Prague or Budapest
Jan 4th, 2018, 02:00 PM
#41
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Prague- what is the most convenient area to stay in and is the transportation system(s) user friendly !
We were in Budapest/Vienna/Bratislava/Gyor a couple months ago and are planning a trip to Prague in the summer. We loved Budapest and found it quite clean,safe, people very cordial & helpful, lots to see and very reasonably priced. We stayed in an AirB&B (spelling?) across from the Great Synagogue- a perfect location. Transportation systems there are easy to use and take you everywhere. The "metro" is impeccably clean and safe. Certainly you could eat in expensive places, but there are so many local restaurants that have outstanding food and reasonably priced. We did some Tours by Locals that were most satisfied with the guides. There's much to see in Budapest. Buda side is very different from Pest side-both worth seeing.
We trained to Vienna which was a lovely and most interesting city. We used On Day Tours to drive us from Vienna to Bratislava & Gyor en route back to Budapest. Bratislava was beautiful, quite interesting and certainly worth the time to visit. Gyor was smaller but also interesting. Hope this was helpful.
We were in Budapest/Vienna/Bratislava/Gyor a couple months ago and are planning a trip to Prague in the summer. We loved Budapest and found it quite clean,safe, people very cordial & helpful, lots to see and very reasonably priced. We stayed in an AirB&B (spelling?) across from the Great Synagogue- a perfect location. Transportation systems there are easy to use and take you everywhere. The "metro" is impeccably clean and safe. Certainly you could eat in expensive places, but there are so many local restaurants that have outstanding food and reasonably priced. We did some Tours by Locals that were most satisfied with the guides. There's much to see in Budapest. Buda side is very different from Pest side-both worth seeing.
We trained to Vienna which was a lovely and most interesting city. We used On Day Tours to drive us from Vienna to Bratislava & Gyor en route back to Budapest. Bratislava was beautiful, quite interesting and certainly worth the time to visit. Gyor was smaller but also interesting. Hope this was helpful.
Jan 4th, 2018, 04:23 PM
#42
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I agree with Bedar: the Vienna, Prague, Budapest triangle is a nice visit before heading to Greece. They are so far east that it is often difficult to fit them in when visiting Europe, so seeing even a quick glimpse of them in a single visit is a good idea. You will get variety, history, and grandeur. I have been to all three. On my latest visit to Budapest last month, I was awestruck by the history and the architecture. It is, though, a rather sad city with many monuments to wars and heroes lost.
Jan 5th, 2018, 05:01 AM
#43
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As I have said you NEED a car or at least you'll be zillion times better off with having one, cause train and bus travel is rather SLOW in Romania and mostly everywhere in South-Eastern Europe!!!
Examples? Anything you want!
Szeged to Hunedoara, Corvinus castle:
3.5 hours by car.
7.5 by Bus or 8.5 by train!!! Plus to get to the castle from the stations.
Szeged to Cluj-Napoca:
5 hours by car versus 7.5/8.5 Bus/train
Cluj-Napoca to Sibiu:
2 hours by Car versus 4/4.10 hours by Bus/Train
Hunedoara to Brasov:
3.5 hours by Car versus 6.5/7.2 hours by Bus/Train
Even something like a short 70 miles (120 kms) distance from Shigishoara to Brasov is at least 1 hour less by car.
And so on and so forth.
PLUS!!! Everywhere you are STUCK to the Public transportation's schedule, which is not the best sometimes. This is what many travelers hate the most.
For instance just a few days ago I had to transfer 4 Russians from Budapest to Vienna, simply because they wanted to enjoy Budapest for a half day more (doing a quick morning dip at their hotel's thermal Spa, visiting the Grand Market, buying souvenirs etc.). The 1:40 pm direct train would be a too early and the one at 3:40 pm too late option for their planned schedule (already purchased tickets for an evening concert in Vienna).
So Simple. (Don't forget to add the time to get to and from the stations!).
The prices for driver/guides or simple transfers in Romania are quite affordable even in comparison with what you would have to pay here in Hungary.
Also there are quite a few drivers (cars/shared mini vans) who can pick you up right here in Budapest.
Just do a simple internet search.
Last but not least!
WHEREVER you travel in the Balkans or South-eastern Europe, having a car will give you an EXORBITANT advantage in terms of time saving and most of all FLEXIBILITY thus having a chance of seeing and experiencing 10 times more than by public transportation.
Of course if you have 3 weeks or so of traveling time, then who cares. But if you are limited to only 3-4 days and probably will never ever going to return to that part of the world, then a car is your BEST ever option
So simple
Examples? Anything you want!
Szeged to Hunedoara, Corvinus castle:
3.5 hours by car.
7.5 by Bus or 8.5 by train!!! Plus to get to the castle from the stations.
Szeged to Cluj-Napoca:
5 hours by car versus 7.5/8.5 Bus/train
Cluj-Napoca to Sibiu:
2 hours by Car versus 4/4.10 hours by Bus/Train
Hunedoara to Brasov:
3.5 hours by Car versus 6.5/7.2 hours by Bus/Train
Even something like a short 70 miles (120 kms) distance from Shigishoara to Brasov is at least 1 hour less by car.
