Hello Fodorites I've spent some time looking at what I'd like to do in May when I'm heading to Budapest on a very reasonably-priced RT ticket. I was all over the place but with the realization that I only have 9 days on the ground [5/21 - 5/30], and a half a morning on the 10th day, I re-thought some things. A bit about me... I like having some flexibility in my itinerary and I almost never book all my hotels and trains before I leave home - typically just the first and last day's hotels, and then I try to plan a couple of days in advance, to ensure that I have a room when I get somewhere. I also don't mind moving on every couple of days, depending on how I'm feeling. That being said, this is just a rough itinerary, to be refined on the road I would appreciate any comments you have to make, or suggestions to take in [or take out] a portion. Thanks in advance for your help!

5/21 - AM arrival in Budapest, head off to a Pest hotel or hostel or pension [TBD - any suggestions for a non-hostel room under USD 50?], then hit the streets.
5/22 - Day 2 in Budapest. Night train to Prague.
5/23 - Prague
5/24 - Prague - maybe a morning trip to Kutan Hora
5/25 - Prague - evening bus to Cesky Krumlov
5/26 - Cesky Krumlov - evening shuttle to Vienna
5/27 - Vienna [been here before, just passing through this time] - early evening to Bratislava
5/28 - Bratislava in the AM, stop at a Danube bend town, on to Budapest
5/29 - Budapest - OR, earlier in the itinerary, add another day to Prague. In that case, omit Bratislava.
5/30 - Budapest - a last walk around in the morning, then off to the airport for a late afternoon flight back to NYC.

Thoughts?

You can try http://www.bellevuebudapest.com/inde...en&faz=1&aaz=0 in Budapest. It advertises single rooms for 30€, but I suspect that this is for off-season rentals. The host speaks fluent English.

Bookmarking.

just in case you are interested whilst you are in Prague there is a beer festival going on starts on the 12th and finishes on the 28th ,i will be there from the 13th-20th may.
it is based out in Letnany which is the last stop on the red Metro line ( about 20 minutes from city center) and it is well worth visiting.this will be my third year in a row at the festival.
great beer,live music ,good food ,funfairs,craft stalls etc.
http://www.ceskypivnifestival.cz/en/

thanks unclegus - i saw your earlier post on this on a different prague thread.

not much of a drinker, but may check that out regardless. Thanks!

Anyone know what's going on near the end of June? For 4 days around the 22nd prices seem to skyrocket in Prague, then go back down to normal.

it is a good fun place to be,lots of live music from folk to heavy rock,food is not too bad and there are lots of other drinks apart from the beer. If the weather is nice it will be a lovely place to spend and hour or so.

Going to Kutná Hora when you've only got one or two full days in Prague doesn't make much sense to me. I think you're rushing things too much here. Why not concentrate on Prague and Budapest, with maybe one day in Bratislava. If you want to visit a small charming eastern european city as well, just take the boat from Pest to Szentendre.

Schiermonik the Kutna Hora day trip is more like a place holder in the unlikely event I feel the need to move on. Just keeping some options open .

On either of these sites you can suggest a price for your hotel once you enter the city and dates. www.booking.com/ or www.priceline.com where you can bid. If you do bid and it's accepted you are locked in and your CC will be charged. We bid on a five star in Athens for this June and got it for 70 US dollars plus tax.

I don't know your age, but as much as I liked Prague, it seemed more a place where younger people would enjoy hanging out. Budapest (as a tourist) had so much more to offer (me). Spend more time in Budapest. You can easily see all the important sights in Prague in 2 days and still do early morning meditating on Charles bridge and hit all the clubs in the evening.