logos999

>Sopron
During the communist days, the place was a dump. Now it's a gem. Everything is newly renovated with only few tourists. Should you want to stay there, there's a great inexpensive (30&euro hotel (Don't go to Wollner) 150 meters from the market square.

logos999

Just for the pictures, try
http://www.magreisen.at/HU/sopron.htm

GillsinEurope

Logos,

Oh my goodness. You are a gem. I was so down and frustrated this morning about not being able to get decently priced tickets and you have completely turned my day around. Thank you. A few questions if you don't mind:

1. How long and how much is the train from Sopron to Budapest? Will we be able to get Hungarian Forints in Sopron to pay for a ticket to Budapest?

2. About how many Czech crowns should we get while in Vienna before we leave for Gmund? Obviously, we'll be able to get more once in Prague, but about how much will we need to give the man on the train?

I'm hoping to purchase the VORTEILScard, but don't know how to speak German or READ German so I always feel a little intimidated in situations such as this one. Also, I tried calling the call center about SparSchiene tickets, but can't figure out how to dial from my US Skype phone. I've emailed them, but I guess I should try to call again.

All these small frustrations can really bring a person down. Thankfully, you have been kind enough to help me out and I can't say thank you enough. I'm sure I'll have more problems and questions for you later.

Gill

logos999

>How long and how much is the train from Sopron to Budapest?
You can expect to pay about 24€ for crossing the whole country, since Budapest is about half way... It's more expensive in Hungary than in CZ, but not much. Still nothing compared to Austrian tariffs. Always keep in mind as long as you cross a border by train, you pay the expensive "Austrian" ticket price. Once you're in that country, you pay ticket prices just like a local. Sopron to Budapest is about 2h 40min.

logos999

>Will we be able to get Hungarian Forints in Sopron to pay for a ticket to Budapest?
Sopron is in Hungary, you can get Forint at any ATM. However they do accept credit cards at the ticket counter. You'll still pay Hungarian prices for the tickets.

logos999

>About how many Czech crowns should we get while in Vienna before we leave for Gmund?
It would be in the 10€ range per person. (maybe just change 50€ into crowns ans ask for small change) It's important to know, that the conductor may be annoyed if you only carry € with you. In that case, you have to be firm. You have a right to pay in € on a train that departs in Austria, however in that case he may be tempted to ask for "international prices". Play it safe and change about 50€. You can get crows without much fees at the train station in Budapest. In Vienna, exchanging them will be much more expensive!

logos999

>purchase the VORTEILScard
I know it's difficult, when you don't speak the language... in a foreign country... They can basically tell you anything. Try giving an Austrian address, saying you stay there for the year. That way, let them know, you're living in Austria. He won't be able to confim or doubt it, since passports don't have an address on them. You can give any (Hotel?) address you like. The temporary card you get instantly will still be valid afer you left the country. It shouldn't be needed, but since the guy at the other end can do whatever he wants, play his game...

logos999

The price from the border to Prague is 162 Kč, there is a czech half price card too that costs about 3€. A photo is needed on that one too and anybody can get one. Using that card, the price would be 113 Kč. Travel time from the border is about 3h. 162Kč equals about $8.50

logos999

>czech half price card
The name is Karta Z, if you give them the photo, you'll get your card within a few minutes. The reduction is actually only 30% but you're about break even going to Prague and back.

GillsinEurope

Thank you again!

Just want to clarify a couple of things before setting this in stone with husband:

We are taking two separate trips. One from Vienna to Prague (Nov. 22-25). Another trip from Vienna to Budapest (Dec 7-9).

