Train travel in Germany gets expensive really fast, especially if you are looking to plan last minute trips. The last time I visited Germany, I ended up taking ride shares, buses, and even renting a car because all of those options were more affordable than booking a train. The train is probably more comfortable than both a bus or a ride share and it doesn’t require you to navigate all of the roads yourself like you’d have to in a rental car.
Luckily, there’s a way you can save a significant chunk of change on train tickets during your next trip to Germany. All you need is a Bahn Card! There are a few different varieties, but one, in particular, is best for travelers. The BahnCard 25. The BahnCard 25 costs 62 EUR in second class and 125 EUR in first class and will give you 25 percent off flexible fares and all long distance saver fares for a year. If you were going to spend at least 248 EUR on second class fares or 500 EUR on first class fares you will break even on the cost of purchasing a BahnCard. If you’re booking at the last minute, this could mean as little as two trains. The card is great if you are a frequent traveler to Germany and will be able to make use of your Bahn Card on more than one trip.
There’s an even better option if you are only looking to take a single trip to Germany this year. There is a trial version of the BahnCard 25 that is valid for only three months. The trial version costs only 19 EUR in second class and 39 EUR in first class and offers the same 25 percent off train fares as the full version of the card for only for three months. If you were going to spend 76 EUR on a second class ticket or 156 EUR on a first class ticket you will already break even on the trial version of the BahnCard 25. There’s a good chance that if you take even one long-distance train on your trip to Germany that you will break even on the purchase of this card – I know I would have! Please note that if you get the trail version of the BahnCard, it will be automatically renewed for a full year unless you cancel it six weeks before it is set to expire. Make sure you don’t miss this date unless you plan to travel a lot to Germany the following year.
Will you consider getting a BahnCard on your next trip to Germany?
[Image via Getty]
