prepackaged trip vs. youth hostels
 

I am planning a prague-vienna-budapest trip 3 nights in each city. I found a prepacked trip with airfare, train between cities, and hotels for around 1900 in june. Has anyone done this trip staying in youth hostels, was there a huge price differance? was it worth it? Any advice as to a cheaper trip package let me know. Thanks

I've been to all three, and especially in Prague and Budapest, I'm sure you can get fairly cheap hostels and could do it cheaper than that. But it's hard to tell because you don't say where you are flying from, so that makes all the difference.

Paul Laifer Tours is good in Central Europe, but he doesn't have one with that time frame -- shows a 12 day one for $2100 in June, though.
http://www.laifertours.com/2007/f0.php

Check out www.go-today.com, they have lots of cheap packages and they have one for only around $1500 in June for those cities, but it's only 2 nights in each. So, three less days versus $400 (which is a lot for three days in the budget rooms). HOwever, if you need to fly from Western US, that would add on about $400 to it, so that's why it makes a big difference.

sorry my question was worded quite funny. I'm at work and writing fast. i am flying from philadelphia or boston. Flights separately are 900. and the package is 1500 for three nights in each city. I figured the train to be 75 between cities which leaves $450 for hotels. I figured hostels to be about $20 per night or $180 for the trip. Leaving a difference of $270. Is the price difference for the prepacked trip w/ hotels worth it? Am i underestimating the cost of buying all the elements separetely and staying in hostels? any thoughts? thanks

Personally, I would make the decision, not only on cost, but rather would you rather be part of a tour group or on your own?

For me, no way I would join a tour. So I book independently and as cheaply as I feel necessary to pull it off.

I would rather stay home than join a cheap tour (just my personal opinion).

These aren't tours, just packages.

I think you are figuring them correctly, maybe. I'm not up on hostel costs but think they may be more than that now, especially with the weak value of the USD. Maybe you know that for sure, though, but US$20 isn't much nowadays. I'd probably guess more like US$25 to 30 a night on that in Vienna. It is around 400 CK a night in Prague for a hostel. The train probably won't be $75 between two cities, but that's not a bad guess if you aren't sure. I think second class, it is cheaper between Prague and Vienna.

The big thing I would worry about is the airfare, that is what made that package look cheap. YOu can usually get hostel rooms cheaper than a package hotel room, that's why I thought if that was the main consideration, you could. Air fare is very high this summer, and it's higher to Prague and Vienna than London or Paris, for example. I have flown into Prague a couple times, and it's always $100-200 more than London. And this summer, I haven't seen any RT fare around $900 myself to western Europe. So if you can't really get air fare that cheap on your own, you could be getting a good deal on that package.

Hi T,

>... I figured hostels to be about $20 per night ...<

That's 15E.

I don't think so. 20 - 25 Euro is more like it.

((I))

People are correct. Hostel beds (depending on the city) are more in the 20 to 30 euro range these days.

If travelling from the US, I can understand the desire to arrange a pre packaged tour. I would however recommend the independent route because you have far more freedom and youth hostels in budapest are extremely cheap even during the high season.

http://www.travel--guide.org/Budapest

I agree with Christina's comment about Paul Laifer Tours. They just offer travel packages, not group tours. There is no regimentation because you are on your own.
They give you the basics (transportation, hotels and usually a 2-hour "tour" in each major city. You fill in the rest of the itinerary yourself.