Budapest to Krakow via overnight train
Jul 11th, 2010, 09:49 AM
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Budapest to Krakow via overnight train
All,
I will be traveling from Budapest Keleti to Krakow Glowny via overnight train on September 7. From review of bahh.de, raileurope.com and related, there is a direct connect departing at 19:58 and arriving at 6:24. I want to travel first class and have a shared sleeper compartment.
Rail Europe offers their ticket for $172US (including reservation). I know if I purchase ahead of time from the States that I’ll be paying a higher percentage and so forth.
Does anyone know what the price difference will be if purchased in person a day or two before in Budapest? Is it worth the chance? This is the only time allotted to travel given my schedule ( ei - I have to make that time).
Thank you all and please enlighten this new traveler.
I will be traveling from Budapest Keleti to Krakow Glowny via overnight train on September 7. From review of bahh.de, raileurope.com and related, there is a direct connect departing at 19:58 and arriving at 6:24. I want to travel first class and have a shared sleeper compartment.
Rail Europe offers their ticket for $172US (including reservation). I know if I purchase ahead of time from the States that I’ll be paying a higher percentage and so forth.
Does anyone know what the price difference will be if purchased in person a day or two before in Budapest? Is it worth the chance? This is the only time allotted to travel given my schedule ( ei - I have to make that time).
Thank you all and please enlighten this new traveler.
Jul 11th, 2010, 12:27 PM
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I want to suggest to you to read comments on www.europetrainsguide.com
These people know everything about train travel in Europe and are very helpful.
I will be doing the opposite trip from Krakow to Budapest and asked them many questions about purchasing tickets which I cannot do outside of Poland.
They tell me that an advance ticket would be about E49. That would be 60 days in advance or maybe a little less. Two person sleeper compartments are combined with second class tickets. I don't really think there are one person compartments but I know that there are multiple person compartments if you wish to share with someone you do not know. They are less expensive.
When purchased two or three days in advance, the cost would be about E98. I only have two days in Krakow and I also wanted to buy in advance. It may be worth it for you to purchase from Rail Europe and pay the extra premium. The people at Europe Trains Guide never suggest using an agency to purchase located outside the US because you might be buying a pig in a poke or Rail Europe because of the cost
Good luck.
These people know everything about train travel in Europe and are very helpful.
I will be doing the opposite trip from Krakow to Budapest and asked them many questions about purchasing tickets which I cannot do outside of Poland.
They tell me that an advance ticket would be about E49. That would be 60 days in advance or maybe a little less. Two person sleeper compartments are combined with second class tickets. I don't really think there are one person compartments but I know that there are multiple person compartments if you wish to share with someone you do not know. They are less expensive.
When purchased two or three days in advance, the cost would be about E98. I only have two days in Krakow and I also wanted to buy in advance. It may be worth it for you to purchase from Rail Europe and pay the extra premium. The people at Europe Trains Guide never suggest using an agency to purchase located outside the US because you might be buying a pig in a poke or Rail Europe because of the cost
Good luck.
Jan 18th, 2012, 11:03 AM
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This train has seats, couchettes (basic flat bunks in 6-berth compartments) and a sleeping-car. I'd always recommend a bed in the sleeper.
The sleeping-car has 10 or 11 identical compartments each fitted with an upper, lower and middle berths and each compartment can be used as either a 1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper with washbasin.
Only a 2nd class ticket is now required for a bed in a 2- or 3-bed sleeper. A first class ticket is only required for single occupancy. Same bed, same compartment, if we fold the middle and top berths away it becomes 1st class, if we fold them (or even just the middle bunk) out again and hey presto, it's 2nd class.
I believe that Rail Europe, being based on the French reservations system, still facors in a first class ticket for a 2-bed sleeper as it cannot cope with the idea that other railway administrations have changed the rules!
You cannot book this journey online, either book by phone if you're in the UK, say with DB on 08718 80 80 66 or buy at the station when you get to Budapest.
Alternatively, try this agency in Budapest which can book train tickets for you, though I've had no feedback from anyone who has used them yet: http://www.centraleasteurope.com/train_tickets.htm
The sleeping-car has 10 or 11 identical compartments each fitted with an upper, lower and middle berths and each compartment can be used as either a 1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper with washbasin.
