Deals Of The Week: Germany by rail; Aerolineas Argentinas

A TRAIN

The cost of rail travel in Germany starts to fall on Friday. From 1 November, the Deutsche Bahn office in London (08702 43 53 63, www.bahn.de) will start selling the new range of discount train tickets for travel from 15 December. The German rail operator is introducing the sorts of incentives found among airlines to try to persuade people to book in advance. In doing so, the system is becoming mightily complex, but it is worth making the effort.

Buy your ticket a day ahead, and you save 10 per cent. Make it three days ahead, and the discount rises to 25 per cent. Those who commit a week in advance, and stay over a Saturday night, save 40 per cent.

Travelling with others also cuts costs. The second, third, fourth and fifth members of the party pay half the fare of the "lead" traveller. And you can buy a second-class Bahn Card for €60 (£40), which gives a 25 per cent reduction on all fares. All discounts are compounded – so a group of five, all with Bahn Cards, who book a week in advance, get a 73 per cent discount.

A PLANE

The Argentinian airline, Aerolineas Argentinas (020-7494 1001), used to fly between Heathrow and Madrid as part of its long-haul route to Buenos Aires. It has switched to Gatwick, but still offers excellent value for a with-frills flight to the Spanish capital: £91.60 return. Flights only operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.