Our entrance and departure points are set in stone, and we now have reservations for 5 nights in Munich, 2 in Salzburg, and 4 in Vienna. I'm now thinking that we may want to ditch the two nights Salzburg and go to Prague instead. It seems we could easily do a day trip from Munich or Vienna to Salzburg. Husband originally had Prague high on his list, and the more I read about it, the more I think I might like to see it too. My thought is that we would try one of these Flixbuses as it seems to actually be faster than a train and of course cheaper. Thoughts?

I thank all of you so much, and if anyone wants to know anything about the Colonial Triangle {Williamsburg/Yorktown/Newport News} or Coastal Virginia {Virginia Beach/Norfolk) as the marketers now call them, I'm your girl.

Those Munich-Prague buses are nice and comfy and are faster than trains on that route - get discounted fares at www.bahn.de/en - German Railways site and yes Munich to Salzburg is an easy day trip by train - you can use the Bavarian Pass where for about 30 euros or so two folks - not p.p. can travel on regional trains all day - even going to Salzburg without paying extra - but those trains take about an hour longer each way that higher-speed trains that you could not use with the pass but the cheapest advance purchase tickets for higher-speed trains would be 29 euros p.p. each way if you could get them.

Prague to Vienna is best IMO by train - about 4-5 hours.

anyways for lots of goodies on trains check www.seat61.com - great info on discounted tickets; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com. No railpass would be cost-effective for you IMO.

Hello Wordfreak:

There is much to recommend seeing in Prague. However, two days in Prague might be rather frustrating, since you will have to choose between many desirable options. On the other hand, two days in Salzburg, although it won't allow you time for venturing out into the beautiful countryside, will at least give you a good feel for the city. If you haven't made hotel reservations for Vienna, the Rathaus Wein and Design is friendly, well situated in a quiet area off Jesefstrasse. We recently returned from our second trip to Vienna and we were happy that we stayed there a second time. I can't say much about the Flixbus service. We have rented cars in Germany and Austria, but we have also used the train for short hops, and it has been pleasant. Some friends we met in Vienna spoke about Railjet train options they used from Salzburg to Vienna, and they were quite pleased.

PalenQ-do you mean the Flixbuses are nice an comfy? In following the link you included to the Bahn site, all I see are trains? That seat61 site is great!

The bus takes longer than the train between Munich and Salzburg (about 30 minutes longer I think). You need to double check the Flixbus website to see if there is service between Vienna and Salzburg.

wordfreak - I thought you were refering to buses between Munich and Prague - those buses are reported to be nice and comfy - I know little about Flixbuses to Salzburg and would take the train there with the Bavarian Pass for a total of 30 euros about return for both - any train IME is more comfy than any bus - well almost.

sorry for not reading carefully but the buses I'm talking about are run by Deutsche Bahn I believe

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/que...fasScrollDir=1

www.bahn.de/en shows the buses and gives fares - about 44 euros one way if you book far enough in advance to nab discounted tickets or 96 euros full fare one way - can book on the Bahn.de site.

Again sorry about Flexibuses but I would not say I've heard much about them but would only take a bus like to Prague where they are quicker than the trains and go direct which few trains seem to.

wordfreak - I reprinted the bus info as IME the site I copied that shows the buses will disappear in a little while for some reason - same info as my above link should or should have shown. You can see one bus takes 4:38 whereas trains require a change and take 45 minutes or so longer - prices are similar and railpasses for those who have them for Germany are valid.

Mo, 13.07.15 dep 09:53 5:15 1 ICE, BUS No special fares available 97,70 EUR (Res. Info)

Praha hl.n. (Autobusová St. Wilsonova) Mo, 13.07.15 arr 15:08
München ZOB (Hackerbrücke)
Mo, 13.07.15 dep 10:15 4:38 0 BUS No special

Praha hl.n. (Autobusová St. Wilsonova) Mo, 13.07.15 arr 14:53
München Hbf
Mo, 13.07.15 dep 10:51 5:27 1 ICE, BUS No special fares available 97,70 EUR (Res. Info)

Praha hl.n. (Autobusová St. Wilsonova) Mo, 13.07.15 arr 16:18
München Hbf
Mo, 13.07.15 dep 11:53 5:25 1 ICE, BUS 44,00 EUR  (Res. Info)
Purchase

97,70 EUR (Res. Info)

Praha hl.n. (Autobusová St. Wilsonova) Mo, 13.07.15 arr 17:18