flight very expensive: berlin to prague to budapest
 

Travelling with elderly parents in sept/Oct. The following is my hotel booking in europe. kindly give suggestion:
1) Berlin: Is Radisson sas more central or westin grand for sightseeing and surrounding atmosphere? Radisson seems much cheaper for a newer hotel unless the location is not that great even though it is in the Mitte. I need advice from people who know berlin well.
2) From berlin we go to prague. The train ride is almost 5 hours. I thought of flying but berlin has 3 airports. Which one to choose? Also, flying nonstop would cost around USD500 per person.(from expedia). Why so expensive for such a short distance? Should I book the flight from expedia (how do they deliver tickets? Is it e-ticket?) or should I ask my hotel in berlin to scout for a good deal when I reach there. I will not want to go to berlin's travel agency to enquire since that would waste a lot of time.
3) In prague I searched at tripadvisor and it seems hotel aria is the best location. It is however very expensive. Any suggestion for a similar location but also a 4 to 5 star quality?
4) prague to budapest. Train journey is 6.5 hours but flight is only 1 hour. Again the tickets are around USD350 per person. Isn't there a cheaper way to get around?
5) In budapest, tripadvosr mentioned le meridien is the best. Any feedback?
6) lastly, we will fly to vienne from budapest(airfare included in our international flight) and staying at konig von ungarn's apartment. Is it a good choice?

Thank you and appreciate lots of feedback.

Sorry, forgot to ask one more question: perhaps I could hire a driver to drive us from berlin to prague (how long?) and another driver to take us from prague to budapest. Can anyone suggest a tour company that can provide the transport for us? It could be the best choice by hiring a driver afterall. Thank you.

I was only in Berlin for 5 days but I walked around all the time, and I stayed at the Westin Grand. I think I'd give a slight edge in location to the Westin Grand, but the Radisson SAS is really well-located too, particularly for Museum Island. I had dinner near the Radisson twice and walked by it every day in the course of sightseeing. You can catch the bus #100 in front of the Radisson SAS which takes you to many places you would want to go. For someone with good walking capability, you can see most of Berlin's most interesting sights on foot from either hotel. If not, the cabfare would not be that much. I know other people have better experiences, but our room at the Westin did not have particularly comfortable beds and the bath/shower fixtures were quite old and not particularly safe. If you made sure you had a modern bathroom, the Westin Grand would probably be fine, but I wouldn't recommend the room I had for elderly people. I think the Radisson SAS would be very good for elderly people, but you could check with them directly.

You can get a cheap flight on EasyJet from Berlin Schoenefelde airport to Budapest - about 35 Euros per person including all taxes. Similarly, Air Berlin also has such a service from Berlin Tegel airport to Budapest for 49 Euros. I know you plan to go to Prague first, but it's something to consider.

I have no idea what a driver from Berlin to Prague would cost, but I imagine it would be a fortune.

Check out www.whichbudget.com for other possible budget airlines for your routes.

But for Berlin to Prague, I think the main reason you don't see cheaper airfares on this route is that it's hardly worth it to fly. You have to get to the airport somewhere out of town two hours in advance, and then fly and then go through whatever procedures at the other airport. If you do decide to go from Berlin to Prague, I would consider a $500 airfare per person to be really not worth it.

Willtravel:
Many thanks for the info. We can go to budapest after berlin if that is cheaper. Then how do we get from budapest to prague if we don't want to endure the long train journey? Any cheap flight available? What do you think of my choice of hotels in prague, budapest and vienna if you can offer advice.

Willtravel:
forgot to ask you which airport in berlin is better to fly from amongst the two you have suggested. And to get tickets can I book on their website and they will issue e-ticket?

I only used the Schoenefelde airport in Berlin. It was fine. If you take a taxi, I think it's about 30 Euros. If you take the airport express train (easily available several blocks from either the Radisson or the Westin), it's 2 Euros per person.

I am thinking a bit more about your route and it seems you want to visit Berlin, Prague, Budapest, and Vienna but the order is not too important. I only know Berlin so maybe someone can suggest a method that uses budget flights between these in the most efficient manner, or else trains with minimum times. But as suggested, check out http://www.whichbudget.com . All of the budget airlines I know about provide e-tickets which you book online.

I don't know about the hotels in the other places, but I think I have heard good things about the Le Meridien in Budapest.

Willtravel:
I just checked the whichbudget website and it was great. Unfortunately there is no budget airline flying between budapest and prague. I thought it is a popular route!

Just something to consider, when comparing the excellent European train services to flying:

If a train trip is 5 hours between 2 cities, it means 5 hours from city center to city center.

On the other hand, flying one of the many budget airlines, a 1 hour flight has to be looked at realistically. Many times the budget airline flies out of some obscure airport which is located anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes outside the major city. They require at least 45 minute check-in, which in real terms means you want to be there at least 1.5 hours before. On the other end once again you are usually 30-60 minutes outside of the city. So, basically the 1 hour flight becomes a 3-5 hour trip. Also remember that many budget airlines have strict luggage limit regulations.

The above example does not necessarly apply to every situation, but with budgets it's probably 75% of the time.

I'm a big fan of flying, but I'm also very practical, and if the train trip is under 5-6 hours, many times I willl choose that option as the better option. Less stress, less complications, more relaxing.

Something to consider.

