London, Vienna, CK, Prague, Bratislava, Budapest in 8 days.
Mar 20th, 2015, 06:31 AM
#21
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The crazy itinerary came about this way. At first I was going to do just Vienna, CK and Prague. I realized CK was difficult to get to with public transit so I figured I'd rent a car for a few days. I then realized a car for a week cost the same as a car for a few days. Since having a car all week would give me a lot of flexibility and since everything is in close proximity, I thought why not do Buda as well. Then I thought since Brat is right there, why not do that as well.
However.. I finally came to my senses.. been reading more now about Prague, Vienna and Ck and realized there's a heck of a lot to see..also my wife and I don't like to always get up early.. and so ...I'm cutting out Buda and Brat.
As mentioned previously, I'm arriving and departing the continent at Vienna. I'm unable to change that. So I need to figure out the best itinerary for Vienna-CK-Prague for 7 days.
I'm still thinking, immediately upon landing in Vienna, to use a car to get up to CK (for a day or overnight) and then Prague (for x days), keeping the car at park and ride at Prague and then driving back to vienna where I'll ditch the car or keep it in a park and ride , maybe using it for a countryside tour, and use it to go the airport.
Aside from the convenience factor in getting to CK, I think it's ,also, cheaper to rent a car then to use the train, from what I can discern on the raileurope site.
I'm wondering if anyone who's been responding has every tried driving in Europe. I would think if one uses the park and rides on the outskirts of Prague and Vienna, and stays out of the city center, it should be pretty easy driving from city to city.
The mantra of 'when in europe use the train don't drive' may be dated , with the advent of park and ride lots in Prague and Vienna.
CK may be a problem, however, as I read they only have parking for 590 cars. I'd hate to get there and find out I have to wait for a parking place to free up.
Thanks in advance for your feedback.
However.. I finally came to my senses.. been reading more now about Prague, Vienna and Ck and realized there's a heck of a lot to see..also my wife and I don't like to always get up early.. and so ...I'm cutting out Buda and Brat.
As mentioned previously, I'm arriving and departing the continent at Vienna. I'm unable to change that. So I need to figure out the best itinerary for Vienna-CK-Prague for 7 days.
I'm still thinking, immediately upon landing in Vienna, to use a car to get up to CK (for a day or overnight) and then Prague (for x days), keeping the car at park and ride at Prague and then driving back to vienna where I'll ditch the car or keep it in a park and ride , maybe using it for a countryside tour, and use it to go the airport.
Aside from the convenience factor in getting to CK, I think it's ,also, cheaper to rent a car then to use the train, from what I can discern on the raileurope site.
I'm wondering if anyone who's been responding has every tried driving in Europe. I would think if one uses the park and rides on the outskirts of Prague and Vienna, and stays out of the city center, it should be pretty easy driving from city to city.
The mantra of 'when in europe use the train don't drive' may be dated , with the advent of park and ride lots in Prague and Vienna.
CK may be a problem, however, as I read they only have parking for 590 cars. I'd hate to get there and find out I have to wait for a parking place to free up.
Thanks in advance for your feedback.
Mar 20th, 2015, 07:01 AM
#23
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Raileurope.com is not a good site - it is overpriced.
Find another one. I'm not used to sites for Austriza so cannot recommend other than capitainetrain.com that I4ve never used but saw recommended a lot.
mvg
Find another one. I'm not used to sites for Austriza so cannot recommend other than capitainetrain.com that I4ve never used but saw recommended a lot.
mvg
Mar 20th, 2015, 08:03 AM
#24
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I'm glad you've scaled back your number of destinations. I think you'll have a much more enjoyable trip this way. Now you just need to conquer the transportation piece. If budget is an issue, do not forget to include the cost of gas, tolls, and parking when comparing rental car to train prices. Gas and tolls are often considerably more expensive in Europe than in the US. Happy planning!
Mar 20th, 2015, 08:12 AM
#25
>> from what I can discern on the raileurope site<<
Do NOT use raileurope as a source. It sells rail passes which for a trip like yours probably doesn't make sense. The few point to point tickets you'd need would cost a fraction of what a EurRail pass costs.
Do NOT use raileurope as a source. It sells rail passes which for a trip like yours probably doesn't make sense. The few point to point tickets you'd need would cost a fraction of what a EurRail pass costs.
Mar 21st, 2015, 07:24 AM
#26
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Cesky Krumolov:
Prague:
Bratislava:
Budapest:
Vienna:
If you were going between all these by rail there is a railpass that could be very feasible - especially if you just want to hop on any train anytime as full-fare tickets allow - check the European East Railpass, valid on trains in Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovenia - often when folks say a EurRail (should be Eurail) pass they automatically think of the traditional Eurailpass, valid in many countries or the Select Pass but regional passes like this and the Swiss Pass for Switzerland can indeed be something to at least research and not dismiss out of hand as folks not so knowledgeable about the zillions of passes available.
Prague:
Bratislava:
Budapest:
Vienna:
If you were going between all these by rail there is a railpass that could be very feasible - especially if you just want to hop on any train anytime as full-fare tickets allow - check the European East Railpass, valid on trains in Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovenia - often when folks say a EurRail (should be Eurail) pass they automatically think of the traditional Eurailpass, valid in many countries or the Select Pass but regional passes like this and the Swiss Pass for Switzerland can indeed be something to at least research and not dismiss out of hand as folks not so knowledgeable about the zillions of passes available.
Mar 21st, 2015, 12:05 PM
#27
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A 5-days of unlimited travel within a one-month period on the European East Pass costs about $40/ day 2nd class - not much more in first class - that about 35 euros a day for the ability to hop on any train anytime - comare that to full fares if wanting complete flexibility and you do not have to decide whcih trains to take until once there - simplicity is a factor - of course how many days you actually travel factors in - if more than five extra days per day are only about $20 or so a day - again for unlimited flexibility.
for lots of great stuff on European tra
for lots of great stuff on European tra
