Berlin, Vienna, Prague- and back to Berlin...help with Logistics Please
 

Hello Everyone!

I've been working for weeks on cities to visit... originally I was thinking a city in Poland, but I think ive decided it might be easier to go to vienna from berlin (1 hr flight on airberlin and super cheap!) and work my way back up by bus/train...

I already bought my flight (in & out of Berlin)

here's what im thinking:

Days of the Trip: August 17-31st, 2013




17-20 BERLIN (Arrive @ Tegal 13:00hrs) - 3 1/2 Days

21-24- VIENNA (Morning Flight to Vienna ) 3 1/2 Days

25-27- PRAGUE (bus Westbus 4hrs, arrive @ noon) 2 1/2 Days

28-30-BERLIN (Train Prague - Berlin 4.4hrs) 2 1/2 Days

31st- Leave - morning flight back to the U.S.

Any Help and thoughts on moving things around, etc, logistics will be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks a million!

Yesi

You should visit Dresden between Prague and Berlin.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...30920764/show/

Thanks Michael!
The original Itinerary had 1 night in Dresden ... however, I don't know if i should add that to my current itin... since I already have 3 cities in 3 countries in 14 nights/13 days...

The days we will spend on each place (see itinerary) takes into account the travel time... just fyi :)

I was thinking of exactly what Micheal wrote when reading the op.

You can travel to Dresden in the morning by train and then continue to Berlin later the same day. There is a left luggage office at the station in Dresden where you can store your bags. If you do decide to visit Dresden, consider a visit to the Green Vault which you would have to book in advance.

Thanks, that is a good idea! Do I have to buy 2 different train tickets (Prague-Dresden, then Dresden-Berlin?) How does the stopover work? i have not been able to clearly understand it on the dbahn website :)

Had you considered flying directly on to Vienna after landing in Berlin? There is some risk in doing this on separate flights but it means you don't have to "re-visit" Berlin before departing;

17 - 21 Vienna 5 nights
22- 25 Prague 4 nights
26 - 30 Berlin 5 nights

I have done this sort of thing several times. I find the convenience of not moving (or traveling to and from the airport for the extra flights) the one extra time to be worth the risk of making the connection - especially if the original transatlantic flight is direct.

This strategy would also let you stay in Dresden for a couple nights and while not increasing your amount of originally planned moves.

Thank you Aramis!

I did not think of that... its very tempting, as you say, I would not have to split my time in Berlin... however, there is a risk coming from California (I am taking 3 flights) chances of my flights being delayed are higher do to the amount of flights im taking (I got an amazing deal on the flight-thus the 3 segments)

if I do an overnight in Dresden before reaching Berlin... how can I do a stopover ... I had read about this ... that you can you a stop over and the price of the rail ticket is the same? is this right?

You are giving short shrift to Prague - definitely need more time than that.

It's too bad you already have air tickets or you could have done open jaws into Berlin and back from Prague and not had to waste a day going back.

I would add a day to Prague - and possibly Vienna - and stay in Berlin just once not twice.

If you go to www.bahn.de and book the discounted ticket Prague - Berlin there then you have the option to add a break - enter "Dresden Hbf" and a time, say 18 hours or 20 hours, depending ... Yes, the fare is the same, however, you're restricted to using exactly these trains then.

Like Ingo says - a stopover is possible.

I would agree that since you are taking 3 legs to get to Berlin, it is too risky to try and continue on to Vienna right away.

There is on other option to turn this into a trip without 2 "real" Berlin stays. You could take a late train or bus back to Berlin from Prague and head straight to a hotel airport. to bunk down and await your flight in the morning.

Have fun.