Dukey

First of all, I think you should cram in as much as you can and never mind the dust plodders...it sounds like a wonderful trip.

My only question (and I am not in any way trying to throw a money wrench into any plans) which i have had from the beginning of this thread is about the origin...Prague.

Why are you starting there and not in Poland?

I assume this has to do with flights...frequent flyer miles..costs..is that it?

maitaitom

"Why are you starting there and not in Poland?
I assume this has to do with flights...frequent flyer miles..costs..is that it?"

Dukey...Exactly. I have to do this with AA (American Airlines, not Alcoholics Anonymous) miles, so Prague works best for me.

We have never been known for our "Slow Travel" itineraries, so we decided, "Why start now?"

Actually, I think this trip isn't as frenetic as some of our sojourns over the years.

Plus, the more places we go the more things can go wrong, which means a better trip report. If our trip went perfectly, the trip report would be boring (of course, some might think that about my trip reports anyway).

Dukey

Thanks for the response.

I am certain you will enjoy both Prague and Budapest if my own previous experiences are any example.

have a wonderful trip.

FainaAgain

Degas, are you thinking a Borat sequel?

Christina

I've done a lot of the CR portion of your trip, as well as taking that train from Olomouc to Krakow, and I think it's okay. I enjoyed Kutna Hora a lot, good choice of a day trip. You might not want to take out another day just to visit one of those local castles, though. I think just visiting Vysehrad cemetery and park in Prague itself would be easier and maybe just as enjoyable. I've just heard those local castles aren't that great (Karlstejn, etc.).

However, you aren't going to drive from Prague to Cesky Krumlov in 2 hrs, it's too far. It shouldn't be more than 3, but you aren't going to be going that fast the entire trip from the moment you get in to your car (in Prague) until reaching it that you could do it in that time frame.

maitaitom

Christina...Thanks for all the info. I will probably delete the castle day trip, which I was thinking about doing before as I really don't want to short change Prague. I'm glad you liked Kutna Hora because it looked pretty interesting to me.

HappyCheesehead

I wasn't going to say anything, but you brought it up yourself first...

I would have been really sorry to have arrived in Dubrovnik and only had two days there. Perhaps you could visit it, and all the surrounding, glorious areas another time and skip it this trip.

Your itinerary looks like tons of funs and I think fast paced is fine, but the Dubrovnik part really made me wince.

maitaitom

Yes Happy Cheesehead, I think I was trying to force Dubrovnik into the itinerary, but I believe it will have to wait for another day.

There's a morning train that gets to Zagreb about 1:30, so I think I'll rent a car, go to Plitvice Lakes, spend the night and 1/2 day the next day, and move on to Ljubljana.

Now another question.

I will take a train from Olomouc to Krakow, overnight train from Krakow to Budapest and finally Budapest to Zagreb. Do I just pay individually for each trip or is there a pass that covers any of this? Thanks.

pavfec

Easytraveler wrote: "Usually rent in Paris and return to Paris. It takes about a day (600+ miles) to drive from Paris straight through to Prague. Distances are not great, there's just so much to see in-between all those miles in Europe!"

Before renting a car in a Western European country with the intention of taking it into an Eastern European country, check with the rental agency. Some will not let you take a rental car into Eastern Europe and some won't insure you. Apparently the theft rate is very high in Eastern Europe. I found this out when we were looking to drive from France to Hungary. We ended up flying.

maitaitom

Pavfec,

I have decided to rent in CR and return in CR, and rent in Croatia and return to Croatia. Drop-off charges are just too much. at least the ones that I have been quoted.

Byrd

MTTom,

Please please consider the Gellert Hotel in Budapest!

Hotel guests have free use of all the spa facilities, and I promise you will have tales to tell.

We stayed there with four other couples several years ago and, yes, we are still laughing - think men in plastic shower-type caps and little aprons.

http://www.danubiushotels.com/en/bud...llert-budapest

Be sure to click the Photo Gallery to see the pools and spas.

I think there are at least a dozen, some inside, some outside, some men only, some women only, some co-ed.

Our rooms were very nice, all overlooking the Danube.

Byrd

maitaitom

" think men in plastic shower-type caps and little aprons."

I think I've seen those guys here in L.A. (not that there's anything wrong with that).

Hotel Gellert looks nice, but might be above our price line for this trip (29 days traveling means a little less pricey hotels and apartments this trip).

Thanks.

Clifton

Hi Tom, not online too much lately, just being back from a trip ourselves and catching up. I couldn't tell you on the passes unfortunately. We were driving back in towards Budapest from Romania and picked up some northern Hungarian towns along the way. SO I haven't done the trains.

We've talked about going back to Budapest for a future special occasion (we got very attached) and was looking into what else we might combine it with. I'm a travel geek - I research trips sometimes that I'm not even sure we'll end up taking. Anyway, I did see that there was a train to Z that went via Pecs. Of course, the problem there is that people rave about Pecs too.....

Anyway, have a great trip. I'm looking forward to hearing about it. Leave a little of Budapest standing so we can re-visit.

maitaitom

Thanks Clifton. I also plan itineries for trips I have yet to take. Some day I will actually visit the Dordogne. We will leave a bit of Budapest for your return trip.

We have decided on cutting out Dubrovnik (reluctantly) and adding Plitvice. There is a train from Budapest to Zagreb. We can rent the car in Zagreb, do a quick trip down to Plitvice and then head back to Ljubljana. This way we pick up and drop the car in Croatia.

Anyone out there with an answer to my train question (or anything else about this trip). Passes vs. individual tix. Thanks.

Dukey

I assume you know, but perhaps not, that you can go to www.railpass.com and input your itinerary to determine whether or not point to point tickets would be more economical than any pass(es) which might be available.

I know there is a Balkan Pass and also one covering Slovenia, Austria, etc., but not certain there is anything that covers all the countries you are visiting.

maitaitom

Thanks Dukey. No train pass covers all my countries we want to visit. It might be more affordable to have a car for 24 days and pay the heavy drop-off charge since it will be split between two couples, instead of taking three train trips and rent a car in two different countries with no drop-off charge.

I guess this is why I need to plan a year in advance.

Luhimari

ttt