Leaving Your Trip in COCHEM

This page offers help (concrete or informational) on leaving your trip.  Topics include...

1. Where you leave your trip (see immediately below).
2. The closest airports.
3. Our “Access Packages,” designed to help you to do so.
4. Suggestions on how to time your ongoing travel, whether you are having us arrange it, or doing it yourself.
5. Service information regarding train travel from your trip end location.
6. Suggested post-trip visits, especially when these are not geographically obvious, but are rendered economical and convenient by direct rail connections.
7. Hopefully helpful hints for those setting up their own travel from the trip.

If you wish to arrange some or all of your travel through us, please tell us what by means of this response questionnaire, designed to collect all the information we need to be able to book your travel.


1. WHERE and WHEN Do You Leave Your Trip?

Your trip disbands on Saturday afternoon, in Cochem, a small town on the Moselle River, a short train ride from the confluence of the Moselle and the Rhine at Koblenz.

Many riders cycle to Bullay, a bit short of Cochem, and take a 10-minute train ride into Cochem.  However, Cochem is the destination for the day’s “long route.”

If you wish to arrange your own ongoing travel (in other words, you do not want to set up any ongoing travel arrangements through us), a couple of hints regarding ongoing travel are offered at the bottom of this page.  Otherwise...



2. The CLOSEST AIRPORTS

Frankfurt Airport is closest in terms of travel time from the Moselle, and it is served hourly by trains that run from downtown Koblenz (which is where you would typically stay if that is where you were headed) to the terminals.

Ryanair’s “Frankfurt Hahn” airport is geographically even closer, and is even served by a direct bus from Bullay.  So, if you are travelling within Europe, a late Saturday departure from Hahn is compatible with the ride.
Information on reaching Hahn airport from either Koblenz or Bullay, including the actual schedule of the buses, can be found on the airport web site:
http://www.hahn-airport.de/default.aspx?cc=en&menu=passengers_visitors

Other airports close by include Dusseldorf, Köln (interior European flights only), and Luxembourg.  Airports in Brussels, Amsterdam and Paris are just a few hours away, and can be reached at reasonable cost.  See “Service Information,” below, for details.



3. Our ACCESS PACKAGES
as of February 2, 2010

Our “Access Packages” generally include a night somewhere local (depending on where your ongoing travel takes you to), and train tickets to one of the closest intercontinental airports:  Frankfurt or Luxemburg (equally close, but trains don't run direct to the Luxemburg airport, so you need to add the nuisance and inconvenience of a shuttle bus from the city center rail station).  Our London “Access Package” includes a train to London via Brussels.

Hotels on the Moselle and the Rhine are notoriously crowded in summer.  If ours are full when you request one, an alternate arrangement will be proposed, but it may be less attractive.  For any who can spare the time, we recommend a Sunday boat trip up the Rhine.  See “Suggested Post-Trip Visits,” below, for detail of a package that we have put together.

Base (Starting) Access Package Price:  102€.
To see what this means in your currency, look here:  http://www.bluemarble.org/CurrencyConv.html

Availability of this package is not guaranteed, as summer Saturday hotel space on the Rhine is hard to come by.  Book early to be sure of space.

Included:

• A hotel night in Cochem or Koblenz, based on shared occupancy.  Typically, at least some of your past weeks’ travelling companions will also be staying over.
• Breakfast, if you have time / get up for it.
• 2nd class Sunday train tickets to Frankfurt Airport, Frankfurt downtown, or to Luxembourg.  Tickets on these lines are “open:” seat reservations, though available, are not required, and are not recommended for Sunday morning travel (trains will have plenty of space).
• A printed schedule / itinerary, highlighting any connections.
• All taxes, luggage charges, booking charges...
  ...all those little things the airlines add at the last minute.

Options Offered at an Extra Cost (subject to availability)
Prices are in addition to the “Base” Access Package Price. 
For a general discussion of train upgrades, see here.  Topics include the relative comfort of first versus second class, and different types of accommodation available on overnight trains.

