Hi, I'd love some help. I need to make a round trip between Prague and Cesky Krumlov in the shortest time possible. I'll be returning to the airport so it also has to be very reliable. I'd like to have an idea about cost but time is much more important. Thanks.

There is a journey planner on www.jizdnirady.idnes.cz. In English, click on "combinations" to get all options of both buses and trains.

I'm sure the best answer will be to go by bus or train, but I have to tell you that one of my most lingering memories of all Europe is of driving the ultra-narrow roads around Cesky Krumlov. Even with my beloved Garmin Nuvi GPS we ended-up slightly lost.

But driving through those bleak, tiny villages felt like I was visiting back in the Iron Curtain Era. Rather drab concrete houses. Very little signage or advertising on the shops. Lots of tractors and wagons parked on the streets. No buses or commercial vehicles. Wierd looks from the locals as we navigated the tiny streets with our huge Opel van.

The open countryside was incredible. Even at 11:00 am frost was still on the fields. The road Nuvi put us on looked like somebody's driveway: barely wide enough for our van and composed of gravel. We didn't see a single sign of human like for almost 20 minutes but instead saw a fox watching us from the frosty field and maybe 10 hawks sitting in their perches in the trees lining the driveway/highway. There were unattended cows and sheep wandering around on the road. It would've been an ideal locale for making a movie as you could see for miles over the open fields without any trace of power lines, homes, barns or any sign of habitation. I live in the Pocono Mountains with deer and turkeys munching in our backyard every morning, but I was absolutely gobsmacked by the place.

The shortest time would be to either drive yourself or hire a driver. There were 4 of us last fall who hired a driver/car for the day trip, and it was wonderful. While it was cheaper than the various tour rates posted at the hotel, it would be an expensive option if it was a hire for only 1 person. The driver could take you directly to the airport on the return if that was agreed upon. Cesky Krumlov was well worth the cost of the trip and time! Enjoy!

Personal driver is the quickest. If there's a train, go with that as the next choice. I was stranded on a bus for an hour, once, going from Prague to Brandys nad Labem. If you get one of the older busses, you may never make it back in time! You just never know, though, with accidents there, and other mishaps. Nothing is 100% reliable. A private driver would be able to go right to the airport, though, unlike the connections needed for public transit.

Thanks everyone. I'll hire a driver. Any recommendations for a reliable one?