Dear all...this will be our 1st time to the areas, and we would like to ask for your valuable suggestions. we much appreciate your input and help.

Our itineray: Budapest-Bratislava-Vienna-Cesky Krumlov-Prague.

1. Do we need visa (from U.S.) to travel to these places?
2. From Bratislava to Vienna - should we take the bus instead of the train?
3. Vienna to Cesky Krumlov - we plan to leave late afternoon (2-3pm) for CK in order to maixmize Vienna, would it be too late at night? Btw, should we take the train or bus directly to CK?
4. Currency - what should we bring and should we get some exchange prior to departure?

Once Again, thank you much in advance for all your valuable suggestions.

J&J

I am Canadian and we drove a rental car while in Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic so I can only respond to Question 4. Get local currency from ATMs which are widely available. Although part of the EU since 2004 it will be several years until they are using the Euro.

1.No visa needed.

Not knowing your interests, it's hard to comment. We've been to all 5 places in the last 4 years, though. In our minds, if Paris is a 10, Budapest is a 9, Prague an 8, Vienna a 7 or 8, Bratislava (briefly) a 3. We toured by auto, so can't help with #2.
Re CK, I recall we arrived about 1, toured castle for maybe 3 hours, dined, left the next morning about 9. I don't know your (train) schedule but I don't think CK requires more time than we gave it to experience it.

2. Take the bus. I tried both, and the bus was better.

Thank you very much for all your help.
Can anyone tell me the bus station(s) name for Bratislava? I am planning to take a bus from Bratislava to Vienna.

Thanks in advance!

J&J