PRAGUE
- Purchase Einfach-Raus-Ticket from Vienna to Gmund NO (about 12€ one way w/VOTREILScard).
- Purchase train ticket from Gmund to Prague on train towards Veseli (about $8.50 or 162 kc one way)
- Total travel time about 5.5 hours

BUDAPEST
- Purchase tickets from Vienna to Sopron (about 10€ one way w/VOTREILScard)
- Purchase tickets from Sopron to Budapest in Sopron (about 24€ one way)
- Total travel time about 4 hours

Does the gist of this look about right. You have been amazing.

logos999

>Einfach-Raus-Ticket from Vienna to Gmund NO (about 12€ one way w/VOTREILScard).
No Vorteilcard isn't valid when using the Einfach-Raus-Ticket, so maybe it's not worth getting a VorteilsCard at all?
- Purchase train ticket from Gmund to Prague on train towards Veseli (about $8.50 or 162 kc one way)
Correct, about that amount!
- Total travel time about 5.5 hours
It may take longer depending when you leave, do check www.bahn.de. Travel time to Gmünd is 2h 20min, from Gmünd to Prague 3h30 min at least. Check the schedules, there some trains take longer!
- Purchase tickets from Vienna to Sopron (about 10€ one way w/VOTREILScard)
Price is WITHOUT VorteilsCard.
- Purchase tickets from Sopron to Budapest in Sopron (about 24€ one way)
One way will be about 18€, 24€ is to cross the whole country, Budapest is just about halfway.
- Total travel time about 4 hours
Correct


Hope it helps

logos999

Again, whatever train you take, the most important thing to do is.
- Use the Einfach-Raus-Ticket (for 2) in Austria whenever it's the cheaper alternative.

- Never buy tickets further than to the first stop in CZ or Hungary (if you can avoid it) while you're in Austria. Doing that would be several 100% more expensive.

The same applies for Poland and Slovakia.

GillsinEurope

Logos,

Thanks for clarifying. I still want to get the VORTEILScard because I think it will save us money going to and from Vienna to Salzburg, Melk, Krems, and any other city that we may fancy as a day trip. Can I ask, what exactly is a Einfach-Raus ticket and which trains is it good for? Also, good to know that price to Budapest is cheaper than what I thought you meant!

logos999

>Einfach-Raus ticket
It's a ticket valid for one day on all local trains after 9am on weekdays and for the whole day on a weekend, 28€ for 2 to 5 people to and from anywhere in Austria.

Just read the beginning of the thread, there everything is explained

GillsinEurope

Logos,

Another crazy question. Do you know how which number I am supposed to call to get in contact with the OBB call center? I've got a skype phone with a US number and I've tried calling the number on the website, but nothing is going through.

I'm thinking over the Einfach-Raus-tickets to Salzburg and back. It's quite a bit cheaper than purchasing tickets with a vorteilscard, but time is money and it sure does take a LOT longer on the regional trains. Thanks for letting me know about the Einfach-Raus-Tickets though. They may come in handy.

logos999

The phone number is
+4351717. Don't know if it works via Skype. + stands for the international acces code. That should be 00 or 011
So try 004351717

GillsinEurope

Thanks. I thought I tried everything, but I'll try the 00 before the number. I emailed them my problem so hopefully they'll be willing to give me prices and schedules via email. Perhaps I can book that way instead.

I looked up the schedule from Gmund to Prague on the dates we want to travel and it looks like it would take up our entire Thursday to travel from Vienna to Gmund, then from Gmund to Prague so we may just have to suck it up and pay for the higher priced ticket. Though, we may be able to go the cheaper way on the way home....

Do you think 25 minutes is enough transfer time in Gmund?

logos999

>Do you think 25 minutes is enough transfer time in Gmund?
Gmünd only has 4 tracks. Afaik you need to change from track 1 to track 3. No problem at all.

GillsinEurope

Perfect. Then I think we'll be able to take your route (through Gmund) home from Prague to Vienna to save some extra dough. It's going to be so nice to have this all figured out. Oh by the way, since you seem to know EVERYTHING, can I purchase tickets to and from these various locations from any station in Vienna? We are closest to the Franz Josef station so I was hoping to go figure this all out tomorrow.

logos999

>Franz Josef station
No problem. You can get a Einfach-Raus-Ticket at the machine, no need to stand in line. Or you can buy a ticket from anywhere to anywhere in Austria.

Of course, you can not buy tickets for non-Austrian routes (routes in CZ and HU) there and expect to pay the same price you would pay when buying in that country. But you already know that