AAfrequentflyer:
Good point. I will seriously consider what you said.
Can anyone tell me which are the stations I should go to for berlin to prague to budapest. Some cities have more than one station and I would like to know the most conveniently located station with frequent train services. Also some people mentioned that there is no need to reserve tickets on line. Instead, just book locally. My question is can the hotels book the tickets for us? I don't want to waste time by going to train station and purchase tickets. Thanks

Try this:

<b>http://www.bahn.de/pv/view/int_guest/subhome/international_guests.shtml</b>

All trains from Berlin to Prague and Budapest stop at two stations, Zoo and Ost. For your hotel in Mitte Berlin Ost station will be the handier, but both are near. From Prague each train to Budapest leaves at either Holesovice or Hlavni. Hlavni is two miles nearer most hotels, but Hlavni has pickpockets in gangs of three: I can tell you how to avoid them if you ask me.

You can buy tickets for both your journeys in Berlin, and the computers of all systems are linked. Fares and supplements for express seats or sleepers are fixed, whether you buy from an agency or at a station. In late September and October you can book seats to Prague at no notice, and sleepers from Prague to Budapest at a day or two s notice. I am afraid I do not know what help a hotel will give, but I can say that the Travel Centre in Friedrichstrasse station in Mitte is small and welcoming. They take credit cards and use English. You could settle your parents in a station caf&eacute; while you buy. Or your hotel in Berlin can tell you of a nearby travel agency or department store that sell tickets and reservations at station prices. A restaurant car express leaves Berlin Zoo at 0934 and Ost at 0949 and reaches Prague Holesovice at 1420: others run into Prague Hlavni.

You need not endure the long rail journey to Budapest by day. May I suggest that you book in Berlin a sleeper from Prague to Budapest ? You save a day s travel and a hotel bill. Board at Prague Hlavni about 2300, leave 2334, wake but stay in bed for frontier checks at 0410 and 0602, arrive Budapest Keleti station at 0808. You will find my note on getting the best from sleepers and couchettes at http://www.geocities.com/rexbickers/...ghttrains.htm/. Fares per person in a 3 berth sleeper are about 100 euros. If you use a single sleeper or a double you pay about 150 each, but I see no point, unless one of you snores.

You have had much good advice on 4 and 5 star hotels in Berlin. Are you sure that is best for your parents ? Aged 67, I like the Hotel Crystal, two star, one metro stop from Zoo station, on the main metro route (called S Bahn) to all the sights of Berlin, old, Nazi, Soviet, or swinging. The breakfast is good, and the reception staff, all middle aged and fluent in English, like to tell guests how to get where they are going. Address Kantstrasse 144, Berlin 10623, phone 030 312 90 47, fax 030 312 64 65

The site http://www.inyourpocket.com has a good annotated list of hotels in Prague.

Please write if I can help further. Welcome to Europe.

[email protected]

ben_haines_london:
Thanks so much for your advice. Now I have to do a reverse journey to accommodate the hotels that I have chosen,ie. I have to arrive at prague airport, stay for 3 nights, then go to budapeset (hopefully someone can suggest a budget flight- my parents do not want to spend the night on the train). Stay 3 nights. proceed to berlin ( may use a budget airline available). So my actual concern is from prague to budapest. Being such a popular route offered even by many tour companies, I am sure there is a budget airline that offers this route.

&lt;&lt;Being such a popular route offered even by many tour companies, I am sure there is a budget airline that offers this route.&gt;&gt;

http://www.whichbudget.com/en/cheapflights.php?from=PRG - - says there is not - - and I believe this is the most authoritative source of low cost flights info.

I have to wonder if you couldn't find someone here to do it. I would do it for $1500 (vehicle rental included in that price) - - but I can't do it this fall.

Best wishes,

Rex

Try contacting the Czech (www.csa.cz) or Hungarian (www.malev.hu)airlines directly; they might have fall sales.

Air Berlin has a connection from Budapest to Berlin Tegel (TXL). Prices from &euro; 99.
http://www.airberlin.com/

Another thing to consider is taking a budget flight to/from Bratislava airport, which is about 1 hour away by bus from Vienna.

Also look at http://www.opodo.co.uk . This has some other flights between all of your destinations, and I think I saw PRG-BUD for 136 GBP, or $250 USD total.

One thing of concern, what destination are you arriving at on your flight and what destination are you leaving from? That might affect the advice you get.

I agree that you don't have to consider only 4* and 5* hotels and there are many lesser-star hotels that are comfortable. It just happened for me that the Westin Grand was a cheap option through Priceline, and otherwise I wouldn't have considered it. But the Radisson SAS really is lovely, new, and convenient.

Also, apparently you can take a cruise from Prague to Budapest via Vienna (just reading this off a link on Google). Check www.princess.com .

I would like to know whether the budget airlines allow checked in baggage? I have not taken one before. Also, I have checked the websites for czech airlines for my flight from prague to budapest but they allow online booking for round trip purchase only. How strange.

I'm not sure that flying - especially budget flying with all its inconveneinces - is the best choice for elderly parents. Mine won;t fly at all anymore - they much prefer driving - so they can move at their own pace, stop when they want - and don;t have to spend huge amounts of time waiting in lines at airports. I would think train travel might be much more enoyable for yours - few lines or waiting - can walk around whenver they want - great scenery - little stress or hassle.

May I know what you mean by inconvenience of flying budget airline? Does air berlin allow check in baggage? If I purchase a confirmed seat on the net, am I not assured of a seat?