3 guys in Europe - car or train
 

Hello,
We are 3 single guys going to Europe in 15 days, for 3 weeks. Landing in Berlin and then heading to Prague, Budapest, Krakow and then back to Berlin. Thinking in 3 nights in each city.
We would like to know your opinion about the best way of transportation for us: car or train?
Thanks

You don't want a car in those cities - take the train.

I'd definitely do it by train. Driving between cities is fine, but mananging a car <i>in</i> the cities would be a be a nightmare.

train, definitely

Should we buy the tickets upfront (we live in Brazil) or can we do it in each city? Any kind of pass that would be better than buying it separately?
Thanks again

In my view at Berlin train station, their main travel counter will recommend to you the best ticket/pass for your travel plan. When possible better to book the seats if you want to be travelling together all the way.

The European East Railpass may be a good deal for your itinerary - it's valid in Austria, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia - gives a certain number of days of travel in a one month period (i.e. a flexipass)

train fares are cheap in Eastern Europe but there can be a bit of a hassle buying tickets - someone i know said they spent two hours buying tickets in Prague

With the pass you can take any train anytime except the relatively few in those countries that require reservations before boarding, in which case you have to go to ticket window anyway.

Best schedules for all of Europe are at www.bahn.de - the official German Railways web site.

Thanks for your input. We were thinking in renting a car to view the landscape and have more flexibility. However, we are afraid of the hassle to park it in Prague, Budapest and Krakow. Nobody thinks car is the best option?
Can we buy all our train tickets in Europe? Some of us are afraid of not finding tickets there. We would do:
Berlin-Dresden
Dresden-Prague
Prague-Budapest
(maybe BUdapest-Bratislava)
Budapest-Krakow
Krakow-Berlin
Thanks again for your help. Have a nice day!
gpm

Glad you plan to include Dresden (my home town!). Don't worry about tickets for trains - they never sell out and are easily to buy at cash desks or ticket machines in the major railway stations.

If you seriously want to rent a car then do not for Berlin - Dresden (there's not much too see inbetween). The scenery between Dresden and Prague is partially very beautiful and a car might be a good idea for exploring. On the other hand it is difficult to find a rental company that allows to take the car from Germany into Czech Rep./Poland etc.

I think you need to find accommodation in the cities you mentioned first and find out if they have private parking (and have a look at the cost!). I would not mind driving TO and FROM the accommodation, but would never want to drive around in these cities. So, if you park the car and don't use it there then it is fine.

Btw, Budapest (Bratislava) - Krakow is also very scenic in large parts (mountains).

Good luck, Ingo

Last year we drove all around Germany and Austria (Start in Munich end in Vienna) While it was great fun having a car between cities.. it was a pain in the butt and expensive to park the thing. We are going to Paris in a few days so there's no need for a car but, If we do Germany again we will take the train.

Ingo,
Thanks for your advice. I whink we will stick with the train... Any advices on Berlin-Dresden and Dresden-Prague? Any advices on cheap and nice hotels for 3 guys in Dresden? What about the nightlife there and in Berlin?
Thanks again

What is cheap accommodation for you? You are a bit late (going in 15 days, right?); the best and least expensive acc. will be booked.

This one came up when I tried online booking:

Hotel-Pension &quot;Mezzaluna&quot;
Fichtenstra&szlig;e 8
01097 Dresden
95 Euro per night for a triple room incl. breakfast buffet
Location only 5-10 minutes to the &quot;nightlife district' with plenty of bars, discos, pubs etc. (called 'Neustadt').

Other possible places (no idea about available rooms) directly in the nightlife district are:

http://www.mezcalero.de/

www.louise20.de
(hostel - clean, basic, but they also have rental apartments)

http://www.boofe.de/
(another hostel)

www.cafe-ole-dresden.de/pension.htm
(b&amp;b, central location in a townhouse above a caf&eacute;)

http://www.herberge-brix-dresden.de/
(Triple 75 Euro per night, I wouldn't book the souterrain rooms, which are cheaper)

www.doppelhorn.de/fewo/?page_id=5
(a beautiful rental apartment in a Baroque townhouse, centrally and quiet located, for two nights about 200 Euro - not really cheap, but highly recommended)

www.dresden-cottage.de
(rental apartments, two nights minimum, 75-90 Euro per night)

I could go on and on. Not sure what is available. Some (most?) websites are only in German, I am afraid. Don't hesitate to ask if you need translation.

The so called 'Neustadt' is an excellent, vibrant nightlife district. Frequented by mostly young folks/students.

When will you travel Berlin - Dresden? Makes a difference if on weekend or not. There are less expensive tickets available on weekends if you take regional, not international/high speed trains.

I cannot help with Berlin, sorry. Somehow it's not my favourite :(

Ingo

Depends on how you want to spend your time.

We usually do road trips - but then we do a mix of bigger cities and smaller ones. And, we find that the serendipity allowed by car travel is one of the joys of the trip - if you really will be spending time in the countryside. (And don;t worry about parking in cities - just put the car in a garage days you won;t use it.)

But - don;t pick up the car until the am you leave Berlin and drop the evening you arrive.

Esp for 3 people it makes financial sense. Just be sure you reserve a car (usually not luxury cars) that the agency will allow you to take to Czech, Hungary and Poland.