Help? Travel between Vienna, Cesky Krumlov, Prague, and Budapest
 

Hoping that I can get some help with our upcoming travels (we leave on Friday 8/10!).

<b>Our Itinerary:</b>

8/10-8/14: Vienna
8/14-8/16: Cesky Krumlov
8/16-8/20: Prague
8/20-8/24: Budapest

I'm having a little bit of difficulty figuring out how to travel between these cities and have been looking at trains/buses for the first 2 legs of our trip. From Prague to Budapest, I was considering a flight.

Does anyone have any suggestions for the best (quickest and most economical) way for us to do these city-to-city transitions?

Much thanks!
Nora

Here's a place to start: I looked on deutsche bahn and the train travel is about 5 hours, vienna to Cesky Krumlov so you lose 1 day in travel there. Train from Cesky to Prague has a few fast trains early in the morning for a trip that's about 4+ hours. THere is a flight on smartwings for 90 euros on 8/20 leaving at 8;45 in the AM and arriving in Budapest at 9:40am. I don't know if other fodorites have a better idea of how to travel...maybe renting a car???for the Czech republic?Hope that this is helpful.

Thanks gregeva1. I wish there was a shorter way - but it is what it is. Maybe if there are trains available in the evening I won't be missing out on full days. Just checked smartwings.com, but it doesn't appear that there is availability to fly on 8/20 from Prague to Budapest for 2 people...I'm going to keep plugging away....

Couple of questions on train travel as I am completely clueless when it comes to train travel...sorry :(

1. <b>Does it make sense to purchase a Eurail or Europass and use this for our transitions from city-to-city?</b>
<i>I priced out a European East Pass for $418 for 2 people but I'm not sure if this will get us to Cesky Krumlov. </i>

2. <b>Overnight Trains?</b>
a) Does anyone know if the European East pass would allow us to travel on an overnight train from Prague to Budapest?
b) Raileurope has an overnight train from Prague to Budapest for $264 for 2 people with a sleeper compartment. This seems like a good option, though I've never traveled on an overnight train and don't know what to expect. Would there possibly be other passengers in our sleeping compartment?

You can calculate to pay about $6 per 100 kilometers in CZ and marginally more in Hungary. You think the pass is worth the money??

logos999 - I guess if it is $6/100 km it does make sense to get the pass, no?

I am a novice at train travel and could really use some guidance and advice before I book the train pass (and have to pay for overnight shipping as well).

Can anyone answer my other questions above about what to expect on an overnight train and if I could even use a rail pass for an overnight train?

&gt;it does make sense to get the pass, no?
Those countries are not that big. Rail travel is only expensive in Austria. Just get a map and calculate distances, you may be surprised. :-). Places are not that far apart in central Europe. From Budapest to Prague you'd pay well below 50&euro; per person, but just because the Austrian portion of the trip already costs 28&euro; for 2 people.

logos999 - thanks for the information, however, I am still horribly confused. Are those prices you quoted for train travel?

Does anyone out there have any guidance on the overnight trains and the eurail passes????

&gt;prices you quoted for train travel?
Yes, train travel is subsidized and cheap in CZ,SK,Hungary and Poland. Cheapest is Poland, where you'd pay about $3 per 100km.

Those cheap tickets are sold to anybody, but only within the country!

Ok - so, would you say then it would be a good idea for me to wait until we are in the country to purchase the train tickets? (If I wanted to - could I purchase a Rail Pass there too, or is that only pre-order?)

We are doing a similar itinerary in Sept. and this is the info I have found for travel between the cities.

Vienna to Cesky Krumlov- You can take the train the whole way but it is longer and the train station in Cesky Krumlov is pretty far out of town.
What we are doing:
Train- Leave Vienna 10:30 arrive Linz 12:10 (30E each)
http://www.oebb.at/vip8/oebb/en/
Shuttle bus from Linz to Cesky Krumlov leaves Linz train station at 12:30 arrive 2:00. (600CZK each)
http://www.pensionlobo.cz/shuttle/?lang=en

Cesky Krumlov to Prague
From my research the bus is the easiest way to travel. 3 hrs Various departure times.
http://www.idos.cz/ConnForm.asp?tt=J&amp;cl=E5

Prague to Budapest
We are starting in Budapest so I'm not much help here but try
skyscanner.net for cheap flights.

Alternately, you can try Mike's Chauffeur Service. They can be hired for transfers between all the cities you mentioned. I sent a request on their online form and got prices for the trips. www.mike-chauffeur.cz

As far as rail passes, a lot of Fodorites suggest contacting http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/
They are supposed to be very helpful in figuring out whether or not to buy a pass.

Ohh - great info, thank you HCart! Did you purchase your tickets online or will you purchase them while you are there?

&gt;wait until we are in the country to purchase the train tickets?
Single tickets in those countries cost less that what you'd spend on a railpass. Austria is the exception, but there is the &quot;Einfach Weg Ticket&quot; that costs 28&euro; for two and is valid on all regional trains. If you plan properly (Like taking the Budovice - Gm&uuml;nd - Vienna - Budapest route, that is one hour faster than via Brno), you can travel trough Austria for 14&euro; per person.

Ohh - good good, thanks logos999. Things are finally starting to look up. I will look into buying train tickets as soon as we get into Vienna and hope for the best!

I had another thought - I can't locate a flight for 8/20 from Prague to Budapest for a reasonable price (someone saw a flight on smartwings for 90euro, but I can't locate that flight), so I was contemplating the overnight train - looks like it is reasonable pricewise - should an overnight train ticket be pre-purchased, or should I wait until I am in Prague to purchase this ticket?

Thanks for all the help!

&gt;overnight train ticket be pre-purchased
If you need a sleeper compartment, it may be booked. We're talking peak season here.