Hi everyone

We're taking a cruise on the Danube from Nurnburg to Budapest next year and our anniversary follows this trip.


does anyone have any ideas of the best way to go from Budapest to Paris? I wonder if train might be too long. And then I wonder if there's any decent airlines to consider.

Whatever - please give me your thoughts on each location and how you think we can get from point a to point b.

Thanks
LN

www.whichbudget.com and www.skyscanner.net for possible airlines, including budget ones

or you could take the overnight train from Vienna to Strasbourg and continue from there to Paris by TGV, arriving around 10am - save a night's hotel costs to boot - plane would probably be significantly cheaper i suspect though

Air France and/or Malev have several daily nonstop flights from Budapest (Terminal 2) to CDG.

Wizz Air has flights from Budapest (Terminal 1) to Beauvais.

From what I understand, soon Sky Europe will not longer fly into or out of Budapest.

Thank you - you've given me some good ideas. It looks like the train would take quite awhile. So perhaps your airlines might be a better idea.

I flew this summer from Paris to Budapest on Air France/Malev partnership. It was a Malev plane and we had roomy seats (roomier than our transatlantic ones actually) and they served us a hot sandwich meal on the 2 hour flight. It left and arrived on time with no incidents. The airport in Budapest is small and easy to navigate. I would recommend that option.

The best route that I found which includes a night train is Budapest-Munich on a Eurocity train and Munich-Paris on a night train.

Leave Budapest at 13:10 and arrive in Munich at 20:34. Fare: €97.60 booked at www.bahn.de.

Leave Munich at 20:56 and arrive in Paris at 06:12. Book well in advance at http://buchung.nachtzugreise.de to get SparNight fares of €39 for a bunk in a six-person couchette or €49 for a bunk in a four-person couchette.

Being as how it is your anniversary I would take the romantic road, the railroad. Do the overnight train as PalenQ suggests. It will be a trip you will savor forever. Who wants another airport?

And I would add, spring for First Class rather than a couchette.

Ohh-la-la. This is getting even better!! The tips are getting wonderful.

The fare for a double sleeper on the Munich-Paris night train is €156/person.

Excellent point Dukey. A couple on a second honeymoon could hardly do worse than book for a T6 couchette -- sharing with 4 other people!!!

Yes, that's a good point Dukey!!

By no means I want to rain on anyone's parade here, but I will cast my usual doubts on the long distance / overnight trains.

1. Changing trains in Munich Central Station (if that is where you have to change) is no fun. It's a terminus, so (unless your night train will leave from the opposite track of the platform) you may have to carry or drag your luggage all the way down one platform, and again all way up another platform.

2. Is there a backup option for a later night train if that train from Budapest arrives late in Munich? If not, a late arrival will leave you stranded in Munich for the night (with many hotels in 1-5min walking distance from the station, I have to admit)

3. Have you ever slept (well) on a train? Since the ride from Munich to Paris is not that long, you will board the train at 9pm, probably not fall asleep after 5 minutes, but have to get up at appr. 5.30am to shower/wash and have breakfast until the train arrives in Paris at 6.12 am.

4. What will you do in Paris at 6 o'clock in the morning?
If you did not sleep well on the train, your first day in Paris will probably be ruined. Better check with you Paris hotel if they have any facilities for (very) early arrivals (luggage storage room) - since your room probably won't be ready until 12noon or 2pm.

If you really want to experience train travel and a night train then it might be a nice extra for your trip. But since the only thing you will see before it gets dark is the Budapest-Salzburg leg (depending on the month you will travel), I doubt that it can add that many experiences.

I would not know anyone even considering a train ride with a distance that long (and with air travel usually that inexpensive).

You all have given me wonderful suggestions and after giving them much consideration we've decided to take the "romance" in Paris using the airline rather than on the train trip.

As you could tell, I was getting excited about this great train trip and all the scenery to be seen along the way. But with travel primarily after dark and arrival at daybreak - aghhhhh - I need more sleep than that!

Thank you all so much for your suggestion as well as helping us to make our decision.

Try this site:

http://www.flylc.com/directall-en.asp and plug in the various Paris airports to see your options.

Thank you Michael that will help a lot!!

LN