My husband and I are planning a fairly short trip (about 9 days) to Prague, Budapest and Vienna. Right now, we are scheduled to arrive in Prague, depart out of Vienna. We can also depart out of Budapest but that requires an extra connection which we are hoping to avoid.

What is the best order to see these cities? What is the best way to get from city to city? We have done overnight trains before in Spain and loved it. Are those available? Are they private and nice? We want to save time by travelling overnight but also want to get a good nights sleep.

Thanks in advance for your help. I need to book my tickets tonight.

I think it's too late for this, but generally, those train trips aren't long enough to warrant an overnight train. It's only about four hours from Prague to Vienna. I think you can book a slow train overnight from Prague to Vienna/Budapest, but don't think the timing is very good (like leaving Prague at about midnight and getting to Vienna at 6 am) and you may need to change in Vienna and waste time there in a connection doing that. You spend a lot more time doing that than taking the quicker trains.

Fly home from Budapest. The added connection you mention can't be as time- and money-consuming as having to double back just to go catch a plane.

There is only one good night train, leaves Praha at 23:00 as D732 sleeper (has number D375 to Rajka but that is of no conern to you), it goes direct, not via Wien but via Bratislava, no need for a change of train anywhere, and gets into Budapest-Keleti pu at 07:53. Has a restaurant on bord, couchettes, sleepers, reservation is mandatory of course.

The next-best night train is R423 (to Prerov) / R203 (to Hohenau) / D 203 (to Wien)requires a change of trains in Wien - not too bad, leaves Praha at 23:29, gets into Wien-Süd at 06:03, leaves from Wien-Süd at 07:15 (train OEC 41 with bord restaurant), gets into Budapest-Keleti pu at 09:48.

The best way to travel between these destinations is a private car & driver. It may sound expensive, but it is very comparable to taking the train for two people. Plus, this will allow you to see more of the countryside and make pit stops in beautiful villages for lunch, snack or just to stretch your legs. To/from Budapest to Vienna/Prague, Bela Lukacs (email:[email protected]) is the way to go. From Prague to Vienna/Budapest, check out Mike's Chauffeur ([email protected]). He also has a website (www.mike-chauffeur.cz). If you are flying into Prague, stay there first and then have Mike drive you to Vienna, stopping off at Cesky Krumlov for a couple of hours. Spend your time in Vienna and then have Bela drive you from Vienna to Budapest with a stop in either Baden (a spa town) or Bratislava for some shopping and lunch. Have a great trip.

Dear Mommy,

You don't mention when you're travelling - from April -end October, there is a hydrofoil from vienna to Budapest, once or twice a day. try www.mahartpassnave.hu.
Haven't tried it, but it sounds a good way to travel!