• 1st class train tickets (in lieu of 2nd class):  +15€ to Frankfurt or Luxembourg.
• Sunday tickets to other points.  All prices include reservations where required.
  Tickets are train-specific, and are not refundable or exchangeable once ordered (see below for extra cost flexible tickets).
  - London:  +99€ if you are also purchasing tickets from London at the start of your trip, +139€ if not, or if you prefer a changeable ticket.  In 1st class, add +139€ or +179€; 1st class tickets include meal service between Brussels and London.  A Brussels stop-over is available at no extra charge, if desired.
  - Paris:  +69€ 2nd class, +99€ 1st class.
  A super-discount rate of +75€ in 1st class is sometimes available.
  - Brussels:  +36€ 2nd class, +64€ 1st class.
  A super-discount rate of 48€ in 1st class is sometimes available.
  - Amsterdam:  +59€ 2nd class, +86€ 1st class.
  A super-discount rate of +69€ in 1st class is sometimes available.
  - Berlin:  +59€ 2nd class, +99€ 1st class.
  A super-discount rate of +79€ in 1st class is sometimes available.
• Exchangeable / Refundable Tickets.  No charge for Frankfurt or Luxemburg.  +21€ for tickets to Brussels or Amsterdam.  +41€ for tickets to other destinations.
  These tickets are exchangeable at any station, on a space-available basis, at any time until the train’s departure, for free if the exchange is made prior to the date of travel, or for 10€ on the date of travel.  Cost of either exchange is 10€ higher if you make it through us (as opposed to going to the ticket counter yourself).  Tickets are refundable less 20% before the train’s departure.  All tickets to Frankfurt / Luxembourg are already exchangeable / refundable.  There is no need to pay extra for flexible tickets to these destinations.
  
• Tickets on the Paris airport train, to Charles de Gaulle or Orly from anywhere in the city.  Follow this link for details.
  

Alternate Arrangements, in lieu of our usual packages (subject to availability)
Prices are complete (in other words, they are not in addition to the “Base” Access Package Price)

• Hotel in Cochem or Koblenz (additional nights, or without ongoing rail tickets):  69€ shared occupancy, 91€ single.
  Both prices include the cost of the rail ticket from Bullay or Cochem, taxes and booking charges.
• Saturday afternoon train tickets (no hotel).  All prices include reservations where required.
  Tickets to points other than Luxembourg and Frankfurt are train-specific, not refundable or exchangeable once ordered (see above for extra cost flexible tickets).
  - Luxembourg or Frankfurt:  37€ 2nd class, 56€ 1st class.
  - Paris:  89€ 2nd class, 129€ 1st class.
  Bike Train discount, when available: 57€.
  A super-discount rate of 99€ in 1st class is sometimes available.
  - Brussels:  69€ 2nd class, 99€ 1st class.
  A super-discount rate of 79€ in 1st class is sometimes available.
  - Amsterdam:  89€ 2nd class, 139€ 1st class.
  A super-discount rate of 99€ in 1st class is sometimes available.
  - Berlin:  89€ 2nd class, 159€ 1st class.
  A super-discount rate of 109€ in 1st class is sometimes available.
• Saturday overnight trains (including a couchette sleeping berth aboard).
  These save the cost of a night's lodging.  Sleeping car upgrades are available (see below).
  - To Munich, Prague or Denmark:  89€.
  - To Austria, Switzerland, or Italy:  119€.
  Typically, at least some fellow Marbles are on the train to Denmark.
• Upgrade from 2nd cl. couchette on overnight train:  +45€ / person to private double sleeping car cabin. +99€ to private cabin.  Deluxe cabins with ensuite shower and W.C., + a further 35€ per person, double or single.

4. TIMING Your Trip

The riding day on Saturday is full and rewarding, so it is a pity to try to depart the Moselle Valley too early on Saturday afternoon.  Indeed, any Saturday afternoon departure will leave you feeling rushed as you move through the day.  Try to schedule ongoing travel for the very end of the afternoon, or early evening.

That said, neither Cochem nor Koblenz is anything special.  While they lie in beautiful spots, both suffered a degree of WWII damage in accord with the norm in these parts.  The Rhine valley, however, lives up to its legendary beauty.  If you can take the time for the Rhine cruise (and we can find you a hotel — not a foregone conclusion), do so.  And, if you are flying out from a local airport on Sunday, the river towns are much nicer than the airport hotels.  Otherwise, heading out by late afternoon or overnight train on Saturday is a legitimate option.



5. Service Information
Schedules are approximate – exact timetables can be consulted at
http://www.raileurope.com/us/rail/point_to_point/triprequest.htm.
Best trains are mentioned. Others are slower or have multiple connections.

