Viroo

Folks

We are looking for a trip for a family of 4 (Teens 13 and 15) during October half term to Prague / Vienna and Budapest. Looking for suggestions - is 8 days too little - should we drop one city ?

Also what is the best city to fly into and out of and best travel options between the cities...rent a car or trains ?

For stays we prefer apartments...any suggestions on that welcome too.

Thanks

Birendra Agarwal

adrienne

8 days is definitely too little for 3 major cities. With traveling between cities you'll have about 2 days in each place. Visit Prague and Vienna. Others will have different opinions.

Best place to fly into and out of depends on price and flight availability. You'll need to do the checking on that.

Definitely take the trains. It's crazy to spend money on a rental car to have it sit idle 7 out of your eight days plus pay for parking while the car is idle.

Do a search on Budapest apartments - someone has posted about a nice apt there but I don't remember the particulars.

Traintraveller

Do yourself a favour and pick two cities. There's plenty to see in each of them and you will feel more relaxed. I also agree with Adrienne, take trains and don't drive. Driving in cities is no fun, IMHO, and if you take the train you can enjoy the scenery more.

Apart from that, train fares, if booked ahead, can be very competitive, especially since for example on a trip from or to Austria, the 13-year-old will travel for free. Take seat reservations to ensure that you can sit together comfortably.

Bear in mind that Vienna-Budapest takes appr. 3 hrs and Vienna-Prague 4. Prague-Budapest is about 6.5 hours, so that is basically a whole day. My recommendation would be to combine Vienna and Budapest, since they are conveniently close to eachother with frequent connections.

A ticket for the 4 of you can be had from € 57 in 2nd class (total!) from the Austrian Railways website. Of course you can splurge in the 1st class, but I believe 2nd class on that route (and for that trip duration) is totally adequate.

peggionthego

I agree that limiting your trip to two cities makes more sense and I'd cast a vote for Budapest: our favorite having been to all three. Kids will love the strudel. Oldest subway on the continent. Lots to see and do. Took a bus to see where the old communist statues are now displayed. Jewish quarter is fascinating. There's an excellent Torture museum there as well.

RonZ

Train schedules here:

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en?

Rastaguytoday

To find more information that you normally would on google, try local google sites, such as www.google.cz for Prague, www.google.hu for Budapest.

Percy

Have to agree that you should pick two cities only.

I took the train from Vienna to Prague last year.

I spent a week in Prague and could have used a few days more ( but then it depends on how much you want to see).

Vienna and Budapest gives you less travel time but not that much less.

The history of Vienna and Budapest overlaps in many places because they were once part of the Austrian - Hungarian Empire, so that is a help in your research.

Any combination of two cities would be fine but for sure not Prague and Budapest.( too much travel)