Question:
Does anyone have any thoughts on train travel from Amsterdam throughGermany? I have a week to spare and I want to explore Germany as easily asis possible. I do want to get to Berlin for a few days as well.1. What train/s should I catch? Is there a train that travels from AMSthrough Germany?2. Are the costs comparable with air or bus?3. Are the customs checkpoints annoying to get through?4. Any other hints?

Answer: I spent 10 days in Europe in Nov and Dec of last year. I started inAmsterdam and made it through Germany and Switzerland on my way to Rome thenback to Mian. From there I went on to Paris. In all I traveled about 1,500miles over three days of my trip and every bit of it was by train. I highlyrecommend using the trains as well as all the other public transport systemsavailable in Europe. It will save money and time especially if you get aEuroPass or Eurail Pass.

There are lots of trains from Amsterdam to and throughout Germany. If youhave a week I'd recommend that you look into a EuroPass or similar trainpass that will allow you unlimited travel for the time you're there. Germanyis on the standard Europass but Amsterdam is part of Benelux and that addsanother $62 (US) to the price of the pass. I think it might be cheaper tobuy a ticket from Amsterdam to the first stop in Germany and then startusing your train pass once you get into Germany or any other country thatcomes with the standard price of the pass.

The trains cost only a little less if not the same as airfare but thehassles and delays of the airports make the trains far more desireable. Andyou'll get to see some beautiful countryside at ground level instead of23,000 feet. It's much easier to get up from your seat to go to the can andmost of the trains have a restaurant car. It all depends on how much travelyou're going to do. It might be cheaper to buy individual fares. But if yourtrain fares add up to more than $360 you should definetly get a Europass. Atrain pass allows you to get on and off the trains anywhere you wish and foras long as you wish. That comes in handy if you meet interesting people orplaces along the way.

Customs was not an issue. On the train from Amsterdam to Rome I spent thefirst 7-8 hours going through Germany and no customs inspections wereneeded. Somewhere near the southern part of Germany just before we went intoSwitzerland two uniformed police looking people got on the train and asked afew people to show their passports and answer some questions about wherethey were headed. Outside of that I had no trouble and that was a good thingsince I still had a few small samples of the *coffee* I bought in Amsterdamon me.

Another good thing about the trains is they can double up as a hotel for thenight. I caught the night train fom Bassel, Switzerland to Rome. For $20Euros I got a comfortable compartment with a place to sleep and and ablanket to wrap up in. I had to share the thing with two other travelers butit was quiet and peaceful considering we were on a train zipping through theAlps past midnight. When I woke the next morning the sun was shining and wewere zooming along near 80 mph less than two hours from Rome. I got thereabout 10:30 AM with the whole day still ahead of me.