• To Frankfurt Airport.  Sunday service from Koblenz is at 5:30a, 6:45a, 8:45a, and then hourly (trains in odd hours require a change of train in Mainz, but travel time is the same).  Travel time is 75 minutes direct to the terminals.
  Saturday evening service from Bullay / Cochem is also available, to either Frankfurt Airport or downtown:  2.5 hours with a connection in Koblenz.
• To Luxembourg.  Travel time is 1'45" hours from Cochem / Bullay.  Sunday service is at 7:20a (a local, taking 2'20"), then every two hours from 9a.
  Saturday service is hourly until 9p, with a late train at 11p.
• To Paris.  Trip time 4 hours (from Cochem).  Last Saturday train at 5p.  First Sunday train at 9a.
  If you must reach Paris earlier, a 6a departure from Koblenz via Brussels arrives at 11a (downtown) or 11:35a (CDG Airport), via a connection in Brussels.  This route adds 29€ 2nd cl., 43€ 1st class, to the fare.
  Bike Train departs Cochem / Bullay at 4p, arrives Paris at 9:15p.
• To Berlin.  Service from Koblenz.  Daylight travel time is 5.5 to 6 hours, usually with one connection.  Last Saturday train is at 6p.  Sunday trains run hourly from 5a.
  There is also overnight sleeper service, intentionally slowed to give you the bulk of a night on board:  depart 10p, arrive 7:15a, with a midnight connection in Mannheim.
• To Brussels.  Last Saturday train from Cochem is at 6p, via Luxembourg, arrive 11p.  Sunday service from Koblenz.  Travel time is a bit over 3 hours, with a connection in Köln.  Sunday trains run at 6a, 7a, then every 2 hours.
  A shuttle train links Bruxelles downtown with the airport rail station, in the terminal, every 20 minutes (25-minute trip).
• To Amsterdam.  Last Saturday train is at 6p from Cochem, arrive shortly after midnight.  Sunday service is from Koblenz.  Travel time is 4 hrs, with a connection in Köln.  Service every 2 hours from 7a.
  
• To London.  Travel time is 6 hours or a shade over (though it shows an hour less on the clock face, because of a one-hour time difference).  2 connections are required.  Sunday trains from Koblenz at 7:15a and then every two hours. 
  The latest Saturday service from Cochem is at 3p, which is not really compatible with a relaxed cycling day.
• To Prague.  Saturday overnight, arrive Sunday at 9:15a.

6. Suggested POST-TRIP VISITS

There is a slick “Hotel Train” overnight to Prague.  You can wake up there on Sunday morning, with effective travel time of zero (since you will have been in bed asleep as you travelled).

Rhine Cruise Package

• Saturday train to Boppard, 20 minutes south of Koblenz on the banks of the Rhine, for a night stay there.
• Breakfast.
• On Sunday morning, board a ship for the trip up the Rhine to Bingen, along the river’s most beautiful, castle-studded section.
• You reach Bingen at 1p, where you connect to an ongoing train to the destination of your choice.

Prices from 109€ double or twin, 139€ single, include ongoing train to Frankfurt (other ongoing trains available at additional cost).  An ongoing travel option:  spend Sunday evening in one of the wine towns on the banks of the river, and catch a sleeper train to Vienna, Prague, Italy, or elsewhere (sleeper train prices as from Koblenz).



7. Hints on TRAVELLING INDEPENDENTLY After the Trip
Guests subscribing to an “Access Package” need not read this section.

See also “Timing Your Trip” and “Service Information,” above, as either of these may additionally help.

We gladly provide travel consulting (schedule or routing information) concerning post-trip individual travel. In particular, we have invested a great deal to become railway experts.  Our service fees are reasonable:  a 20€ charge for all but the most complex projects – or the most simple (for instance, only a 10€ charge applies if the service is limited to the preparation of a routine rail ticket).  You will generally find them well-justified by the time they will save you in research, standing on line, overpaying for your tickets, or all three.

But, for some, this type of research is fun.  So, here are some hints, intended to start off hardened “do-it-yourselfers.”

Trains.  Schedules for all routes can be consulted on this web site:
http://www.raileurope.com/us/rail/point_to_point/triprequest.htm

Koblenz is on the “old” Rhine Valley main line, which connects to the European high-speed network an hour to the north (in Köln) and an hour to the south (in Frankfurt).


If you wish to arrange some or all of your travel through us, please tell us what by means of this response questionnaire, designed to collect all the information we need to be able to book your travel.