KCSullivan

Hello, Over in UK for one year. Interested in above mentioned trip centered around holiday season. Got overwhelmed with complexity and logistics of the trains etc. Contemplating idea of local travel agency recommended to me. Below is what I was quoted. Does this seem reasonable in terms of price? are locations any good ( I have used trip advisor to look into them, not ideal locales but seem OK?)...... If I could do better on my own, would need some serious help and input about trains. Help MUCH appreciated.
Holiday departing Saturday 22 December 2012

Arrive into Munich by flight (own arrangements)



Your accommodation for the next one night is in the Winters Munich City Centre – 3*.



Sunday 23 December

Munich Hbf dep 1048

Salzburg Hbf arr 1242





Your accommodation for the next three nights is in the Hofwirt Hotel – 3*.



Wednesday 26 December

Salzburg Hbf dep 1101

Vienna Westbahnhof arr 1344



Your accommodation for the next three nights is in the The Art Hotel Vienna – 3*.



Saturday 29 December

Vienna Westbahnhof dep 0954

Budapest-Keleti Pu arr 1249



Your accommodation for the next four nights is in the Ibis Budapest Centrum – 3*.



Wednesday 02 January

Budapest-Keleti Pu dep 1125

Prague hl.n. arr 1818



Your accommodation for the next three nights is in the Three Crowns Hotel Prague – 3*.



Saturday 05 January

Praha hl.n. dep 0907

Munich Hbf arr 1503



End of itinerary.

KCSullivan

oh yeah, total cost is 2,460 Pounds

nytraveler

First of all - why go to Munich at all? You are wasting 2 days just getting to and fro and not seeing anything.

You should fly into Salzburg (or Vienna) and out of Prague to avoid 2 wasted days.

Getting from one place to another via train is perfectly simple. Just go to bahn.de - the German rail site. It has schedules for all of europe - and put together an itinerary. (You will have to go to the train stations in each city to actually buy the tickets - but can have your itinerary already set - or even buy tickets in advance from the rail company of each country.) (It is probably too soon to buy tickets for December - but you can look at the sites and try - or find out when the tickets for your dates will go on sale.)

And yes, I think you can do much better for yourself.

PalenQ

With all that train travel in Eastern Europe by all means investigate the European East Railpass - valid on trains in Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia - everything you are doing save Munich to Salzburg - a 5-day flexipass pass - to be used for unlimited travel on any 5 days of your choosing over a one-month period in 2nd class costs only about $40 a day or about 31 euros a day for hop on any train anytime travel in all those countries.

And in 1st class the pass is not all that much more and IME first class for the typical traveler hauling around lots of luggage is very much more relaxed than 2nd class - lots more empty seats, seats bigger, easier to find room to stow luggage, etc.

check out these superb IMO sites for lots about trains in Eastern Europe and the railpass: http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id6.html; www.ricksteves.com and www.seat61.com.

PalenQ

how about some hotel recommendations folks?

Jean

Does the quoted price include the train tickets or merely hotels? If trains are included, the price is a bargain. But that's about all I like.

As nytraveler questioned, flying in/out of Munich doesn't make much sense. I would add the Munich time (and perhaps one of the nights in Salzburg) to Vienna and Prague. Or did you specifically want to be in Salzburg on Christmas Day?

I'm not familiar with the hotels proposed by the travel agent but have to say the locations in Vienna and Prague are not where I would want to be, esp. in a short visit when sunset will be shortly after 4:00 p.m.

KCSullivan

thanks for the responses. Decided to go on my own and booked the trip myself. the quoted price did include rail. I did choose round trip airfair into Munich. Had to wait until a few days ago and prices anywhere else were not all that great (flying from Glasgow, UK). Also, did not want to end trip in Prague and then have to take rail all way to Salzburg (3 year old son). Lookedi nto 1 way flights. fly into Munich or Salzburg, then out from Prague but flight prices and schedules were horrible. For Lodging, used tripadvisor and was able to secure B&B's in all cities and all B&B fall within top 3 voted for respective cities. So, airfair, and loding is taken care of. B&B owners shuold be able to point me in right direction for rail (Will look into passes and advance purchasing) just looking for events to fill schedule while there and restaraunt recommendations.
THANKS> (yes, wanted to be in Salzburg for X-mas)

nytraveler

When going into one city and out of another - you don't use two one-way tickets. What you look at are multi-destination or multi-city tickets. should not be much more than RT - unless yuo pick airlines that serve only one of the cities.

KCSullivan

Hmm. Lesson learned. Already booked airfair though and think it is more than manageable. My family and I are accustomed to long road trips having traveled much of the states with camping/hiking. the longest rail ride is from Budapest to Prague at 7 hours but that is after a 4 day stay in Budapest. Anyway, lodging locales look great, now just need some ideas to fill my days. Thanks all.

PalenQ

You could take an overnight train Budapest to Prague - save on hotel cost and travel time during the day.