Trains confusion/dilemma

As i had posted in an earlier question here, we now have an itinerary that we will take a train for such as:

Frankfurt airport (Sat, around 8.30 am) to Mannheim

Mannheim (Tue around midday) to Munich

Munich (Sat am) to Prague

We are flying out from Prague after 1 week (again on a Saturday).

Am in a dilemma whether it makes sense for us to get a bahncard? Is that per family or per person? Since we have a baby who doesnt need a ticket, we will be only getting tickets for me and my husband. Is there some method that will work for all 3 trips? Since the frankfurt-mannheim area is a different region and the munich area is different, i guess i cannot get regional tickets for the whole period of time? Trying to keep expenses low ..

Also the trip to Prague with so many connections as mentioned in a great reply to my earlier thread - will that be hard with baby in arms, 2 suitcases and stroller etc? Or is it perhaps better without transfers or lesser number of transfers?

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The Bahncard is a card you purchase and that then allows you a discount on future train tickets. It doesn%26#39;t make sense for a tourist to buy one.

A rail pass allows unlimited travel on the rail network during its validity. A pass would likely not be a good value for you as the number of journeys you are making is so small.

Frankfurt to Mannheim is a short journey and I%26#39;d just buy tickets on the day of travel.

For the other two journeys, go to the German Rail website www.bahn.de and see if you can buy a discount ticket. They have an English language option. For the best chance at discounted tickets, go online 89 days before your departure and book the tickets. You can print out the ticket and be sure to bring along the credit card you used to buy the ticket. You then present the printout and card to the ticket collector on your train.

The fewer connections the better. The faster the train, the fewer the connections and the higher the price. Towing along a baby, I%26#39;d go for the faster trains with the fewest connections.

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Thank you! Since I don%26#39;t have 89 days, I guess that option is out.

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Check anyway, you might get lucky!

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%26gt; Frankfurt airport (Sat, around 8.30 am) to Mannheim

Buy normal price tickets (they are flexible if your plane is late). EUR 45,00 for both of you together.

%26gt; Mannheim to Munich

Tuesday, 19. May 2009?

DB timetable

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

From: Mannheim

To: Munich

There are still specials available around midday for EUR 78,00 (for both of you together).

You have to buy NOW - these specials tend to sell out sooner or later. And you have to buy anyway latest 3 days before departure.

%26gt; Munich to Prague

DB timetable

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

From: Munich

To: Prague

%26gt; Also the trip to Prague with so many connections as mentioned

This was for Mannheim to Prague.

From Munich you have 2 direct connections departing at 08:44 and 16:43. And one with one change of trains in Schwandorf departing 12:44.

1. Buy in Munich a Bavaria-Bohemia Ticket. EUR 33,00 for 2-5 persons. Covers the route as far as Plzen/Pilsen in the Czech Republic. Also the S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams and buses in Munich.

2. Buy from the Czech conductor on the train - comes in Furth im Wald on board - normal tickets for the part Plzen/Pilsen to Prague.

CZK 147 (~ EUR 5,20) per person

You don%26#39;t have to do anything in Plzen/Pilsen. Just stay seated.

To buy BahnCards makes no sense in this case.

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Is the Bavaria Bohemia ticket available for multiple days or is the one you talk about for one day?

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Bavaria-Bohemia Ticket is a day ticket valid

Mo-Fr: from 9am till 3am next day

Sa,Su: from midnight till 3am next day

Thus for another day you would have to buy another one. But why are you asking if it%26#39;s a multiple day ticket. Do you want to commute between Munich and Bohemia on several days?

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No, the reason I asked is that I thought perhaps I could use such a thing to look around Mannheim, heidelberg etc in trams/trains for the 3 days that we are there.. but its fine if its a day ticket also.

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I think this should be my final question or it will seem like Im a total loss.. :)

I just read about the Happy Weekend ticket. Given that we will be checking out mannheim and its surroundings using public transport on Sat %26amp; Sun, will it help to get this ticket at Frankfurt Airport? I can%26#39;t seem to find a clear explanation about which trains I can use.. it only says it is ok on some DB routes and some regional routes..

Also, what would be a good thing to use in Munich for tue-fri? Any 3 day pass?

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%26gt;I just read about the Happy Weekend ticket. Given that we will be checking out mannheim and its surroundings using public transport on Sat %26amp; Sun, will it help to get this ticket at Frankfurt Airport?

For Saturday, yes. For sunday, no - just choose a VRN day ticket for the appropriate zones.

See www.VRN.de

%26gt;I can%26#39;t seem to find a clear explanation about which trains I can use.. it only says it is ok on some DB routes and some regional routes..

It´s OK on ALL Routes, but only in regional traisn (RE, RB, S) not in long-distance trains (ICE, IC, EC). It si also valid on all routes within the VRN integrated transport area.

%26gt;Also, what would be a good thing to use in Munich for tue-fri? Any 3 day pass?

MVV, Munich integrated transport area:

www.mvv-muenchen.de

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Frankfurt Airport to Mannheim

is possible on a Happy-Weekend-Ticket but will take a lot longer. 1,25 hours with 1 change instead of 30 minutes.

Despite the name - the Happy-Weekend-Ticket is valid only either for Saturday or for Sunday.

To get around in the Mannheim region buy a VRN Ticket 24 PLUS.

vrn.de/imperia/md/content/service/informatio…

A 24 hours mini group ticket. If bought on a Saturday even valid till Monday 3am.

Price depends on VRN zones.

From Mannheim to Heidelberg or Speyer the VRN Ticket 24 PLUS is EUR 14,50. The version for the whole VRN network is EUR 19,50.

- - -

Equivalent to the VRN of the Mannheim region is the MVV for Munich and area.

There exist a 3 day mini group ticket for the inner MVV district (= the city of Munich) for EUR 21,00.

For trips beyond the city limits, e.g. to the lakes south of Munich, you can only buy day tickets. MVV day tickets are valid from the time of validation (stamping) till 6am next day.

For trips beyond the MVV area, e.g. to Neuschwanstein or Herrenchiemsee palaces, you can use a Bavaria Ticket (EUR 28,00). Similar conditions like the Bavaria-Bohemia Ticket but now for Bavaria only).

VRN, MVV, Bavaria Ticket, Bavaria-Bohemia Ticket are local public transport tickets. They cover regional trains, S-Bahn, U-Bahn (metro), trams and buses. But no far distance trains like IC/EC or ICE.