KathyErdo

I'm taking my trip the end of June (not my first choice but my companion is a teacher). We're spending 4 days Prague then 4 days Budapest. I'm planning to take the night train from Prague to Budapest, reserving a sleeper if possible. I haven't found anyone's opinions on this particular trip. Any tips would be greatly appreciated, such as how soon does one need to get to the train station, should I prebook the sleeper or should I just wait til I get to Prague...stuff like that. Also, what is the neighorhood like near the train station? Our hotel is about 5 min walk from there. Thanks!

Intrepid1

The direct night service leaves from Hlavni Nadrazi (the "main station&quot. I have never stayed at a hotel in that immediate area.

What is the name of the hotel?

Usually you can book no more than 60 nights out. You could probably wait to reserve but I would do so immediately upon arrival in Prague. If you do so, in advance, you'll probably end up paying a S+H fee although that might be waived if you also buy the ticket and reserve the sleeping car space from the same agency.

Intrepid1

Technically, if you have your ticket in hand you can board the train just before departure but I would get there at least 15 minutes ahead of departure time.

ben_haines_london

Neither the Czech nor the Hungarian republics have public holidays in late June, so on your first or second day in Prague or in the Czech Republic you can go to Cedok travel agency (in Prague on Na Prikope) to book your berths.

The reference library of a city near you may have the Thomas Cook European Rail Timetable. Table 60 shows the Pannonia Express, which leaves Prague Hlavni station sat 2305 and reaches Budapest Keleti station at 0753. It has single and two berth sleeping compartments in first class, and three-berth compartments in second class, where you are separated by sex, so share your compartments with two European strangers, which can be interesting. Your fare per person is 100 euros in the triple, and 160 or 140 euros in the single or double. Details are these. Prague Hlavni station has pickpockets in threes, who want to bump into you and rob you, so in your hotel you put your rail tickets into a front pocket and your passports, money, and other valuables into a packet with your toilet things. Hlavni station is one stop along the metro line from Museum station, at the top of Wenceslas Square, and you can board your train from about 2220. The streets near the station are little used at 2220 or 2300, but the station is fairly busy. Safely inside your sleeper compartment you can take out your passports and toilet things, wash, go to bed, hand your tickets to the car conductor, and lock and bolt your door from inside. For the longest possible night you should refuse his offer of instant coffee in the morning.

Frontier staff wake you at 0315 to 0345 and at 0530 to 0600: you stay in bed.

At Budapest Keleti the station restaurant, off the platform at the front end of the station, opens I think at eight and serves good omlette, coffee, and other things for breakfast. One of you can sit by the luggage, and order, while the other walks along the same platform to the cash machine, called Bankautomat, to draw Hungarian florins and to ask a Hungarian to help to buy at a stand a weekly listings magazine for music. It is in Czech, but easy to understand. The same stall may sell you a street map of the city, with tramlines and bus lines marked. The metro station is 200 yards from the front of the station, so with luggage you may prefer to ask the waiter to show you where taxis call. A cab with a phone number painted onto it will not cheat you.

Please write again if I can help further.

Ben Haines, London
[email protected]

KathyErdo

Thank you for your great answers. They were very helpful. I'll probably get the tickets ahead of time, I'm a bit anal that way. lol

KathyErdo

My hotel in Prague is the Falkensteiner Maria Prague on Opletalova. My sister, the travel agent that never travels, booked it for me. If it's bad I don't want to hear about it! lol But if it is bad I'll be sure to let my sister know, very loudly. But that will add to the adventure of the trip.

Intrepid1

My only other piece of unsolicited advice would be this:

supposedly groups of pickpockets have been known to operate in some of the train stations. I have read very second/third-hand reports of incidents in both the Holesovice and Hlavni stations. However, I have mever had a problem in either one and have only traveled through Hlavni when it was practically deserted (early AM's usually) but I would advise you to be aware of the theft possibility in any particularly crowded or "busy" situation.

The other warning has to be about some of the totally unscrupulous cab drivers in Prague; to some folks these are supposedly the most corrupt anywhere. This may not be an issue for you since your hotel is within walking distance of the station.

Enjoy Prague as it is IMO a wonderful city.

KathyErdo

Thank you for the advice. I had heard that before, also. I think, as in any large city, a person just has to be aware of the surrounding area and people in it. And after concuring the transit system of NYC how hard can Prague be...other than not speaking Czech or being able to read/pronouce stuff? lol Travel= the ultimate adventure.

ben_haines_london

What is special sbout these two stations is the working in groups of three. Or has anyone seen such groups elsewhere ?

Ben Haines

lizzy911

I highly suggest you go with your gut and book in advance. I took the night train 2 summers ago with some girls I studied abroad with who decided we didn't need to book in advance, we were stuck for 9 hours with 8 people in a regular car and arrived in Budapest really mad at each other. Also it was super hot, but we did book a nice hostel that let us check in early. It is true there were some shady people on the train and at the stations, but that is true in all of Europe not to mention the U.S.!

Anyway, best of luck, it is a nice trip if you have appropriate accomodations.

PalQ

Praha hl.n. 07.04.06 dep 23:05 D 375
D 732 Schnellzug
Subject to compulsory reservation, Sleeping-car, Couchettes, BordRestaurant
Runs as D 375 up to Rajka, then as D 732
Budapest-Keleti pu 08.04.06 arr 07:53
Duration: 8:48; runs daily, not 9. Dec
Border crossing: Kuty(Gr), Rajka(Gr)

If reserving here or there helps to have train numbers as above taken from German rail web site - like said can book up to 60 days before. RailEurope would charge about $85 plus the sleeping berth - $32 in a couchette plus a $15 handling fee and $15 mailing fee i think - i always recommend BETS (800-441-2387) - i've worked thru Linda there for years and though i rarely book ahead at times i do and she's great. BETS also doesn't charge some of RE's fees. I have a feeling you could easily do it there but you never know - a football match in the other city, etc. can make trains crowded at times.