I will be visiting Prague in September and then heading to Berlin. I plan to pre pay my tickets via www.czechrailwaytickets.com and they have an option for 1st class & 2nd class tickets but no description or photos so I can tell what the difference between them are. Do you prefer one of the classes over the other for the 4 1/2 hour trip? We will each have 1 large suitcase and want to make sure both trains have some sort of storage.

We traveled 1st class on our one and only trip so I don't know how to compare. It was fine but nothing exceptional. No extra food or other perks. There were 6 available seats in a separate compartment (of which we took 4). There was another lady for the Berlin to Dresden leg but we had it to ourselves from Dresden to Prague.

The upcharge was pretty marginal, but I guess that's because there isn't much difference!

First class has slightly bigger seats... More room as I tend to find few people pay the difference. We buy first class if we have a lot of luggage or think the train may be very crowded.

That large suitcase may be a problem on Czech trains if the cars are compartments, rather than coach seating. I've not seen end of car storage on compartment trains, only overhead and a large suitcase may not fit, let alone 2 large suitcases. Are you traveling with a strong man who can lift the suitcases over his head and get them on the rack?

I think 2nd class is fine but if you budget allows, why not buy 1st class tickets. They're cheap enough.

I prefer to use the German rail site - it gives you far more information.

Trains in general in Europe have two classes with generally the same differences - fewer seats in the same size train carriage in first class - thus bigger, wider seats with more room in between them and also nice seats with just one in a row - an aisle and a window seat with a table in between for couples who want to sit facing each other.

There is more room for luggage yes since fewer people ride in first class and IME there is almost always several empty seats - I can always just about count on putting my bags on an adjoining seat rather than fending for room in a perhaps already to packed overhead luggage rack in 2nd class.

For lots of great insights on European trains I always spotlight these IMO fantastic sites - www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

Thank you for all the great information! Also, I just found the actual website of the Czech train station so I do not have to purchase through a reseller.

Try to sit on the right side of the train when going to Berlin and the awesome sights of Saxon Switzerland - reddish sandstone cliffs topped by forts and with tall pinnacles are on the east side of the Elbe River just south of Dresden.

You know Dresden itself is a marvellous city - consider doing a few-hour lay over in Dresden and see this Florence3 on the Elbe's impressive river front gaggle of famous buildings like the opera hall and world-famous museums.

Thanks for the tip on the placement of the seat. I was actually going to do a day in Dresden but decided against it - a few hours seems like a good idea!