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Deutsche Bahn group trips & school trips: Here's how to save!
Planning a group trip or school excursion with Deutsche Bahn? DB offers numerous options, but planning can be complex. Learn how to get the best prices, which offers are most suitable for your group, and what pitfalls you should avoid. Need assistance with planning? Contact us for personalised advice!
The topic, briefly and concisely
Early planning is crucial to take advantage of favourable fares and early booking offers from Deutsche Bahn. Ensure you save up to 20% on costs by booking in advance.
Take advantage of the eco-friendly travel options of Deutsche Bahn to reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 70% compared to bus travel and contribute to climate protection.
After the discontinuation of DB school trips, partner travel agencies such as CTS-Reisen and Alpetour offer comprehensive services and customised packages for your school trips and group travel.
Discover the best deals for Deutsche Bahn group travel and school trips. Find out how to benefit from early booking discounts and plan the perfect trip for your group.
Planning a trip with a larger group? Whether it's a school class, club, or another group, Deutsche Bahn offers a variety of options for affordable and comfortable group travel. We’ll show you how to find the best deals for Deutsche Bahn group trips and school excursions and make the most of your journey.
Group trips and school excursions are not just an opportunity to discover new places but also to gain important social and educational experiences. Shared experiences strengthen bonds and promote mutual understanding. Additionally, by choosing the train, you are contributing to environmentally friendly travel by reducing CO₂ emissions.
Deutsche Bahn offers various tariffs and deals that are specifically tailored to the needs of groups. From saver fares for early birds to special conditions for school classes – with the right planning, you can save significantly. Learn how to take advantage of these benefits and organize your trip stress-free.
Secure saver fares: How Deutsche Bahn's pricing structure works
Deutsche Bahn offers a variety of fares for group travel, including the Super Sparpreis Gruppe, the Sparpreis Gruppe, and the Sparpreis Europa Gruppe. Each of these fares has its own particularities regarding flexibility and reservation. The Super Sparpreis Gruppe is especially affordable but offers less flexibility, whereas the Sparpreis Gruppe allows non-binding reservations. With the Sparpreis Europa Gruppe, you benefit from a fixed price across Europe, making budget planning easier.
Child discounts are an important factor when planning family or school trips. Deutsche Bahn generally offers reduced rates for children, with specific terms varying depending on the fare and destination. It's worth carefully comparing the different offers to find the most cost-effective option. Additionally, there are often special offers specifically tailored to groups.
For smaller groups that do not meet the minimum number required for group fares, the Quer-durchs-Land-Ticket and Länder-Tickets are suitable. These tickets are ideal for groups of up to five people and offer affordable travel on regional services. However, please note that these tickets are generally only valid in certain regions and at specific times.
Early bookers secure the best train prices
Booking your German Rail group trip or school trip early offers numerous advantages. By booking in advance, you not only secure the best prices but also benefit from greater flexibility in planning. Deutsche Bahn offers special early booking deals that allow you to book your trip up to 12 months in advance. This is particularly important for school trips, as schools often require a long lead time for organization.
The Early Booking Action 2026 enables you to secure guaranteed prices even before the schedule is released. This provides you with planning reliability and protects against potential price increases. Additionally, many rates offer flexible adjustment and cancellation terms, allowing you to modify or cancel your booking if necessary. This is particularly important if the number of participants changes at short notice.
For school trips, early booking is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, it allows for better budget planning as costs are fixed early on. Secondly, you have more time to plan the trip in detail and tailor it to the students' needs. Moreover, you can benefit from the early booking discounts, thereby easing the school trip's budget.
Bicycle Transport and Seat Reservation: How to Make the Logistics Work
When planning a group trip with Deutsche Bahn, logistical aspects play an important role. In particular, the transportation of bicycles requires careful planning. On long-distance routes, there is a reservation requirement for bicycles, while on local routes, groups of six or more need an advance registration. Make sure to get informed about the applicable regulations in good time to avoid problems when transporting your bicycles.
For larger groups of 21 or more, Deutsche Bahn offers a digital group registration. This significantly eases the logistics, especially when transporting bicycles or wheelchairs is necessary. The digital registration enables efficient coordination and ensures a smooth process. Additionally, it's important to consider seat reservations. These are included in many tariffs, but not all. A seat reservation provides more comfort on longer journeys, especially when travelling with children.
To make the journey as pleasant as possible, you should also keep an eye on your luggage. Find out about Deutsche Bahn's luggage policies and plan enough time for loading. If necessary, you can also use Deutsche Bahn's luggage service to have your luggage conveniently transported to your destination. Good preparation is key to a relaxed group trip by train.
DB class trips discontinued: New ways for your travel planning
By the end of 2024, Deutsche Bahn has discontinued its programme DB Klassenfahrten. This decision means that schools and travel organisers will need to look for new ways to arrange school trips. The reasons for discontinuing the programme lie in Deutsche Bahn's strategic realignment, as it wishes to focus purely on transport in the future. The impact on schools and travel organisers is significant, as they will now have to rely on alternative providers and individual planning.
Alternatives include partner travel agencies such as CTS-Reisen and Alpetour. These agencies specialise in organising school trips and offer comprehensive services, from booking train tickets to organising accommodation and leisure activities. CTS-Reisen stands out, for example, with its CO₂ compensation and transfer specialisation, while Alpetour excels with tailored offerings and personalised advice. These agencies can help you continue to plan hassle-free and successful school trips.