And so on and so forth.
PLUS!!! Everywhere you are STUCK to the Public transportation's schedule, which is not the best sometimes. This is what many travelers hate the most.
For instance just a few days ago I had to transfer 4 Russians from Budapest to Vienna, simply because they wanted to enjoy Budapest for a half day more (doing a quick morning dip at their hotel's thermal Spa, visiting the Grand Market, buying souvenirs etc.). The 1:40 pm direct train would be a too early and the one at 3:40 pm too late option for their planned schedule (already purchased tickets for an evening concert in Vienna).
So Simple. (Don't forget to add the time to get to and from the stations!).
The prices for driver/guides or simple transfers in Romania are quite affordable even in comparison with what you would have to pay here in Hungary.
Also there are quite a few drivers (cars/shared mini vans) who can pick you up right here in Budapest.
Just do a simple internet search.
Last but not least!
WHEREVER you travel in the Balkans or South-eastern Europe, having a car will give you an EXORBITANT advantage in terms of time saving and most of all FLEXIBILITY thus having a chance of seeing and experiencing 10 times more than by public transportation.
Of course if you have 3 weeks or so of traveling time, then who cares. But if you are limited to only 3-4 days and probably will never ever going to return to that part of the world, then a car is your BEST ever option
So simple
Jan 5th, 2018, 05:14 AM
#44
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PS.
I almost forgot to add that you can fly Wizzair from Budapest to Cluj-Napoca or Bucharest dirt cheap. Just book in advance or use their regular 20% off promotions, like they are having today (Buy the tickets from January 5 to 7) now.
Only 60/80 minutes to fly and than you can hire/rent a car for your travels in Romania.
From Bucharest you can fly Wizzair to Athens. Reasonable prices. 90 minutes travel time.
You can't beat that!
I almost forgot to add that you can fly Wizzair from Budapest to Cluj-Napoca or Bucharest dirt cheap. Just book in advance or use their regular 20% off promotions, like they are having today (Buy the tickets from January 5 to 7) now.
Only 60/80 minutes to fly and than you can hire/rent a car for your travels in Romania.
From Bucharest you can fly Wizzair to Athens. Reasonable prices. 90 minutes travel time.
You can't beat that!
Jan 5th, 2018, 05:38 AM
#45
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I think Prague and Budapest would be a great combo. I spent 7 days in Budapest and 5 in Prague (on separate trips) but I think 4 for each is certainly reasonable. Vienna would fit nicely (geographically) between them but then you would be shortchanging the time in each. Depending on your travel style you could do 3 Prague, 2 Vienna and 2 Budapest and think of it as a 'sampler' trip, planning to return to the one(s) you enjoyed. But if it were me and I had just 8 nights I'd split them between Prague and Budapest.
If you do decide on Budapest I highly recommend the Buda B&B. It's run by two Americans who (literally) wrote the book (Frommer's guide) on Budapest. It's a small apartment that they live in, with just two guest rooms (and communal use of the kitchen and living room). Totally different from a chain hotel. Their website has a video tour of the place and it is exactly as I remember it. And a really good value. Having these guys to help me decide what to do each day and how best to arrange my time was very valuable. I normally just figure out on my own what I'm going to do but with these guys we talked for a while, they then made suggestions based on my interests and I had a great trip. http://www.budabab.com/
Here are my photos of Budapest:http://andiamo.zenfolio.com/p501123893
and Prague: http://andiamo.zenfolio.com/f432701695
Where did you decide to go in Greece?
If you do decide on Budapest I highly recommend the Buda B&B. It's run by two Americans who (literally) wrote the book (Frommer's guide) on Budapest. It's a small apartment that they live in, with just two guest rooms (and communal use of the kitchen and living room). Totally different from a chain hotel. Their website has a video tour of the place and it is exactly as I remember it. And a really good value. Having these guys to help me decide what to do each day and how best to arrange my time was very valuable. I normally just figure out on my own what I'm going to do but with these guys we talked for a while, they then made suggestions based on my interests and I had a great trip. http://www.budabab.com/
Here are my photos of Budapest:http://andiamo.zenfolio.com/p501123893
and Prague: http://andiamo.zenfolio.com/f432701695
Where did you decide to go in Greece?
Jan 6th, 2018, 05:56 AM
#46
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Well, it now it seems I'll have to tell my husband he was right
I think we will leave Romania for another trip. Prague and Budapest seem like a perfect combination and the photos and advice you all have provided has been so very helpful.
We will do 4 nights in Prague and 4 nights in Budapest then fly to Greece. We still have not decided where to go in Greece and our choices, in order of our preference, are:
- The Peloponnese
- Naxos and Santorini
- Crete
- Rhodes
Any help with this list?
Thanks
I think we will leave Romania for another trip. Prague and Budapest seem like a perfect combination and the photos and advice you all have provided has been so very helpful.
We will do 4 nights in Prague and 4 nights in Budapest then fly to Greece. We still have not decided where to go in Greece and our choices, in order of our preference, are:
- The Peloponnese
- Naxos and Santorini
- Crete
- Rhodes
Any help with this list?
Thanks
