Alex,
Do not know about Poland, but am not sure what you plan to do in Pilsen for 3 nights, for instance? I believe that there are more interesting towns to visit in Czech Republic. You may want to stay loose. Also, check out Charles University .. they have summer excursions or, follow their suggestions.Buses go everywhere. You could also look at campgrounds cause some offer cabins and seem quite inexpensive, but I have never stayed in those.
Historical sights.. you mean like Terezin? Or, old castles? I used to live in Prague and would certainly spend several days there. It is a fun city although it could be quite hot in July.
Link to Charles Univ.
http://usac.unr.edu/programs/overview.aspx?program=3218#7501
Here is the time table for buses.
http://jizdnirady.idnes.cz/autobusy/spojeni/
Here is a review of campgrounds, should you need it:
http://www.langdale-associates.com/czecho_2009/postscript/index_xxx.htm
Not sure about these camps in Prague.. .
http://www.myczechrepublic.com/prague/camping.html

Alex, oops, here is one more site you may find somewhat helpful..

http://www.campingmap.net/map.aspx/CZ10300_Praha

I am suprised at 3 nights in Plzen,you can easily visit there as a day trip from Prague.Plzen has the famous Brewery and Brewing museum both are well worth visiting but that would only take up a day or less.There is a museum to general Patton there and a fairly nice cathedral but not a lot else.
Lots to keep you busy in Prague.
http://www.prague.net/
this website will give you lots of info.
As Pentuka says lots of other nice towns to vist apart from Plzen in the Czech republic.
Now i love Plzen been there 5 times but only for the brewery or brewing museum.
Places Like Kutna Hora,Cesky Krumlo and Karlova vary.Last week i visited tabor for the day,very nice little tone but a day trip would be enough there for me.

Will you have to rely on public transport? Or would you be willing to rent a car for certain legs of your trip?
The reason I ask is that your itinerary is more or less one city after another.
While there is lots to see and do in the towns and cities, Poland, for example, is a huge country with many rural areas worth exploring, i.e. the Baltic coast from Gdansk to the border with the Russian Kaliningrad region and the Northeastern corner with the famous Mazurian lakes district.

Hi all, thanks for your replies.

Petunka - thanks for the advice and links, I will check out Charles Univ. if I get the chance. As for Pilsen, it's only two days, as the third will be travelling.

Cowboy - yes, I am using public transport, mainly trains (as I will have an interrail pass for the duration). Makes it hard to visit the smaller locations in Poland, though I am tempted to take the train from Gdansk to surrounding areas for day trips.

unclegus - mmm brewery

One thing you may want to do is figure out Polish pronunciations. Wroclaw is pronounced "Vrotslav" and Lodz is pronounced "Wooj." Seriously. The Polish L with a slash through it is said like an English w and the e with a cedille is like "en" so Lech Walesa with the Polish accents is "Vawensa". See the proper diacritical representation of Walesa on his wikipedia page.

That aside, you can increase your daily budget by cutting a lot of the stays. You won't need 5 nights in Warsaw or 4 in Lodz in all likelihood. You have input on Plzen and the same is likely true for Cesky Krumlov and Torun. Cut a day from each and that's easily another 75-100 quid you won't spend on cheap lodgings and that will add another bit to your sightseeing budget.

You should add a night to Gdansk so you can party in Sopot, lie on the beach, and also visit Malbork Castle. You should also various day trips from Prague (Terezin, Karlstejn Castle) and Krakow (Salt Mines, Oswiecim).

http://www.prazdrojvisit.cz/en/
here is the link to the brewery tour,It is quite different from the very first tour I went on about 10 years ago but still very interesting and you do get a beer from the great wooden barrels in the brewery cellars.There are links to the brewing museum too.
There is also a very good resturant in the Brewery ground as well as an excellent gift shop ,links to all of these also on the page I have posted.Have fun.

A friend sent me this a few days ago (I am just back from the Czech Beer Festival in Prague) some of these events may co-inside with your visit.