Despite the discontinuation of DB Klassenfahrten, group travel with Deutsche Bahn remains an attractive option. By focusing on transport, you can benefit from favourable group rates and plan your journey individually. However, it is advisable to make bookings early and carefully compare the different offers from Deutsche Bahn. With the right planning, nothing stands in the way of a successful school trip.
Registration in local transport: Observe regional specifics
For group travel with Deutsche Bahn, it is important to consider regional specifics. In particular, in the local transport of Baden-Württemberg, there are special regulations for registering groups. Groups of 20 or more people traveling with trains of DB Regio AG must register their journey at least 10 days in advance. This also applies to bicycle groups of 6 or more people. The registration is for capacity planning and ensures that all travelers have sufficient space.
Registration can be done either at a DB sales office or by phone. It is important to register the journey in time to avoid potential issues. If the journey is not taking place, it is important to cancel the registration so that resources can be allocated accordingly. The registration obligation applies exclusively to trains of DB Regio AG in the local transport of Baden-Württemberg and not to buses or trains of other providers.
For smaller groups of less than 20 people, the registration obligation is generally not required. However, it is advisable to check the applicable regulations in advance to ensure a smooth journey. Adhering to regional specifics helps ensure that your group travel with Deutsche Bahn is a success.
Sustainable travel: Make use of the environmental friendliness of Deutsche Bahn
Group travel with Deutsche Bahn offers an excellent way to travel in an environmentally friendly manner. Compared to cars and planes, trains cause significantly fewer CO₂ emissions. This is a particularly important consideration for environmentally conscious schools. By choosing rail, you actively contribute to climate protection and reduce your ecological footprint.
Some providers like CTS-Reisen go a step further by offering CO₂ compensation for their trips. By collaborating with Klimainvest, the CO₂ emissions generated during travel are offset through climate protection projects. The TÜV-certified compensation since 2018 ensures that the compensation is transparent and effective. BAHNHIT.DE also relies on 100% green electricity, providing a particularly eco-friendly travel option.
Deutsche Bahn itself continuously invests in the modernisation of its fleet and the expansion of its network. By using modern trains and optimising timetables, energy consumption is reduced and eco-friendliness is further enhanced. Take this opportunity to travel sustainably with the train and contribute to protecting our environment.
Affordable Train Travel: Tips for the Perfect Group Trip
Organising a group trip or school excursion with Deutsche Bahn requires careful preparation. An early planning and booking is crucial to securing the best prices and terms. When planning, consider possible schedule changes, such as those due to construction work. Keep informed about alternative routes and connections in advance to remain flexible.
Choosing the right fare is another important aspect. Compare the various offers and conditions of Deutsche Bahn, taking into account the group size and travel destinations. Pay attention to possible special offers and discounts specifically tailored for groups. Besides the price, logistical aspects also play a role. Plan the bicycle transport, seat reservation, and luggage transport carefully. Remember to register for the public transport in Baden-Württemberg, if necessary.
Also make use of the offers from partner travel companies such as CTS-Reisen and Alpetour. They provide you with individual consultation and tailor-made offers tailored to your needs. With the right planning and preparation, your group trip or school excursion with Deutsche Bahn will become an unforgettable experience.
Key Benefits of Planning Ahead
Here are some of the key benefits you'll gain:
Cost Savings: Early booking often unlocks significant discounts and special offers.
Flexibility: Planning ahead allows for greater flexibility in choosing travel dates and accommodations.
Peace of Mind: Knowing that your trip is well-organized reduces stress and allows you to focus on enjoying the experience.
Train journeys for groups: Plan, save, experience together
More useful links
On the Deutsche Bahn page, you will find an overview of group tickets and their conditions.
FAQ
What advantages do group trips with Deutsche Bahn offer for school classes?
Group trips with Deutsche Bahn are often more cost-effective than bus trips, especially for smaller groups. Additionally, you contribute to environmental protection through reduced CO₂ emissions. Deutsche Bahn also offers special offers for school classes.
How can I find the best deals for group trips with Deutsche Bahn?
Booking early is crucial to benefit from discount prices and early booking promotions. Compare the different fares (Super Group Saver, Group Saver, Europe Group Saver) and make use of partner travel agencies like CTS-Reisen or Alpetour when appropriate.
What should I consider when transporting bicycles in groups?
In long-distance travel, there is a reservation requirement for bicycles. In regional transport, a pre-registration is required for groups of six or more people. Inform yourself in advance about the applicable regulations.
What should be considered when registering groups in regional transport in Baden-Württemberg?
Groups of 20 or more people traveling with DB Regio AG trains in regional transport in Baden-Württemberg must register their journey at least 10 days in advance. This also applies to bicycle groups of 6 or more people.
What are the alternatives now that DB school trips have been discontinued?
As alternatives, partner travel agencies like CTS-Reisen and Alpetour are available. These agencies specialise in organising school trips and offer comprehensive services.
What role does sustainability play in group trips with Deutsche Bahn?
Group trips with Deutsche Bahn are an environmentally friendly alternative to car and air travel, as they cause significantly less CO₂ emissions. Some providers even offer CO₂ compensation.
Are there special offers for smaller groups under 6 people?
For smaller groups, the Quer-durchs-Land-Ticket and the Länder-Tickets are suitable. These tickets are ideal for groups of up to five people and allow affordable travel in regional transport.
How can GoTuro assist with planning a group trip with Deutsche Bahn?
GoTuro supports you in planning and organising your group trip or school trip with Deutsche Bahn. Our experts help you find the best deals and optimise your trip.
