Other than Amsterdam, this trip is all new places for us. We arrive in Budapest and leave from Amsterdam. Amsterdam was an afterthought, but we haven't been for over 10 years and wanted to see the renovated Rijksmuseum. Been to Amsterdam about 5 times now.

Need input on hotels and areas to consider in the less than 200 Euro/night range, but can go over if need be. 3 star fine, just need a place in a safe, walkable area that has complimentary internet (husband's big need). Noisy doesn't matter to us. Lively area an asset.

I also need input on length of stay in each of the other places, and a couple questions about train travel, since the plan for this trip is train between cities and use public transport while we still have the physical strength to do so.

Please tweek, comment on the first draft of this plan:

Day:
1 Arrive Budapest 4:15 p.m.
2 Budapest
3 Budapest
4 Budapest
5 Budapest
6 Prague
7 Prague
8 Prague
9 Berlin
10 Berlin
11 Berlin
12 Berlin
13 Berlin
14 Amsterdam
15 Amsterdam
16 Fly home

For Budapest, we'll be traveling with my friend who has family in Budapest and visits there often. She left as a baby in 1956. So we are pretty well covered on places to visit, eat, and are thinking of staying at the Hilton, which I know is not in the thick of things. But friend said it's a great area and she's stayed there before. Said we can walk down, cross the bridge . . . just need to taxi back (or have a friend drive us back to the hotel in the evening).

We're leaving our friend there while we head to Prague, then will meet up in Berlin on day 9.

I guess it's day 5 that I might want to change. Or not. Am thinking of either taking the day train on day 5 to Prague, or perhaps the night train the evening of day 5 to Prague, so we can spend all of day 5 in Budapest. We love trains, and love night trains in a sleeper compartment. And I'm thinking maybe this would be a good idea for the Budapest to Prague leg, since we haven't done a night trip in about 10 years and miss it.

With Berlin, will we be there long enough to take a day trip (by rail) to Dresden? Other ideas?

We loved the Castle District where the Hilton is. Preferred it to any other part of the city.

Budapest, around the Opera, loads of good restaurants and busy streets. Hilton is too much out of the action as is the area around the Parliament.

Prague, in the area between the castle and the start of Charles bridge and the start of the Most Leggi (bridge see google maps), fewer restaurants but the centre of town is just over one or other of the bridges, while the hotels are a little less touristy.

Berlin, too big to call

minor amendment

Budapest Hilton, good views and some great cake shops but getting home requires you to mount a thousand steps, while coming down the wrong set of steps leads you into needle infested rat traps.

I don't think a night train between Budapest and Prague is a good idea. I think they only have one schedule, and it means you get into Prague at 4 am, that's the only choice. There is absolutely nothing you can do in Prague at 4 am, nor can you even check into your hotel.

I don't see why 5 days in Berlin wouldn't be enough to do a day trip to Dresden, but that's just subjective, so up to you. Depends what all you want to do in Berlin. It's only a 2 hr train ride.

I personally prefer the center of Prague to stay (Prague 01), I do not even care to stay in Mala Strana, although some do, as I don't think it is as convenient as the other side of the bridge. I like being in the center of things for convenience in terms of sightseeing and other things. With your budget, there are many many hotels available, even some 4* ones, so no problem. ANd it is the lively center so what you would want. I prefer to stay in the Josefov area, a bit away from the main square, but I do care about quiet.

Hotels are for tourists mainly, or business travelers, so a hotel that wasn't touristy to me would mean a business-oriented one which I would not care for. I personally don't think the area just west or NW of Most Leggi is a convenient place to be, but you might, Just doesn't sound like what you want. And I really would not want to cross Most Leggi just to get to a restaurant at night. Just be aware that there is no metro stop in that area, either. there is a tram line that runs up/down street Ujezd and over the bridge to the theatre and Narodni street area.

I'm guessing you can't take a day from Berlin and add to Prague? Too bad.

<<Hotels are for tourists mainly, or business travelers>>
Well, they're not for the people who live in the city.

We stayed at the K&K Opera, which was six blocks from the Danube and about four from Liszt Ter and thisclose to Andrassy (which IS where the action is). The Buda side is quiet - there's a reason they've been referred to as "sleepy Buda, bustling Pest."

In Prague, check these: http://www.avehotels.cz/ But don't stay by the castle, stay in Mala Strana or Josefov.

Thanks for the tips so far!

Christina, can you rec a hotel that you liked? We both like the l'Aiglon in Paris, so I trust your advice!

There is an overnight train (per Man in Seat 61) where a portion of the train is taken off -- purposely -- and reconnected so that it arrives in Prague at 6:30 a.m. -- a much more reasonable hour than 4 a.m. Sounds a little tricky booking the right car per Seat 61, but I love challenges.

Big Russ, I can do that, sort of, by reducing Budapest by one day. I'm stuck by my friend's arrival in Berlin, since she will be leaving 2 days later.

Thanks for the tips so far!

Christina, can you rec a hotel that you liked? We both like the l'Aiglon in Paris, so I trust your advice!

There is an overnight train (per Man in Seat 61) where a portion of the train is taken off -- purposely -- and reconnected so that it arrives in Prague at 6:30 a.m. -- a much more reasonable hour than 4 a.m. Sounds a little tricky booking the right car per Seat 61, but I love challenges.

