Germany (Lonely Planet, 6th Edition) - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [694]
Shuttles run daily around the clock, with several departures hourly during peak periods. Fares are calculated per vehicle, including passengers, and depend on such factors as time of day, season and length of stay. Expect to pay between £90 and £155 for a standard one-way ticket. Promotional fares often bring the cost down to around £50. The website and travel agents have full details.
For details about bringing your car across the Channel by ferry, Click here.
Hitching
Lonely Planet does not recommend hitching. Travellers intending to hitch shouldn’t, however, have too many problems getting to and from Germany via the main autobahns and highways. Click here for a discussion of potential risks and for information on ride-sharing, which is an economical and much safer alternative to hitchhiking.
Train
Long-distance trains connecting major German cities with those in other countries are called EuroCity (EC) trains. Seat reservations are highly recommended, especially during the peak summer season and around major holidays Click here.
There are direct overnight trains (City Night Line, CNL) to Germany from such cities as Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Belgrade, Budapest, Bucharest, Florence, Milan, Prague, Rome, Venice and Vienna. You can choose between Schlafwagen (sleepers; €40 to €100 supplement), which are comfortable compartments for up to three people; Liegewagen (couchettes; €20 to €30 supplement), which sleep four to six people; and Sitzwagen (seat carriage; €4 to €10 supplement), which have roomy reclining seats. If you have a rail pass, you only pay the supplement. Women can ask for a berth in a single-sex couchette when booking, but book early. For full details, contact Deutsche Bahn’s night train specialists ( in Germany 01805-141 514; www.nachtzugreise.de, in German).
EURAIL PASS
If you want to cover lots of territory in and around Germany within a specific time, Eurail Passes (www.eurail.com) are a convenient and good-value option. They’re valid for travel on national railways, and some private lines, ferries and river boat services. Available only to non-residents of Europe, they should be bought before leaving your home country, although a limited number of outlets, listed on their website, also sell them in Europe.
A bewildering variety of Eurail Passes is now available. The Eurail Global Pass, for instance, provides unlimited 1st-class travel in 21 countries and is available for 15 or 21 consecutive days or one, two or three months. There are also Flexi Passes, giving you 10 days of travel within a one-month period or 15 days within two months. Eurail Select Passes limit travel to within three, four or five bordering countries. Regional passes, meanwhile, get you around two neighbouring countries, eg Germany and France or Germany and the Czech Republic. Groups of two to five travelling together save 15% off the regular adult fares. If you’re under 26, prices drop 35%, but you must travel in 2nd class. Children aged between four and 11 years get a 50% discount on the adult fare. Children under four years travel for free.
The website has all the details, as well as a ticket purchasing function allowing you to pay in US or Australian dollars, as well as euros.
EUROSTAR
The Channel Tunnel makes train travel between the UK and Germany a fast and enjoyable option. High-speed Eurostar ( in the UK 08705-186 186; www.eurostar.com) passenger trains hurtle at least 10 times daily between London and Paris (the journey takes 2½ hours) or Brussels (two hours). At either city you can change to regular or other high-speed trains to destinations in Germany.
Eurostar fares depend on such factors as class, time of day, season and destination. Children, rail-pass holders and those aged between 12 and 25 and over 60 qualify for discounts. For the latest fare information,