My college age daughter is studying in England in June, and we have just decided to add a two week trip before she begins, so I am asking these questions before doing much research and I apologize. I feel like I need to get a bit of information so I can at least get our airline tickets in place, then do the rest. We will be traveling with my sister and her 20 year old daughter. We would like to visit Budapest, Prague, Amsterdam, then end in London. So we would have 3-4 nights in each city. If this works out, is it best for us to fly between countries? (Easy Jet?) And does this seem doable? And should we begin in Budapest, then Prague, Amsterdam, London? My daughter has visited Prague and Budapest previously, and I realize we won't be able to take a huge bite out of each place, but just want to hit the highlights. We plan to stay in vacation rentals instead of hotels, but are open to suggestions on both if someone knows a great place or area. Thanks in advance for any advice!

Assuming you are from U.S. would plan open jaw air tickets for the transatlantic flights, into one of the cities and out of a different one. If you aren't familiar with it, you will see "multi-city" or similar when you search for flights (as an alternative to "one way" or "round trip" ).

But which pair of cities for your group probably needs some research. Maybe you want to depart to U.S. from London leaving your daughter there at the end. Or maybe you want to arrive in London with daughter and her presumably extra luggage for her further study there that you don't need on your 2 week trip and the other three of you depart to U.S. from one of the other cities and only your daughter returns to London at the end. London and Amsterdam may be more competitive for the transatlantic airfare as they are more like hubs than Prague or Budapest. So you could do London-Prague-Budapest-Amsterdam. Only research will tell.

While you won't see everything, and the travel between any of them takes at least most of a day by the time to check out of hotel, go to airport, fly, go to city, check in, you can enjoy all four cities even if your time is limited.

You might also look at overnight train for one or more transfers. It's not for everyone, but it can work for some.

Yes to planes between all as all too far for trains unless as laurie says you want to experience Europe's overnight trains - only practical one is Budapest to Prague or v.v. For lots on night trains and trains in general (consider daytrips by train) - www.ricksteves.com; BETS-European Rail Experts and www.seat61.com. Night trains not for everyone especially those bothered by a modicum of noise but most can sleep just fine. Bring any food or drink aboard and get a private doubles or a quad.

It would help to know what airports you are all flying from and if you care which airline you are going on for frequent flyer miles.

Debbie makes a great point about the extra luggage your daughter will have. I really don't think you want to haul it all over Europe. If you can leave it with your program sponsor at the beginning, it would probably be worth the detour. I'm not sure if the whole group needs to fly over together to London as that would add expense and it won't be that fun for the other two people.

Meanwhile, for your sister and her daughter: A lot of routings will have you change planes in Amsterdam and then on to other cities in Central Europe. We discovered this when we went to Prague in 2015. So, depending on where your sister is starting from, Amsterdam would probably be the logical city for the four of you to meet up.

Where to go and what to see in 3 days in Prague | Prague.net this link will give you an idea of itineraries for Prague, the whole website has lots of great info though some of the opening times and entrance fees may be a little out of date.

Probably doesn't matter whether you do Prague or Budapest first, whichever has cheaper flights. Night train or flight between the two, flight to Amsterdam, train to London.

In Budapest I recommend this collection of apartments: Six Very Special Apartments in the Heart of Budapest

well to sort out the flights skyscanner.net is the tool and you might like rome2rio
from a travel point of view I'd cut one and maybe do a few more day trips.
I'd chose one of Budapest or Prague, then move onto Amsterdam and then London.

If Prague go for a day out to Melnik say, in Budapest go to Eger or just a country spa.
Amsterdam, any nearby city such as Haarlam
London, the choices are enormous, Winchester, Salisbury, Bath, Oxford, Canterbury

I have never done an overnight train but may look into it. And yes, will do multi-city for sure! I didn't even think about the luggage issue, but that could be an issue trying to drag that around, so good to bring up. Thanks everyone for your thoughts and great advice!

For info on the night train go here: https://www.seat61.com/trains-and-ro...#sleeper_train

Lots of good info on that site about European trains and buying tickets, just browse some.

Yes www.seat61.com is THE site now for current info on European trains - all aspects! If taking trains pack light - you have to navigate thru crowded stations and up stairs and down - and this is critical IMO.