EugeneNY

Larryincolorado, thanks for the number. I tried to call this same number earlier today and the line was busy.

Basingstoke1, thanks, I'll certainly consider taking an early (or late) train...for now I just need to figure out how to deal with this $460 charge.

ben_haines_london

You can avoid RailEurope charges if you book through one of two agents in the USA, Budget Europe Travel Service, phone 800-441-9413 or 800-441-2387, site http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/ or Euraide of Florida, E-mail [email protected], phone 941/480-1555, site http://www.euraide.com/. You would do well to ask each to quote separately.

The Thomas Cook European Timetable shows that day trains take 4 ½ hours. Night trains run slower to give a better night: you can board and go to bed at Vienna South about 2200, leave at 2233 and reach Prague Hlavni (beware pickpockets) at 0507. To avoid this early arrival you can travel from Vienna South at 2200 for 2233, stay in bed through Prague Hlavni, and quit at Prague Smichov at 0624. Smichov station is on the Prague metro system, and not known for pickpockets. You can lengthen the night further if you draw Czech crowns from an exchange office in Vienna and go right on Beroun, thus: Vienna South at 2200 for 2233, Beroun arrive 0656, find the eastbound train, leave at 0707, reach Prague Smichov 0737 or Prague Hlavni 0745. You can really do it in style if you travel thus: Vienna South 2200 for 2233, Plzen arrive 0756, leave at 0806, breakfast in the restaurant car, Prague Smichov 0937 or Prague Hlavni 0945. In either case, you can wash in a bathroom at the end of a corridor on the train that runs eastward into Prague.

Please write if I can help further. For example I have a note on getting the best from sleepers: shall I copy it to you ?

Ben Haines, London
[email protected]

EugeneNY

OEBB e-mailed me back saying that they cannot cancel the order but that the tickets are refundable (less a 30-euro processing charge). Btw, if anyone's interested, $462.08 (361 euros) is what they charge for a roundtrip ticket from Vienna to Prague in a first-class sleeping compartment. I guess they decided to sell me the most expansive ticket they had.

Anyway, I learned my lesson (i.e., not to submit credit card information until and unless I know the price)...will be careful next time around.

EugeneNY

If anyone's interested, here's the price list I received via e-mail from OEBB:

The price of a return ticket from Wien Südbf to Prague is € 95,20 per
person in 2nd class.

The price of a return ticket from Wien Südbf to Prague is € 146,00 per
person in 1st class.


Supplement in night train per person:
Sleeping car 3-bed-compartment € 30,00 (2nd class)
Sleeping car 2-bed-compartment € 45,00 (2nd class)
Sleeping car 1-bed-compartment € 105,00 (1st class)