Only a 2nd class ticket is now required for a bed in a 2- or 3-bed sleeper. A first class ticket is only required for single occupancy. Same bed, same compartment, if we fold the middle and top berths away it becomes 1st class, if we fold them (or even just the middle bunk) out again and hey presto, it's 2nd class.
I believe that Rail Europe, being based on the French reservations system, still facors in a first class ticket for a 2-bed sleeper as it cannot cope with the idea that other railway administrations have changed the rules!
You cannot book this journey online, either book by phone if you're in the UK, say with DB on 08718 80 80 66 or buy at the station when you get to Budapest.
Alternatively, try this agency in Budapest which can book train tickets for you, though I've had no feedback from anyone who has used them yet: http://www.centraleasteurope.com/train_tickets.htm
Jan 18th, 2012, 11:23 AM
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AyQuehago - Sher bought her tickets when she was in Krakow. She did buy them before leaving home from some dicey web site and the tickets never arrived. Tickets in Poland are so cheap that you won't get much in savings when buying them on line ahead - it's best to wait until you get to Krakow and buy them as soon as you arrive.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-needed.cfm?12
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-needed.cfm?12
Jan 18th, 2012, 12:15 PM
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Are you taking other trains in Eastern Europe if so then look at the Eastern European railpass, valid in Austria, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia - it covers basic rail fare on the overnight train and you can get a couchette for about $30 or perhaps double p.p. once there for a double and use the pass - a five day pass flexipass over a one-month period on any train in those countries.
For lots of great info on trains in Eastern Europe I always recommend these fab sites - www.seat61.com (Man in seat 61 who posts just above - his commercial site); www.budgeteuropetravel.com (for any Rail Europe product call Byron there - I have bought passes from him for years and an expert you can talk to - and www.ricksteves.com (good run down of railpasses here). And an e-mail to the site Man in Seat 61 mentions of an agency in Budapest may be great too - to get the real price and book ahead - I have rarely ever had any problems booking overnight trains on the spot (with my railpass - paying the sleeping supplement whilst the pass pays the train fare itself) but you never know so it is nice to have it all booked ahead. If all else fails try RailEurope.
For lots of great info on trains in Eastern Europe I always recommend these fab sites - www.seat61.com (Man in seat 61 who posts just above - his commercial site); www.budgeteuropetravel.com (for any Rail Europe product call Byron there - I have bought passes from him for years and an expert you can talk to - and www.ricksteves.com (good run down of railpasses here). And an e-mail to the site Man in Seat 61 mentions of an agency in Budapest may be great too - to get the real price and book ahead - I have rarely ever had any problems booking overnight trains on the spot (with my railpass - paying the sleeping supplement whilst the pass pays the train fare itself) but you never know so it is nice to have it all booked ahead. If all else fails try RailEurope.
Jan 21st, 2012, 08:30 AM
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I want to travel first class and have a shared sleeper compartment.>
Are you traveling solo - if so you may not be able to get a place in a double which are usually sold to copuples all at once IME - not mix and matched - there are singles as well which are really doubles with only one bed in use IME.
Are you traveling solo - if so you may not be able to get a place in a double which are usually sold to copuples all at once IME - not mix and matched - there are singles as well which are really doubles with only one bed in use IME.
Jan 23rd, 2012, 08:14 PM
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Berths are sold individually, and it's really a price thing.
Single = 1st class ticket + 60 euros supplement
Double = 2nd class ticket + 28 euros supplement
Triple = 2nd class ticket + 19 euros supplement
Single = 1st class ticket + 60 euros supplement
Double = 2nd class ticket + 28 euros supplement
Triple = 2nd class ticket + 19 euros supplement
Jan 25th, 2012, 11:06 AM
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So Man you can buy one berth in a double and be with someone else you don't know - I am not contradicting you but just want to make sure that is what you are saying. Thanks as I would always book a 28 euro supplement berth in a double rather than a triple or couchette for a fairly small price differential.
Jan 27th, 2012, 09:08 AM
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thanks Man - RailEurope in the US has always said you had to book both places I believe and I thought that could be the case always - but as you have pointed out RE sometimes has policies the European railways in Europe do not. Flummoxing and thanks for taking time to respond. I constantly recommend your fabulous www.seat61.com site in my rail-themed posts!
