Budapest-Vienna-Salzburg-Munich
Aug 13th, 2015, 12:29 PM
#21
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There is a night train from Budapest around 10 pm but it gets into Vienna about 11:30pm and goes onto Zurich - so yes and no - technically yes but you get there before midnight. No overnight trains are practical on that run.
Aug 13th, 2015, 04:24 PM
#22
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"I take it coming from a traveler who loves to soak in the ambience" -- Actually, it comes from a traveler who likes to see the things that are to be seen in any destination I consider worth including in a trip. 
Aug 14th, 2015, 08:13 AM
#25
Ah, yes. PalenQ and I have wildly divergent opinions of this tour.
Next week's forecast for Vienna calls for temperatures in the mid-20ºs and with a good chance for rain practically every day. Imagine putt-putting along the hot, gray, and steamy Danube, stuffed into the interior, air-conditioned space of the cruise staring at the haze-covered vineyards for some insufferable amount of time. Mind-numbing for me as a 40-something; torture for a 5-year old.
Spend the "Vienna outskirts" day at Schloss Schönbrunn instead. Tour the summer palace of the Hapsburg empire; eat overpriced Schnitzel at the palace restaurant and if it isn't raining, let your 5-year old have fun in the maze and labyrinth on the palace grounds. Perhaps enjoy the oldest zoo in the world at Schönbrunn, too. If it's raining, take in the marionette opera at the palace.
Next week's forecast for Vienna calls for temperatures in the mid-20ºs and with a good chance for rain practically every day. Imagine putt-putting along the hot, gray, and steamy Danube, stuffed into the interior, air-conditioned space of the cruise staring at the haze-covered vineyards for some insufferable amount of time. Mind-numbing for me as a 40-something; torture for a 5-year old.
Spend the "Vienna outskirts" day at Schloss Schönbrunn instead. Tour the summer palace of the Hapsburg empire; eat overpriced Schnitzel at the palace restaurant and if it isn't raining, let your 5-year old have fun in the maze and labyrinth on the palace grounds. Perhaps enjoy the oldest zoo in the world at Schönbrunn, too. If it's raining, take in the marionette opera at the palace.
Aug 14th, 2015, 08:21 AM
#26
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@fourfortravel Now that you say, I see that I have such a good luck! Rain!
Any suggestions where to stay in/around Salzburg with public transport?
Is it better to stay at Lake area and then day trip Salzburg or vice versa?
Any suggestions where to stay in/around Salzburg with public transport?
Is it better to stay at Lake area and then day trip Salzburg or vice versa?
Aug 14th, 2015, 09:45 AM
#27
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Take the 5-yr old to the Prater and ride the Big Wheel - there since the 1800s I believe.
and I think a 5-yr old may well enjoy a few-hour boat cruise.
44travel is about the only one I've seen diss teh Danube/wachau Valley cruise - many many have enjoyed it but that ishis/her subjective take as mine is subjective too and zillions of other subjective takes that enjoyed this excursion.
But the zoo and maze at Schonbrunn does sound appealing to kids - especially the zoo - but a zoo to a child is a zoo albeit in Vienna or your home town.
and I think a 5-yr old may well enjoy a few-hour boat cruise.
44travel is about the only one I've seen diss teh Danube/wachau Valley cruise - many many have enjoyed it but that ishis/her subjective take as mine is subjective too and zillions of other subjective takes that enjoyed this excursion.
But the zoo and maze at Schonbrunn does sound appealing to kids - especially the zoo - but a zoo to a child is a zoo albeit in Vienna or your home town.
Aug 14th, 2015, 10:51 AM
#28
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The somewhat slower competitor Westbahn ("West Rail") offers low walk up fares (€25 per person). You can buy the tickets on Westbahn trains.>
RailJets take 2:22 hours and Westbahn 2:30 - 8 minutes slower and the ability just to waltz up and cop tickets rather than booking in stone weeks ahead to get a discounted rate IMO is priceless. doesn't have the extra plush first class section RJ does but plenty comfy.