Ferdinand Fest / Benešov near Prague
Just outside the capital, is held every year the Ferdinand Fest. Featuring: beer and rock music! A small, family festival to clebrate the best brews on the traditional site of the Ferdinand brewery.
When: 11th June 2011
Where: Táborská 306, 256 01 Benešov, map
Getting there: 30 km from Prague, Highway D5 from Prague, exit Benešov
GPS: N 49.780146, E 14.690388


July
Beer Festival in Padochov / Southern Moravia
The first weekend in July, and thus the beginning of the summer holiday will be celebrated in the Moravian Padochov with a hearty beer festival. Visitors may try there 50 different beers from 12 Czech breweries and micro breweries and enjoy lots of Czech specialties, beer contests and live music.
When: 2nd July 2011
Where: Oslavany- Padochov, map
Getting there: Approx. 200 km from Prague; drive in Prague on the motorway D1 - exit 178: Ostrovačice - Ricany u Brna - Rosice u Brna – Tetčice - Neslovice - Padochov. Drive through Padochov Zbysov, direction Brno. At the end of Padochov you will find the festival on the right hand side of the street.
Entry: 70 - 80 CZK


Beerfest in Nepomuk / Bohemia, Southern CR
For the 19th time beer lovers from all over Czech Republic will travel to the tranquil town of Nepomuk in the south of the country. 32 Czech breweries will present their beers and gastronomic specialties on the market place, accompanied by various types of live music: from brass bands to jazz, rock and ska. Let's go!
When: 9th July 2011map
Where: Main Square in Nepomuk,
Getting there: cca 117 km from Prague, Highway D5 from Prague to Plzeň, exit Černice than road nr. 20 to Nepomuk
GPS: 49°29'7.197" N, 13°34'55.004" E
Entry: Free
More Info




Pilsner FestAugust
Bernard Fest in Humpolec / Eastern CR, Vysočina
Traditional Brewery and Music Festival, where even well-known Czech bands make an appearance. This year featuring: Koller Band, Monkey Business and Xindl X. Anyone who wants to can participate in a brewery tour and see how their favorite drink is actually made!
When: 12th – 13th August 2011
Where: Areál Pivovaru Bernard, 5. května 139601, Humpolec; map
Getting there: approx. 100 km from Prague, Highway D1 from Prague exit Humpolec/Pelhřimov
GPS: N49° 32' 25.08" - E15° 21' 43.2"
More info




Pilsner Urquell Festival – Must-Do!
For most beer lovers this festival marks the absolute highlight of the season! For Pilsen is the birthplace of one of the best known and best beers in the world: The Pilsner Urquell. Accordingly important is the beer festival of the Pilsner Urquell brewery. Apart from beer, visitors can enjoy here Czech specialties and live music. And those who want to become a superstar, artist or entertainer can apply for a live gig or submit a work (photo, picture, etc.) that might be used for advertising the festival festival in the streets of the city. Cool! Application until 15th June.
When: 27th – 28th August 2011
Where: Pilsner Brewery area, U Prazdroje 64/7, Plzeň, map
Getting there: D5 Highway from Prague to Pilsen / Plzeň
GPS: N49°44'47,76"; E13°23'9,60"
Entry: Free

Thanks for your replies:

BigRuss - Those pronunctiations look suitably intimidating. The main problem with cutting stays is that I would be back on the train again and, especially in Poland, the journeys can be staggering, 6 Hours in one or two instances. If I cut a day from places in the Czech then I end up sightseeing two days, travelling one day (which gets pretty tiring quickly).

I do have a spare day of train travel, which I will likely use to visit Malbork, looks nice - and I do enjoy a good castle!

unclegus - Wow, £5 for the brewery tour, and it includes a beer, might have to just go around that all day For some reason, it looks cheaper to buy the entrances seperately (though if I get my student card in time, it will be even cheaper).

Unfortunately I miss the beer festivals in August by one day! I arrive the day after and leave a day or two before... thats just bad luck I suppose. Thanks for the info anyway.

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/members-photos/unclegus
if you go to my profile on trip advisor you will see a pic of me getting a beer from the great barrels in the cellar,yes i am an old Guy.
remeber to pick a large glass rather than a small one when you go to pick up your beer sample.
If you search unclegus on Trip Advisor there are lots of threads about tne Czech Republic and Prague in particular that i have contributed to ,also several trip reports about beer festivals etc.there will be another one soon once i get round to writing it.