Taking the train to your offsite in France, Belgium or Germany
· By BookWorkations editors
A train is often the most relaxed way to reach an offsite. Nobody has to drive, people can work on the way, and the group arrives together. But each country sells group tickets in its own way, with its own minimum sizes, booking windows and rules. This article explains the basics for France, Belgium and Germany, based on the operators' own pages, and covers luggage and the last stretch from the station.
Group tickets per country
Group offers are different in each country, so check the rules for the country you travel in. The short version, as of November 2026:
France: SNCF
SNCF sells group tickets from 10 to 90 passengers through its group booking site. You create an account, enter the route, the dates and the number of passengers per age group. The offer covers TGV INOUI and INTERCITÉS, a selection of TER destinations, and several European services such as TGV Lyria and ALLEO. Eurostar group bookings go through Eurostar's own call centre.
A few practical points from the same page:
- The group must be at the station one hour before departure.
- Tickets are sent by email around eleven days before departure. They must be printed, and all group e-tickets are in the name of the group leader.
- A bicycle place cannot be reserved with a group offer.
Belgium: NMBS/SNCB
The Belgian group ticket is strict, and it is worth reading the rules before you book:
- A group needs at least 15 paying travellers. Groups of 4 to 14 people can buy a Minigroep Ticket, which is not a reservation.
- You can only request a group reservation on the website, not at a station counter. Booking opens up to 90 calendar days before the trip and must be made at least 7 calendar days before departure.
- Group reservations only work between two Belgian stations or halts. There is no group offer for cross-border journeys, and a group ticket cannot be combined with an international ticket.
- Only second class is available, and the reserved seats are required. Bicycles and pets cannot travel with a group.
- Changes and free cancellation are possible until 7 calendar days before departure. After payment, the travel dates and stations cannot be changed.
- Trains into the Brussels zone have limited space for groups in the peak hours, between 7 and 9 in the morning and 15.30 to 18.30 in the afternoon, when travelling from the zone.
Germany: Deutsche Bahn
Deutsche Bahn offers group tickets for groups of six or more. The main options differ in flexibility:
- Super Sparpreis Gruppe and Sparpreis Gruppe include seat reservations and are tied to the trains on your ticket. The Super Sparpreis Gruppe cannot be cancelled; the Sparpreis Gruppe can be cancelled for a fee.
- The Gruppenpreis Deutschlandtarif gives 50 percent off the fare on regional trains. It can be booked online for up to 20 people, up to 12 months ahead.
- For groups of 21 or more on regional trains, registration is required. Check the rule for each offer before you choose.
- The Europe group offers are not all available online. Check the offer page before you buy.
Luggage: plan it before you pack
Luggage is where train trips for groups often go wrong. Bags that are fine on the platform become a problem when a group has to get on a crowded carriage in a hurry. Some rules that apply across the operators:
- Label every bag with a name and a way to reach the owner. SNCF notes that an unidentified bag can be destroyed for safety reasons.
- Everyone must be able to lift and stow their own luggage in one go. Heavy or awkward items are a poor choice for a train.
- The Belgian group ticket does not allow a separate luggage reservation, so luggage travels on the racks or under the seats.
- SNCF lists left-luggage services in many large French stations, which can help when you arrive early or want to drop bags before a session in town.
Cover the last mile
The train is only part of the trip. Many offsite venues sit in the countryside, and the walk or taxi from the station can take longer than the train. Plan this before the group arrives:
- Ask the venue whether it offers a transfer from the station, and what it costs and how many people fit.
- For a group of 15 or more, a minibus or coach is usually easier than several taxis. Book it for the arrival time, not for the departure of the first train.
- Keep the group together from the platform to the car. Share one contact number and one meeting point.
- Check the return journey as well. Trains back can be fewer in the evening, so book the transfer back early.
Make it easy for the group
Appoint one person as the travel lead. This person books, holds the tickets and the group reference, and knows the plan for each leg. A short message with the train times, the platform, the meeting point and the contact number, sent a week before, prevents most of the questions on the day.
Choosing a venue near a station makes the whole plan simpler. You can compare locations on /venues, or look at the offsite formats such as the strategy offsite or the team workation to see what suits your group.