RailJets take 2:22 hours and Westbahn 2:30 - 8 minutes slower and the ability just to waltz up and cop tickets rather than booking in stone weeks ahead to get a discounted rate IMO is priceless. doesn't have the extra plush first class section RJ does but plenty comfy.
Aug 14th, 2015, 03:06 PM
#30
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Don't much matter IMO if only there two days - I'd probably base myself in Salzburg because that's where your train will dump you off - if staying in say St Wolfgang you'd have to drag your bags there and back for the train to Munich.
Actually if going to the Lake District from Vienna you can change trains at Attnang-Puchheim and go to Bad Ischl, on the edge of the Lake District and get buses to St Wolfgang, St gilgen or other lake hotspots.
St Wolfgang to me is the nicest base and about as quick from Salzburg as St Gilgen - another base on a lake.
Actually if going to the Lake District from Vienna you can change trains at Attnang-Puchheim and go to Bad Ischl, on the edge of the Lake District and get buses to St Wolfgang, St gilgen or other lake hotspots.
St Wolfgang to me is the nicest base and about as quick from Salzburg as St Gilgen - another base on a lake.
Aug 14th, 2015, 07:07 PM
#31
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since you only have 2 nights I would stay in Salzburg for both nights, as you need to be there to get the train to Munich.
you might find that its hard on your 5 year old to sleep in new places all the time. and its hard on adults too.
if the weather is rainy I would rather be in Salzburg as there are indoor things to do too. there is not much to do in the towns on the lakes if it is raining, other than look at the shops and eat.
if you want to go to the lake district, you can take a bus from Salzburg.. the closest major town is St Gilgan.. one bus, about 40 minutes. you can do this in a day trip. from there you can take a ferry on the lake if the weather is good. the boat stops in st wolfgang and you can get off at the cog railway and take the ride up the mountain or get off a little further in town. if you go in the opposite direction on the lake you can go to Strobl and get the bus back to Salzburg.. or just do a round trip to St Gilgen.
if you go to St Wolfgang from Salzburg, you will have to change buses in Strobl. its a longer trip than St Gilgen.
I haven't stayed here but the NH hotel in Salzburg city center gets good reviews on trip advisor, and there is a summer promo, kids stay free and free breakfast. its close to lots of sites and there is a nearby bus to the train station. as for budget.. it all depends on what your budget is.. but the dollar is up and the euro is down so you may do ok. there are more accommodations in Salzburg than in the lake district, so you will have more to chose from.
you might find that its hard on your 5 year old to sleep in new places all the time. and its hard on adults too.
if the weather is rainy I would rather be in Salzburg as there are indoor things to do too. there is not much to do in the towns on the lakes if it is raining, other than look at the shops and eat.
if you want to go to the lake district, you can take a bus from Salzburg.. the closest major town is St Gilgan.. one bus, about 40 minutes. you can do this in a day trip. from there you can take a ferry on the lake if the weather is good. the boat stops in st wolfgang and you can get off at the cog railway and take the ride up the mountain or get off a little further in town. if you go in the opposite direction on the lake you can go to Strobl and get the bus back to Salzburg.. or just do a round trip to St Gilgen.
if you go to St Wolfgang from Salzburg, you will have to change buses in Strobl. its a longer trip than St Gilgen.
I haven't stayed here but the NH hotel in Salzburg city center gets good reviews on trip advisor, and there is a summer promo, kids stay free and free breakfast. its close to lots of sites and there is a nearby bus to the train station. as for budget.. it all depends on what your budget is.. but the dollar is up and the euro is down so you may do ok. there are more accommodations in Salzburg than in the lake district, so you will have more to chose from.
Aug 14th, 2015, 11:29 PM
#32
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Don't discount museums entirely. By age five, both my girls had started loving museums. They especially loved natural history museums, museums with things like doll houses and even painting galleries if I told them about the artists first. They would pick a favorite of two and talk about why they like them.
They liked portrait paintings too, especially those with children. They wanted to know who the children were and how they lived. They tried to find children who looked like them. Youngest at age five decided she looked like children in Frans Hals paintings. Older DD at age 7 decided she looked like little girls in Vermeer paintings.
