Amsterdam to Berlin via coupon

[CharlesBell]

Hi, I want to go Amsterdam to Berlin via coupon, and I have a DB coupon, and it is a DB train. The coupons now seem to be for a carrier rather than for a country, so is there any other coupon I need for the journey or is the DB coupon all I need?

Also it looks like 3 weeks notice to book via bookmyrst (also booking for 3 additional people who have FIP cards but not coupons) - and it is just over 3 weeks till I plan to go but also need to sort hotels etc so don't want to wait ages till I get confirmation it is booked - are there any other choices for booking (also need to book eurostar as well)?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[Peterthegreat]

Hi, I want to go Amsterdam to Berlin via coupon, and I have a DB coupon, and it is a DB train. The coupons now seem to be for a carrier rather than for a country, so is there any other coupon I need for the journey or is the DB coupon all I need?

Also it looks like 3 weeks notice to book via bookmyrst (also booking for 3 additional people who have FIP cards but not coupons) - and it is just over 3 weeks till I plan to go but also need to sort hotels etc so don't want to wait ages till I get confirmation it is booked - are there any other choices for booking (also need to book eurostar as well)?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

The train is operated by NS in the Netherlands so an NS coupon will also be required. The trains are not compulsory reservable so there is no need to book.

 

[CharlesBell]

OK thanks for the info - much appreciated.

 

[306024]

Hi, I want to go Amsterdam to Berlin via coupon, and I have a DB coupon, and it is a DB train. The coupons now seem to be for a carrier rather than for a country, so is there any other coupon I need for the journey or is the DB coupon all I need?

Not sure where you got that from, the coupons are for the country you are in. The operator of the train is irrelevant, unless of course it is an operator that doesn’t accept FIP facilities at all.

So yes you need both NS and DB coupons for Amsterdam to Berlin.

 

[CharlesBell]

Thanks - had already ordered (and received) the DB one, and have just this minute submitted a request for the NS one following the advice above. It was just me being thick in the first place but thankfully thought to check on here!

 

[306024]

Thanks - had already ordered (and received) the DB one, and have just this minute submitted a request for the NS one following the advice above. It was just me being thick in the first place but thankfully thought to check on here!

No problem, I was concerned you may get caught out without a NS coupon. I used bookmyrst for the first time a few months ago and they were very good.

Buying FIP fares once you are abroad is more difficult as booking offices close though. Switzerland and Denmark have machines where you select the 50% discount option and that’s OK, but they are the only two countries where I have known that to be acceptable.

The other thing to be aware of is full fare advance purchase tickets can sometimes be cheaper than FIP, if you can accept the specific train restrictions that come with them.

 

[CharlesBell]

I am planning to book all tickets etc prior to going as well as avoiding the hassle of finding booking offices it means will have seat reservations. Good call about the FIP discount. As well as being daft about not knowing to get the NS ticket, I hadn't clocked that the prices I was seeing were AP fares so you are right that the AP ticket is cheaper than the 50% off,

 

[dutchflyer]

Buying FIP fares once you are abroad is more difficult as booking offices close though. Switzerland and Denmark have machines where you select the 50% discount option and that’s OK, but they are the only two countries where I have known that to be acceptable.

The other thing to be aware of is full fare advance purchase tickets can sometimes be cheaper than FIP, if you can accept the specific train restrictions that come with them.

Even though myself not entitles at all to this:
Buying on the spot is near impossible as in many countries there are hardly any working counters left open.
Machines in HUngary also offer FIP-the new ones, these have endless lists of whatever discount seems in theory possible.
Advance fares for Ams_Ber start from 29.90-in low season only and booked well advance, most are 39,90 and these seem in ample supply-just for the comparison.

 

[Andypandy1968]

Bookmyrst are absolutely useless, they take over a week to reply to a simple email. I wish we could still use DB. The best now in my humble opinion is Ffestiniog travel.
Regards

 

[306024]

Bookmyrst are absolutely useless, they take over a week to reply to a simple email. I wish we could still use DB. The best now in my humble opinion is Ffestiniog travel.
Regards

Can only speak from experience regarding bookmyrst. Replied in one day to a group booking, tickets issued the next day after calling me to take payment.

Ffestiniog travel and Rail Canterbury have both been good in the past when I’ve used them for staff travel.

 

[Watershed]

Bookmyrst are absolutely useless, they take over a week to reply to a simple email. I wish we could still use DB. The best now in my humble opinion is Ffestiniog travel.
Regards

They weren't too bad when I used them. A little bit slow but reasonable enough. Ffestiniog Travel wanted quite a bit extra IIRC.

 

[rvdborgt]

Not sure where you got that from, the coupons are for the country you are in. The operator of the train is irrelevant, unless of course it is an operator that doesn’t accept FIP facilities at all.

Now try to explain swiss FIP coupons

 

[306024]

Now try to explain swiss FIP coupons

Used to be good fun working that out, but to be fair Rail Staff Travel now produce excellent explanations:

https://www.raildeliverygroup.com/files/Publications/services/rst/RST_Travel_Tips_For_Europe_v56.pdf

Incidentally thought I’d try Rail Canterbury again for a FIP half fare booking. Excellent response the next day day so will support them this time.