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Richard Troy
Member
Username: Bandit
Post Number: 16
Registered: 05-2005
Posted From: 71.240.141.193
| | Posted on Saturday, May 01, 2010 - 12:04 pm: | |
John,
Thanks for the comments.
The cab was to Landstuhl and the 72 Euro was one way for both of us. We ended up driving back, but the one-way return for both of us (with the BahnCard25) would have been significantly less with a three-day early purchase.
I'm glad they had the "Present" list. I signed up the previous day and it was only when I noticed my name was NOT on the list that I learned that a same-day call of "present" was necessary! |
John D.
Moderator
Username: John_d
Post Number: 4380
Registered: 06-2003
Posted From: 95.208.80.143
| | Posted on Saturday, May 01, 2010 - 07:10 am: | |
Richard,
Kudos on doing your homework prior to your trip - doesn't gurantee success but preparation and knowledge gives you an edge.
Was the 12 Euros for the cab from Ramstein to where? Landstuhl train station?
Was the 72 Euros to Stuttgart the price per person, for both, one-way, return or .....?
p.s. Last time I was at RMS I noticed that the "Present" list also had names highlighted in yellow denoting unaccompanied dependents traveling in the bottom of Cat-III. |
Richard Troy
Member
Username: Bandit
Post Number: 15
Registered: 05-2005
Posted From: 71.240.142.45
| | Posted on Friday, April 30, 2010 - 09:15 pm: | |
My wife and I flew Cat VI from BWI to RMS on 30 March. We visited family in Stuttgart. We spent the last four days with German friends near Sembach and returned to BWI 28 April.
I flew Space A active duty, but never Cat VI. I started learning the ropes from Pepperd.com and all of you in December and tested my knowledge last month. I give myself a B.
Here are my LESSONS LEARNED, in no particular order:
REPORTING PRESENT: Unlike BWI, Ramstein requires reporting present the day of the flight. Prior to roll call, RMS publishes a list of Space A Pax Present and it's easy to confirm how you stand. They update it until Show Time, so watch for changes as people show up.
ATMS: We got our dollars at on-post ATMS, but our Euros elsewhere; CitiBank charges extra for the on-post transaction. GeldAutomats (German ATMs) are common in the Ramstein and Stuttgart areas, but we found them rare near Berchtesgaden. Glad we let our bank know we'd be overseas.
BERCHTESGADEN: A disappointment, at least if you like revisiting WWII locales. Almost all the historical sites present 30 years ago have been razed and replaced by a “Documentation Center”.
TRAIN TRAVEL: We bought BahnCard25s online to save 25% on fares. Thanks to Linda, we saved money as the German language version of DieBahn website offered a discount for a four month trial. We used the website to learn the schedules to Stuttgart. The cab from Ramstein was 12 Euros and the second class tickets to Stuttgart were 72 Euros. (We used the ATM at the RMS terminal for an initial purchase of Euros.)
TELEPHONES: My Verizon cell phone worked in Germany. The cost was $5.95/month plus $.99/minutes. Didn't use it much, relying on my Netbook and OneSuite.com's 'Softphone' (similar to Skype). We've used OneSuite for years, and the Softphone option is cheap and easy to use.
TAKE-A-HOP-SIGNUP: A great resource. Glad I had a copy of my email at RMS. Sent two emails, one for going, one for coming back. Knew DODDS schedule and had the flexibility to plan our times accordingly.
GETTING GERMAN FRIENDS ON BASE: We signed them on at the West Gate and escorted them in their car to the Macaroni Grill. When they delivered us for departure the next day, I rode back to the gate and walked the 20 minutes (nice weather!) back to the terminal.
VOLCANOES: About the only thing not covered on Pepperd.com. Since it took five European nations five days to meet and come up with a story, we resolved not to sweat what we couldn't change. It helped that we had confirmed our medical options beforehand and had extra copies of prescription scrips had we needed them.
A great experience. Thanks to Dirk, his Mom, and all of you! |
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