They both loved the Sistine Chapel, but were even more impressed by the sculpture of David.
They very much enjoyed the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam and the tower of London, all at age 5 & 7.
I tried to keep museum time to an hour, but they often begged for more time, so your child may surprise you.
They liked portrait paintings too, especially those with children. They wanted to know who the children were and how they lived. They tried to find children who looked like them. Youngest at age five decided she looked like children in Frans Hals paintings. Older DD at age 7 decided she looked like little girls in Vermeer paintings.
They both loved the Sistine Chapel, but were even more impressed by the sculpture of David.
They very much enjoyed the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam and the tower of London, all at age 5 & 7.
I tried to keep museum time to an hour, but they often begged for more time, so your child may surprise you.
Aug 15th, 2015, 12:22 AM
#33
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If you look for activities and sights in Vienna also for smaller children you may find the Vienna TI site helpful:
http://www.vienna.info/en/vienna-for/families
As Fourfortravel wrote, there is rain from Vienna to Munich - already and predicted for next week. So even if the forecasts err, I think I'd like to have a set of possible alternatives or at least be flexible to make use of the odd sunny day for outdoor activities. I agree that a boat trip to the Wachau is no real fun when it's raining. A visit to the ice caves near Salzburg might be a better idea than touring Halstatt in pouring rain.
http://www.vienna.info/en/vienna-for/families
As Fourfortravel wrote, there is rain from Vienna to Munich - already and predicted for next week. So even if the forecasts err, I think I'd like to have a set of possible alternatives or at least be flexible to make use of the odd sunny day for outdoor activities. I agree that a boat trip to the Wachau is no real fun when it's raining. A visit to the ice caves near Salzburg might be a better idea than touring Halstatt in pouring rain.
Aug 15th, 2015, 03:37 AM
#34
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Thank you all! I am really grateful for the advice here
and helped me to almost finalise my plan.
When i try to book from Budapest to Vienna on
http://www.mav-start.hu/en
it show lot of trains for schedule. But when I click on price it shows only a few with 13/19 euros.
Why doesn't it show fares for all?
How much will it cost if buy 1 day in advance or same day at Budapest station?
and helped me to almost finalise my plan.
When i try to book from Budapest to Vienna on
http://www.mav-start.hu/en
it show lot of trains for schedule. But when I click on price it shows only a few with 13/19 euros.
Why doesn't it show fares for all?
How much will it cost if buy 1 day in advance or same day at Budapest station?
Aug 15th, 2015, 03:54 AM
#35
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Since you will travel week, on short notice and during peak vacation season, I assume that several trains are already sold out.
You can check if your desired connection becomes available when you choose 1st class instead of 2nd class.
For a dummy inquiry for next week, I found much more trains available in 1st class than 2nd class. And the difference in price is not so dramatic (most connections cost only 29 euros in 1st vs. 19 euros in 2nd).
You can check if your desired connection becomes available when you choose 1st class instead of 2nd class.
For a dummy inquiry for next week, I found much more trains available in 1st class than 2nd class. And the difference in price is not so dramatic (most connections cost only 29 euros in 1st vs. 19 euros in 2nd).
Aug 15th, 2015, 05:15 AM
#37
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the ice cave near halstatt requires taking a long switchback paved walkway. its not fun if its raining. the cave itself has walkways and steps, its organized touring, and its cold inside so you need to bring extra layers.
on a rainy day I would look for a better option in Salzburg.
on a rainy day I would look for a better option in Salzburg.
Aug 15th, 2015, 05:27 AM
#39
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about the ticket one more thing
The website says its free for child under 6 but when I enter the age it still ask for fare?
Can't get it!
Do I have to not mention the child as in DB Bahn?
The website says its free for child under 6 but when I enter the age it still ask for fare?
Can't get it!
Do I have to not mention the child as in DB Bahn?
Aug 15th, 2015, 01:44 PM
#40
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Salzburg I believe means Salt City and yes the salt mine tours just south of the city are a lot of fun - probably for a child even more - at least the slide down - not sure if this one has a slide down anymore but years ago it did.
so many options - so much to do!
so many options - so much to do!
