Train Tickets Cheaper To Buy In Advance
Unlike rail passes, it's generally easy to buy point-to-point train tickets right at the station (whereas most rail passes aren't widely available in Europe). But it can be smart to buy in advance for certain trains and destinations, especially if your dates are set and you don't want to risk a specific train journey selling out, or if you're hoping to land an advance-purchase discount.
train tickets cheaper to buy in advance
You have three main options for buying point-to-point tickets: through a US-based retailer before leaving home (we even sell them right here), through the website of one of Europe's national railways, and in person at Europe's train stations (and at some European travel agencies). For big discounts, buy tickets up to three months ahead (just note that these tickets are nonrefundable and nonchangeable).
The easiest way to get train tickets online is to buy them through ricksteves.com (after all, you're already here!). Virtually all US-based websites and travel agents sell European train tickets for the exact same prices you'll find here.
Many European national rail companies allow customers to buy tickets online at the going European price (usually for faster classes of trains for which reservations are required, or at least recommended).
Once in Europe, you can simply get tickets at the station, usually without much fuss, either on your day of travel or in advance (see my tips for buying tickets in European train stations). This is the best option if you'd prefer to keep your itinerary more spontaneous. You can even get tickets for trains in another country: For example, if your trip starts in Paris, you can buy your Berlin-to-Prague ticket at any Parisian train station. Tickets bought at train-station windows tend to be easier to change (or have refunded) than tickets bought online.
In some cities you can avoid trekking to the train station by visiting a neighborhood travel agency or branch office of the national railroad. This convenience may come with a fee, but if the agency is easier for you to get to than the train station, buying tickets there can save lots of time and hassle (and travel agents may have more time and English-language skills than the people behind the train-station counter).
Advance purchase (a week to several months in advance) can save you significant money in many countries (most notably Austria, Britain, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Sweden), especially for faster or longer rides. On-sale dates vary by country, route, and time of year, with most starting two to four months in advance of travel, and six months ahead for Germany and the Eurostar Chunnel train. In some areas (such as Switzerland and most eastern countries), advance-purchase deals either don't exist or aren't worth the hassle. In most places, tickets for slower regional or medium-speed trains cost the same whether they're bought two months or two minutes before the train leaves.
Round-trip tickets can be cheaper than two one-way tickets in some countries (Britain, Ireland, and Spain; sometimes in combination with advance purchase). In Britain, a "day return" (round-trip in a single day) can be only a little bit more expensive than a single one-way ticket.
Advance tickets are usually the cheapest way to travel by train, and generally go on sale 12 weeks before your date of travel. You have to travel on the train you're booked on, but you get a much cheaper price by foregoing flexible travel times. Full details on Advance tickets can be found here.
Every train company that sells Advance tickets has its own deadlines. This can vary on whether you buy your ticket direct with the train company, from an online retailer, or from a station. Please find the details for your train company below:
We'll fill you in on all the details about Advance tickets, including rules and restrictions, and show you how to find Advance tickets for your preferred train company and route. Check out all the info below, from basic advice on how to buy tickets to frequently asked questions.
Advance train tickets are fares that go on sale well before the day of travel. They're only available as Single tickets for A to B rail journeys and are non-refundable. They're also non-flexible. Perfect for those who like to plan their journeys well ahead of time, Advance tickets are the best way to be organised when it comes to travel.
No, Advance tickets are only sold as Single Tickets. However, you can buy an Advance Single train ticket for both directions, meaning you can mix and match Single tickets for the cheapest possible return journey to your chosen destination.
Typically, train companies release their Advance tickets 12 weeks before the departure date, although some go on sale as far as 24 weeks in advance! Only a limited number of tickets will be available, so be quick to secure yours as the fare can rise as the date of travel gets nearer.
Sign up for our handy Advance Ticket Alert, which can help you plan your journeys further in advance and find tickets available at lower prices. Our clever tool will send you an email as soon as Advance tickets become available for your preferred route.
Even more music for your ears, you can get extra discounts on Advance train tickets if you've got an applicable Railcard. Children, those aged 16-17 and 16-25, Disabled Persons and Seniors can all use their Railcards to get 1/3 off most Standard and First Class tickets. The Two Together and Family & Friends Railcards are also applicable on certain routes, although not always for First Class travel.
Advance train tickets aren't flexible, so you must catch the train specified on your ticket. If you catch an earlier train, you may have to pay additional fees, so please check with ticket staff at the station.
With over 500 stations on the continental U.S., Amtrak is an excellent option for getting from A to B for business or pleasure, or for embarking on a train adventure across the country. Although traveling by Amtrak is often cheaper than flying, it can take considerably longer, so passengers want to get the very best deal to justify this additional time.
Amtrak tickets vary in price depending on the route, how far in advance the ticket is booked, and whether you book a standard seat or sleeper cabin. Search on the Amtrak website for fare quotes without any commitment to book.
There isn't really such a thing as "a ticket for the next train". Tickets sold on the day will generally be either "anytime" (valid on any train) or "off-peak" (restricted from some peak time trains, details of the restrictions vary). Off peak and anytime tickets are not limited in number and will be the same price whenever you buy them.
Advance tickets can be significantly cheaper than regular tickets, but you have to book them in advance (generally at least the day before, on busy trains sometimes weeks in advance) and you are locked in to a specific train. There are often multiple prices of advance tickets for a given train with the cheapest ones selling out first.
Finally note when it comes to off peak and anytime tickets returns are usually considerably cheaper than two singles. So the savings from buying advance tickets are often much smaller if you intend to make a return journey.
Any "advance" ticket is only bookable in advance (as the name suggests) - tomorrow morning you could can get a single Manchester Airport - Newcastle for 36, but you would have to be on that specific train. Advance ticket pricing often varies depending on exactly which train you are booked on (poking around I could get it as low as 21 on some days/times) 041b061a72