Train to Oktoberfest and beyond

Hello! I'm actually living in Strasbourg these days, which explains my lack of familiarity with the train system in Germany. But since I'm a 10 minute bus ride from Germany, I plan to take advantage of the rail system often.

I priced out tickets to Munich from Kehl or Strasbourg, and both are around 61 euro each way.

Well, last weekend myself and 4 of my closest friends hopped the train up to Baden-Baden, which only costs us 30 euro total thanks to the nifty weekend pass thingy.

Here's my question: Is there any reason I can't use this pass to do a one-day roundtrip to Munich (or, for that matter, buy two and end up staying the night -- my understanding is that the pass is only for one day of travel)?

It seems the weekday pass restricts you to one Land, but my understanding of the terms is that with the pass you buy for a weekend day, you can go anywhere you want in Germany. Is this not true?

What exceptions do I have to worry about for Oktoberfest? My understanding is that with rail passes in general, no reservations are required for ICE or any other trains...

Thanks for any information you can provide, as this seems like about the only way I can afford to add to the population of obnoxious tourists invading your town..

- reid

I use the ICE quite a lot, and where I make my reservations, they always recommend to reserve a seat for an extra couple of euro's. Every time, and then I really mean every time, my seat wasn't reserved. Until so far it wasn't a problem since the trains weren't full and I always got a seat, but if you're on a busy train it isn't that comfortable not being able to have a seat. And Baden-Baden isn't really around the corner...

If you get the schoenes wochenende ticket (for 30 euros, bring your mates) you can't catch ICE, IC, EC trains, because they are express trains and have a (pricey) premium. There are ways of using them cheap, but you need to book in advance, or use the DB surf and ride program - but that is also in advance, or buy a bahncard - but then you would want to use it a lot to pay for it.

Other options look up mitfahrgelegenheit on google, and use that site to "hitch" a lift down to munich in someone else's car. All you pay then is a share of their petrol.

yea the schöneswochenende ticket (thats the weekend tiket ur talkin about) restricts u to only the slow trains... so u'd hafta plan around that... it should be possible but it will just take awhile longer and u'll proll yhafta switch like 3-4 times. if u can find cheap train to stuttgart it will be easy cuzt heres alotta direct trains from there to munich... but yea try www.bahn.de they have the stuff in english too

The Monday-Friday Bayern Ticket is only valid in Bavaria but there MIGHT be a version for the state of Baden-Wütemburg that you could combine.

Hi
Das Baden-Wüttemberg Ticket for up to 5 people for 21€ but this can take a long long time (6.5-7.5hrs each way according to Bahn.de) and unless there will be more than one of you coming, it is probably easier and nicer to get the ICE (if you reserve a seat you could get one of those nice recliners).
Katrina