"What stops should we make to get to Budapest, and what is the best way to get from Budapest to Venice"
What are you inerested in? How many days do you want to you spend for the Zurich - Budapest leg and how many days for the Budapest - Venice leg?

Zurich to Salzburg or Vienna by train from €29 at www.oebb.at with print-at-home ticketing - and it's a very scenic route by modern Railjet train through the Arlberg Pass, see the video I took last year http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KV1G58ot71k

Vienna or Salzburg to Budapest from €19 also at www.oebb.at with print-at-home ticketing.

Budapest to Vienna - book a round trip starting in Vienna at www.oebb.at or if you need to book this as a one-way starting in Budapest you'll need to use the Hungarian Railways site www.mav-start.hu

Allow at least 1 hour to change trains in Vienna, then book the Vienna-Venice direct sleeper train from €39 with couchette (basic flat bunk with rug & pillow) or from €69 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper with washbasin, breakfast included, at www.oebb.at

. What stops should we make to get to Budapest, and what is the best way to get from Zurich to Budapest to Venice. We have about 15 days>

Zurich to Munich could be another route if you want to look around Bavaria - doing day trips perhaps to Salzburg, Austria or Fussen for Mad Ludwig's Castle or Dachau, etc.

Then take a direct train to Vienna - spend some day there - you can also take a hydrofil on the Danube to Budapest from Vienna as well as the train.

Budapest to Venice - backtrack thru Vienna is the quickest way like Man in Seat 61 says - note that discounted tickets often must be booked weeks in advance and often cannot be changed nor refunded - an alternative would be a Eurail Select Saverpass - good in Italy, Austria (maybe Germany) and Hungary - you can just jump on any train in Austria, Germanhy and Hungary with the pass - no advance planning required and the pass is also first class which IME has significant benefits in many ways - especially for someone with perhaps too much luggage - often seats in first class are half fll vs an oft full 2nd class car - cheapest is not always the best IMO - there are also day trains and train-bus combos between Vienna and Venice.

For lots of great info on European trains check out these superb sites - www.seat61.com - Man in Seat 61 who posts above his commercial site - click on his link to RailEurope to check Eurail Pass prices and if buying do thru his site and give him some IMO well-earned commission from RailEurope! - other great sites: www.seat61.com and www.ricksteves.com.

. What stops should we make to get to Budapest, and what is the best way to get from Zurich to Budapest to Venice. We have about 15 days>

Zurich to Munich could be another route if you want to look around Bavaria - doing day trips perhaps to Salzburg, Austria or Fussen for Mad Ludwig's Castle or Dachau, etc.

Then take a direct train to Vienna - spend some day there - you can also take a hydrofil on the Danube to Budapest from Vienna as well as the train.

Budapest to Venice - backtrack thru Vienna is the quickest way like Man in Seat 61 says - note that discounted tickets often must be booked weeks in advance and often cannot be changed nor refunded - an alternative would be a Eurail Select Saverpass - good in Italy, Austria (maybe Germany) and Hungary - you can just jump on any train in Austria, Germanhy and Hungary with the pass - no advance planning required and the pass is also first class which IME has significant benefits in many ways - especially for someone with perhaps too much luggage - often seats in first class are half fll vs an oft full 2nd class car - cheapest is not always the best IMO - there are also day trains and train-bus combos between Vienna and Venice.

For lots of great info on European trains check out these superb sites - www.seat61.com - Man in Seat 61 who posts above his commercial site - click on his link to RailEurope to check Eurail Pass prices and if buying do thru his site and give him some IMO well-earned commission from RailEurope! - other great sites: www.seat61.com and www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

Oops - sorry for the double post - clicked again without thinking or knowing it had already taken!

thank you for the help. Very generous guidance and time on your part to respond

ttt

Ryanair flies from Budapest to Treviso airport, which is reasonably close to Venice (70 minute direct bus ride). Would recommend this vs. taking the train.
www.ryanair.com

Current bus schedule from Treviso airport to Venice:
http://www.atvo.it/images_doc/linee/Aeroporto_Treviso_-_Venezia_dal_07.01.2013_al_30.03.2013.pdf
This bus service is operated in conjunction with the Ryanair flights, so timing should be convenient.

Hope this helps,
Andre