? Thank you so much for all the valuable information!
Thank you for the tip on the 19:00 rule, but I suppose it won\'t apply to us as we will use the pass in the morning before the night train as well. Am I correct in assuming that the 5 days can be applied as follows:
Day 1: 5 June: The train from Passau to Vienna
Day 2: 5 June: The direct night train from Vienna to Romania (arriving 6 June).
Days 3 and 4: 18 -19 June: The direct train from Bucharest to Vienna
Days 5: The train from Vienna to Munich.
For other transport we will make use of the Bayern day passes / Romanian regional trains.
Flo
Traveller
10723 comments
Hi,
shipping of the Eurail pass to a hotel adress in Europe is possible. Please make sure to book via our affiliate link to eurail.com [ux]http://rail.shop/eurail/[/ux] to support our project at no extra costs for you. Thanks! :)
Yes, your itinerary would work with five travel days as you described. :)
On 5 June, plan with enough time in Vienna to change trains.
And don\'t forget to already activate your pass at the end of the purchase process.
Flo 8)
Flo
Traveller
10723 comments
And just a small bit of info to add; the prices for Bayern Ticket in 2017 will be:
1st Person: 25€; 2nd to 5th person: +6€ each
In 1st class, the 1st person pays 37,50€ while every other travellers pays 18,50€.
Malperthuis
Traveller
3 comments
Dear Flo
Can you please tell me what facilities to expect on the Dacia Express. Are there for example electrical sockets to charge a laptop in a sleeper cabin? Is there airconditioning? Is drinking water/ boiling water available?
Thank you
Flo
Traveller
10723 comments
Hi,
as far as I know there are no plugs in the sleeping cars used in the Dacia; except for plugs which are intended for razors which are likely to have not enough power to run your laptop.
The sleeping cars are air-conditioned; the tap water is not drinkable however you can purchase water from the conductor - normally a small bottle of water is also included in the sleeping car fare.
From Simeria a 2nd class car with plugs as well as a restaurant car should be added to the train, so in case you need to charge your laptop it would be an option to go to the 2nd class car (should be at the very front of the train). If the restaurant car is running, you can go there for breakfast/lunch, however insist (!) on the menu, otherwise your bill may be overpriced!
Flo 8)