Big Russ, I can do that, sort of, by reducing Budapest by one day. I'm stuck by my friend's arrival in Berlin, since she will be leaving 2 days later.

We stayed at the Medosz Hotel in May for $80 per night through Expedia. It is well located one blck from the Oktogon metro station.

http://medoszhotel.hu/?page_id=130&lang=en

The Marriott hotels in both Budapest and Prague are very nice hotels in great locations.

>>>>>home requires you to mount a thousand steps<<<<<,

Bilbo//have not been to Budapest recently but I understand there is now a funicular from around the Chain Bridge up to Castle Hill. At the times we were there, staying at the Hilton (great Danube views from the Hilton..get a river facing room)we found it to be an easy walk to Pesht side, crossing the Erzsabet Bridge near The Gellert and coming out to Vaci Utca (pedestrian street).

Agreeing with Bedar with the choice of the Castle District.

In Prague, we have stayed at the Three Ostriches (U tri Pstrosu)smack on the Mala Strana end of the Carluv Most.
Up hill walk to Hradcany Castle but flat, easy walk across bridge to Josefov district and midtown Prague.

In Berlin, check with The Kempinski Bristol
on Ku'damm. They post periodic major bargains. We lucked out on a promotion that was too good to turn down. Whole string of both mid-scale and fine dining in the vicinity...and neighborhood safe for night walking.

I would suggest nearby (30 minute train)Potsdam as a viable alternative to a 4-hour round trip to Dresden.

(See some pics below)

(see pix below)

https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...t1980SAnd2000S SURFERGIRL..these may give you some further ideas,
https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...lin2005Edited#
https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...cenesOfPrague#
Enjoy your travels!

Stu, first, your photos were STUNNING. I loved the photos of the Gellert . . . you didn't stay there, right? Just visited the spa? They actually had very reasonable prices, but refurbished maybe 20 years ago, so I think my husband would be happier at the Hilton. But that pool . . .sheesh!

I checked your recommendation for the 3 Ostriches in Prague. Found the prices very reasonable, in fact it looked great. Question, though, since there's no lift, did you find that a problem, being a 4 storey hotel? I'm a light packer, but my husband isn't, although he's in better shape than me!

Sorry about the double post earlier. The website was acting up!

ah funicular, good point, I guess whenever I go past the queue looks tough ;-) but the OP may ok and I guess it depends on the time of day. I still find the castle area a little claustrophobic

Any thoughts on Hotel Josef or its sister property in Prague?

Where to stay in Berlin? Area, that is.

And a place in Amsterdam. Last time we stayed at the Crown Plaza City Center and that was just fine, particularly in light of its proximity to the train station. Could stay there again, but maybe something different for a change of pace.

Surfergirl...this is surfer country (Ventura, Carpinteria, Summerland)...I'm in Ojai

We had no problem with luggage..we travel light, even for a month or more. There was usually help at the Ostriches if you need it. Get the bridge view from which we were able to get those great pix with snow on the bridge. March was freezing cold.

Stay at The Hilton but be sure to get a Danube view. Also had a casino there/ If you wish I'll reco some eateries in the Castle District/ You pay a small fee to use the unique spa at the Gellert..we did and it worked fine.

You're in for a great trip. Enjoy.

If you come to Ojai again, write me here on Fodors.

https://www.facebook.com/TheLighthou...56473734420720
https://www.facebook.com/TheLighthou...05845542816873 This is some Ojai stuff.
where I'm a local writer. I am a whacko Bruin basketball fan since Pauley opened in 1964. Also did my doctoral studies program at UCLA.

surfergirl...a little hijacking never hurt anyone.
I lived in Bel Air Glen overlooking Benedict Canyon for many years. Wife died a few years ago and I came to Ojai where all my family is located.(I saw where you are in West LA)
Stu Tower

Not trying to push the Budapest Marriott as I am a member of Marriott's, Hilton's and IHG's loyalty programs.

But, I think the Marriott is much better located than the Hilton in Budapest. And, all rooms have Danube/Chain Bridge/Castle views. They also have one of the best executive lounges that I have ever been in! Also renovated not that long ago from what I have read.

I stopped in the Hilton to look around and it was a very nice hotel but most of what you will want to see is in Pest. Getting back to the Buda side at night or during the day to freshen up will require more effort. Rooms overlooking the Danube do have a great view of the Parliment.

But, whatever you choose, have a great trip!

In Prague we loved, loved, loved the Pod Vezi. Here's the review I wrote for TripAdvisor:

"We stayed in a corner suite on the second floor of the main building - room 214 if memory serves. This room was gorgeous. The ceiling was decorated (I felt like I was in a palace room) and we had windows that opened to the street below. We could hear the music from a variety of musicians, including a NOLA-worthy Dixieland Jazz Ensemble. And a classical violinist who was pretty good, too. What a serenade!

The people who staff the desk and the wait staff in the restaurant are all wonderful. They were able to give us good instructions for using the trams, and sell us the right kind of tickets. The restaurant had delicious food.

My husband was delighted with the breakfast each morning. He was able to make his own waffle or have American style pancakes. The staff made wonderful cappuccinos, so I was thrilled, too."

And the rate for our room was well under $200 USD/night.

http://www.podvezi.com/