Train from Ramstein to Italy - Vicenz...

Author Message   R Schoon New member Username: Rl64rl Post Number: 5 Registered: 11-2009 Posted From: 76.100.165.87 Posted on Friday, June 11, 2010 - 02:47 pm:    Tracy -- LA and I have done the Europe gig about 5 times (to include the kids). We have always done the train route, and avoided the hassles of automobile travel. We can discuss in detail if you want to e-mail me. Schoon   Linda Pelletier Member Username: Lphh6 Post Number: 31 Registered: 05-2008 Posted From: 174.60.85.119 Posted on Monday, June 07, 2010 - 08:57 pm:    If you get to Ramstein, you can the medevac bus from Landstuhl to Vicenza, twice a week, free. Check the Topic in Search to see the days and time. There is also a return twice a week. It is rumored that this service will be stopped in October 2010?   John R Garrison Senior Member Username: Majorg Post Number: 2709 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 208.81.157.86 Posted on Monday, June 07, 2010 - 02:30 pm:    Tracy: Why fly to the East Coast and fight for the seats at those beusy terminals. since you are starting at KC, why not drive down to McConnell and fly to Mildenhall from there? That would be a "no-brainer" for me. Wes: Buying gas on base (in Germany) for those of us who are not stationed in Germany is a no-no...see earlier discussions about the SOFA. Happy Travels, John   Wes Loukota Intermediate Member Username: Woodturner Post Number: 67 Registered: 07-2007 Posted From: 75.234.129.196 Posted on Sunday, June 06, 2010 - 08:58 pm:    Oh ya, by the way, second class train travel in Europe is a quite a bit cheaper than EurRail unless you do a lot of train travel, and you don't have to worry about parking. Many of the better hotel have parking garages or arrangements for parking. On the other hand, diesel(a more predominant fuel in Europe than the US) is about $7 a gallon and gas is $7 to $8 a gallon. Even on base at Ramstein, if you can get the proper customs forms, is about $3.50.   Wes Loukota Intermediate Member Username: Woodturner Post Number: 66 Registered: 07-2007 Posted From: 75.234.129.196 Posted on Sunday, June 06, 2010 - 08:31 pm:    If you can catch the PatEx to Aviano and rent a car there or take the train wouldn't be as expensive as train or car from Ramstein.   John D. Moderator Username: John_d Post Number: 4621 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 95.208.80.143 Posted on Sunday, June 06, 2010 - 08:00 pm:    Depends on if you're just going to Florence or other places as well. 5 adults plus bags will need a fairly large car (not that big over here) unless you pack light. Factor in gas and tolls if driving and assuming you return the car to the same country you rent in you'll avoid the drop fee.   Tracy K New member Username: Evel Post Number: 2 Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 24.145.245.48 Posted on Sunday, June 06, 2010 - 07:54 pm:    We're thinking of flying commercial from Kansas City to east coast an either Charleston or Dover to Ramstein and then making our way to Florence, Italy. Haven't decided if the train or renting a car is the best option. I like the freedom of a car and with 5 adults...14 yrs old and up,Eurorail is pretty expensive. Thoughts?   Wes Loukota Intermediate Member Username: Woodturner Post Number: 64 Registered: 07-2007 Posted From: 75.234.129.196 Posted on Sunday, June 06, 2010 - 07:53 pm:    Tracy, Before we left for Germany I had emailed RTT Travel at Ramstein and they sent me a few different routes. This is one which was 158 euros for two: "Thank you for your email. For your train ride I can offer the following itinerary: 03April 2010 Ramstein dep 07:29 Landstuhl arr 07:35 Landstuhl dep 07:43 Kaiserslautern Hbf arr 07:54 Kaiserslautern Hbf dep 07:58 Mannheim Hbf arr 09:03 Mannheim Hbf dep 09:32 München Hbf arr 12:33 München Hbf dep 13:31 Peschiera del Garda arr 19:40 Current oneway price for 2 adult is EUR158. Price are subject to availability. Kind regards //SIGNED// Stefanie Schneider Supervisor, RTT Travel KMC Center, Bldg 3336 66877 Ramstein Air Base Phone Civ 06371-463622 / DSN 480-6330 Fax 06371-44323 www.RTTtravel.com supervisor@rtttravel.de" We did not take this because we caught the PatEx to Aviano the day after we arrived. For the return trip we took the following trip from Verona to Landstuhl for 188 euros for the two of us which was very scenic: "Verona Porta Nuova 21.04. ab 09:05 München Hbf 21.04. an 14:25 München Hbf 21.04. ab 15:08 Mannheim Hbf 21.04. an 18:27 Mannheim Hbf 21.04. ab 18:48 2 Kaiserslautern Hbf 21.04. an 19:33 Kaiserslautern Hbf 21.04. ab 19:39 1 Landstuhl 21.04. an 19:54 Hope this helps. This is the link to my trip report: http://www.pepperd.com/spacea/messages/437/732637.html?1272547623   John B Senior Member Username: Jbrunslik Post Number: 1266 Registered: 03-2005 Posted From: 207.200.116.12 Posted on Sunday, June 06, 2010 - 04:40 pm:    The last time we went to Germany (2009) our C-17 was diverted to Stuttgart AAF as Ramstein was fogged in. We had purchased Eurail tickets at home from Rick Steves travel site. We caught a taxi from Stuttgart AAF to the local train station (30 euros). We caught an ICE train (inter city express) from Stuttgart to Munich. Changed trains at Munich to a local train to Garmish-Partenkrishen. Then Taxi to Edelweiss (20 Euros). We later learned that at the Garmish train station you could simply cross the street and catch the city bus (1.50 Euro) to about 1/2 block to the back gate to Edelweiss resort. We used this bus several times to get to the train station for day trips.   John R Garrison Senior Member Username: Majorg Post Number: 2704 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 208.81.157.86 Posted on Sunday, June 06, 2010 - 02:46 pm:    Wes: From the archives is a discussion on this trip: "You can use City night network from Mannheim to Verona: See http://www.bahn.de/international/view/mdb/pv/preise_angebote/db_autozug/pdf/MDB4 3317-cnl_network.pdf For all info on City Nights train line see: http://www.raileurope.com/train-faq/european-trains/city-night-line/index.html Landstuhl is the nearest train station to Ramstein. From there you get train to Mannheim. City Nights only travels at night so it would save you the cost of a night in a hotel. Cheapest is the reclining seats - which are quite "sleepable". " Happy Travels, John   Tracy Knueven New member Username: Evel Post Number: 1 Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 160.149.1.36 Posted on Sunday, June 06, 2010 - 02:38 pm:    Didn't see an amswer to the original question of taking the train from Ramstein to Italy?? Any help with that?   John D. Moderator Username: John_d Post Number: 4139 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 88.79.237.12 Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2010 - 08:00 pm:    Wes, Garmisch (Edelweiss Resort) is still open.   Wes Loukota Member Username: Woodturner Post Number: 27 Registered: 07-2007 Posted From: 75.201.247.20 Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2010 - 06:57 pm:    Has anyone taken a train from the Ramstein area to Italy - Vicenza, Venice or even Milano? I was curious about the route. Is Munich a stop?, or is that a side trip? Is the military rec. area in Garmisch still open?