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Berlin to Paris Christmas 2023

  • 17 October 2023
  • 6 replies
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Hi! I want to go from Berlin to Paris around Christmas but I am not able to book a ticket in the Rail Planner App… in the App it’s saying that they haven’t updated the new dates yet. Even though you can to book for the exact dates in DB App since a week. Does someone know if I can book my ticket in a different app with the Eurail ticket? 

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Best answer by thibcabe 17 October 2023, 13:44

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Userlevel 7
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Which route do you want to take?

Domestic trains within Germany, and the IC to Brussels don’t need reservations. You can just add the trip to your diary on the day of travel if you want.

The TGV/ ICE between Germany and Paris do need reservations, as does the Eurostar from Brussels to Paris. If you take the Eurostar between Cologne and Brussels, that needs reservations, but not the ICE.

Userlevel 7
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The timetables shown by DB on www.bahn.com are the most up to date, by the way. The Eurail planner is often out of date.

Userlevel 7
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A bit more info :

IC/ICE trains (except those to France) have optional reservations, recommended around Christmas. 3€ per train on ÖBB or 4.90€ per journey on bahn.com/DB Navigator app.

The cross-border TGVs/ICEs from Frankfurt, Mannheim, Karlsruhe have a 17€ mandatory reservation. Available soon on interrail.eu or already at DB ticket counters.

It's also possible to cross the border using reservation-free regional trains, mainly from Offenburg/Appenweier to Strasbourg and then board a TGV there (10-20€). Available soon on interrail.eu or already at https://travel.b-europe.com/Eurail-GE/en/booking-tgv#TravelWish

Another expensive option : Eurostar from Cologne/Brussels to Paris -> 27-32€ seat reservation. Passholder quota so book well in advance, already available on https://www.b-europe.com/EN/Booking/Pass#TravelWish

General info about seat reservations : https://www.seat61.com/interrail-and-eurail-reservations.htm

 

Which route do you want to take?

Domestic trains within Germany, and the IC to Brussels don’t need reservations. You can just add the trip to your diary on the day of travel if you want.

The TGV/ ICE between Germany and Paris do need reservations, as does the Eurostar from Brussels to Paris. If you take the Eurostar between Cologne and Brussels, that needs reservations, but not the ICE.

 

I would like to take the ICE from Berlin to Cologne (already bought a seat reservation) and then Eurostar from Cologne to Paris Nord. I never travelled with a Interrail Pass before, do I just need to buy the seat reservation for the Eurostar and that's it? Thank you in advance!

Userlevel 7
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Yes you can buy the Eurostar reservation here : https://www.b-europe.com/EN/Booking/Pass#TravelWish (4€ booking fee per order, compared to 2€ per person per train on interrail.eu)

There is a very limited passholder quota though. What's your travel date ?

As alternative : it doesn't take much longer and costs 15€ less to go via Frankfurt.

EDIT : in addition to the mandatory reservation (PDF/print) you need to log the train to Rail Planner app before boarding, like any other train. This gives you a QR-code, your ticket. :)

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I would like to take the ICE from Berlin to Cologne (already bought a seat reservation) and then Eurostar from Cologne to Paris Nord. I never travelled with a Interrail Pass before, do I just need to buy the seat reservation for the Eurostar and that's it? Thank you in advance!

Allow yourself plenty of time for the connection in Cologne if you can. DB has very poor on-time performance at the moment, and your Eurostar reservation is only valid on the train you book.

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