I love Mozart and have changed my plans for 2006 and decided to go to E Europe and Austria for my summer holiday.

I will fly into Prague and out of Salzburg.

I am a solo female traveller who knows how to look after herself but having read lots of reports about gas bombs etc on Polish night trains I am looking for advice (please help)

I will be taking a night train from Prague to Krakow and another from Krakow to Budapest.

1. Are these attacks blown out of proportion by the press?

2. As a single person would I be better traveling:
A. In a first class single occupancy cabin

or
B. In a 6 berth couchette (ie, safety in numbers)

I would prefer to travel in a first class cabin by myself but safety rather than comfort is my priority.

If anyone has had experience of either of these train journeys or anyone living in Poland who knows the truth about such atacks, can you please advise.

Thank you,
Helen

Anyone?

Polish Trains are getting safer - but even if then from what you are saying you would not be going cross country in Poland but just few Kilometers into Poland... Also those international trains are much safer then more local ones... I've traveled throughout Poland by trains many times and although I heard same stories - none of those happened on trains I have traveled on - and I did feel fairly safe...

In short for you specific trip either choice be fine ... with single person 1st class probably better choice.

Enjoy - sounds like a great trip!!!

Thanks Peter

I took the night train from Krakow to Prague. I too read these stories, from I remember it's the trains that are in North Poland (Gdnask) and anything that goes into Russia, that you need to be more aware of your surroundings. I dont't recall these incidents being recent.I would splurge on the 1st class. Sounds like a great trip!

I didn't answer your post earlier as my experience was not in Poland, but as a solo female on an overnight train I definitely would spring for a private cabin over a shared couchette if you can afford it.

Thanks absolutkz,

Can you remember what time you got into Krakow?

The night train arrives at 05.43am do you know if there is anywhere open at this time as I doubt if my hotel would welcome me even to dump my luggage.

Helen

Thanks Suze,

I have decided to do that

Hi, We also took an overnight train from Warsaw to Prague and I bought the tickets from a broker here in Florida and he also has an office in Germany. (I have lost the contact info, someone on this board should have it). Anyway, we were in sleeper cars that were almost completely populated by Americans or Brits. I don't know if it was a coincidence or not. Our only problem was crossing the border in the middle of the night. We were awoken and had trouble figuring out how to unlock the doors and the passport guys were a little impatient! It was safe, the bathroom was really really gross!

We went from Krakow to Prague. I remember we got in around 6am. We had an apt and she was expecting us even though we couldn't get into the place. Check with where your staying and give them a heads up and ask if you can leave your luggage. The previous post brought up a memory - I couldn't find the lock on the train either. We waited up for passport and wouldn't you know as soon as we fell asleep, they came banging on the door.Delt with them, put everything away and another passport check came 10min. later. Wouldn't be a bad idea to bring a small flashlight.

i'd ask your hotel specifically. as long as the front desk is staffed at that hour, surely you can leave your suitcase with them and come back later in the day.

when i've done this i try to plan ahead and make sure my smaller tote bag (day pack, whatever) is packed with any thing important I do not want to be separated from or that i might need to pass that 1/2 day until check-in time when you're reunited with your luggage.

Thank you all,

I am now about to book my air tickets for what I think is going to a great trip but want to share my itinerary with others first. I will post another question.

Night trains will be first class sleepers and I will check about the door opening before I go to sleep.

Good advise about checking with the hotel about leaving luggage.

Thanks again

Helen

Cambe,
The night train between Prague and Krakow is very safe. I did it RT two years ago with a private sleeper. There's a conductor in the train and double locks on the door so you'll be fine. Passport control will bang on your door around 3 a.m.
You should go to your hotel when you arrive because you might get lucky and be able to check in early if your room is available. I stayed at the Pollera and they let me check in when I arrived around 6 a.m. The single room I booked was not ready so they gave me a lovely double for the price of a single.

Single male. I went from Krakow to Prague last month. Second class cabin but I was the only occupant. Sleep in your clothes if you are sharing a cabin. The train was old but OK. The door has locks. I can't see how anyone could attack you unless you open the door. The conductor will take your ticket but not your passport. Passport police woke me at midnight.

Prague station has some operators and beggars. Do not trust anyone.

Both cites are still beautiful and cater to tourists, with all the good and bad that implies.

Took the day train from Prague to Krakow last March. LOng 8 hours but friendly locals in first class.
Prague rail station is terrible. Lots of drunks and homeless. Just be aware and stand near the information booth in plain sight.
You'll love Krakow!!

Oops. Just to clarify my info. Passport control is 3 a.m. on the Prague/Krakow route, and midnight on the Krakow/Prague route.

Hi, I traveled on a 12 hour night train from Krakov to Gdynia with 5 mates last summer. Needless to say we were bricking it, we thought we were gonna be stabbed and mugged etc. However after locking ourselves in the 6 man cabin with belts, in serious cramped uncomfort for 9 hours, we were not killed. So a couple of us left the cabin to find a small child running up and down the coridor

Busses are safer!

Hopefully you do not have to stop in Katowice. That train station is pretty ghetto and definitely not a place for a single female. It is much worse than pragues train station...Also, if you have to wander in any of those train stations find a Polish cop/soldier and stay near them. The scam artists in Poland are kind of obvious and you will find the general poulice isnt friendly like in czech republic. I arrived in Kracow early in the morning by train and this time is when all the drunks hang out...If you arrive kinda early like around 8ish or 9ish there is a brand new mall right next to the train station, its a good place to hang out and the scummy dudes dont go in there.