Train Advise for Belgrade - Budapest - Krakow Trip
Apr 7th, 2011, 08:38 AM
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Train Advise for Belgrade - Budapest - Krakow Trip
My friend and I are taking a train from Belgrade to Budapest, and then from Budapest to Krakow. We have a few days in each place during the Easter Break.
I am looking for some advice on train travel in this area. What I most want to know is the cheapest place to get tickets. I read that it is cheapest to get them at the station. Is this true? And if so does it hold if you buy them right before, or do you have to do so in advance? How popular are these trains? Are reservations generally recommended? I have been to Serbia previously and I speak the language, so communicating will not be an issue at least on that part of the journey.
We are thinking of taking the Eurocity Avala train from Belgrade to Budapest at 7am. And the strait overnight train from Budapest to Krakow. Any advice for traveling on these routes? Things to watch out for? My friend and I are both students in our twenties on exchange in Norway. We are visiting my relatives in Serbia before touring through Budapest and Krakow during our break. My friend is a guy, I am a girl we figured it would be safe to travel by train. I am a little concerned over the overnight train from Budapest to Krakow but there does not seem to be any other option.
I am looking for some advice on train travel in this area. What I most want to know is the cheapest place to get tickets. I read that it is cheapest to get them at the station. Is this true? And if so does it hold if you buy them right before, or do you have to do so in advance? How popular are these trains? Are reservations generally recommended? I have been to Serbia previously and I speak the language, so communicating will not be an issue at least on that part of the journey.
We are thinking of taking the Eurocity Avala train from Belgrade to Budapest at 7am. And the strait overnight train from Budapest to Krakow. Any advice for traveling on these routes? Things to watch out for? My friend and I are both students in our twenties on exchange in Norway. We are visiting my relatives in Serbia before touring through Budapest and Krakow during our break. My friend is a guy, I am a girl we figured it would be safe to travel by train. I am a little concerned over the overnight train from Budapest to Krakow but there does not seem to be any other option.
Apr 8th, 2011, 04:04 AM
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The cheapest option is indeed to buy at the station, as these countries don't have online booking, DO have special offers, but the offers aren't usually available from agencies or other railway operators outside those countries, only full-price tariff tickets.
The Avala is a great train with nice air-con coaches (see the photos of it on www.seat61.com/Serbia.htm).
The Budapest-Krakow train has seats, couchettes (12 euros or so supplement, 6-bunk compartments) and a nice refurbished Polish sleeping-car (beds in 1 2 or 3 berth compartments, about 20 euros for a bed in a 3-bed, 27-30 euros for a bed in a 2-bed, only 2nd class ticket required. The fare itself is about 50 euros.
ALWAYS book a couchette, never just a sit-up-all-night seat, but for a few euros more you'd be crazy not to upgrade to the proper sleeper, with washbasin, a sleeper attendant on duty looking after the car, soap, towels, proper beds, and tea or coffee served in the morning. Far superior to a couchette for just a few euros more. The doors have locks and security chains, so you'll be safe and snug, it's a lovely traditional and romantic way to travel that saves a hotel bill too, and takes less time than flying.
The Avala is a great train with nice air-con coaches (see the photos of it on www.seat61.com/Serbia.htm).
The Budapest-Krakow train has seats, couchettes (12 euros or so supplement, 6-bunk compartments) and a nice refurbished Polish sleeping-car (beds in 1 2 or 3 berth compartments, about 20 euros for a bed in a 3-bed, 27-30 euros for a bed in a 2-bed, only 2nd class ticket required. The fare itself is about 50 euros.
ALWAYS book a couchette, never just a sit-up-all-night seat, but for a few euros more you'd be crazy not to upgrade to the proper sleeper, with washbasin, a sleeper attendant on duty looking after the car, soap, towels, proper beds, and tea or coffee served in the morning. Far superior to a couchette for just a few euros more. The doors have locks and security chains, so you'll be safe and snug, it's a lovely traditional and romantic way to travel that saves a hotel bill too, and takes less time than flying.
Apr 8th, 2011, 04:06 AM
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Oh, there's a photo inside and out of a Polish sleeper like the one used on this train, see www.seat61.com/Russia.htm and look for the 'via warsaw' option with photos of the Polish sleepers on the Warsaw-Moscow-Polonez, they are very similar if not actually identical.
Apr 8th, 2011, 04:52 PM
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I feel cheated! Man in seat 61, I think you replied to my inquiry as well re. Prague to Krakow. Got worried and ordered a ticket from here, and had to buy a first class 2 person sleeper (no second class offered) for about $175! Ouch. I was stupid not to wait, or have the concierge buy one for me, correct?
Apr 8th, 2011, 09:42 PM
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You were cheated - well, incompetence rather than conspiracy perhaps.
Only a 2nd class ticket is now required for a 2-bed sleeper in Germany, Austria, on City Night Line sleeper trains, and many international journeys in Eastern Europe including Prague-Krakow, Budapest-Bucharest, Bucharest-istanbul etc.
The requirement to hold a 1st class ticket for a 2-bed sleeper was dropped perhaps 5 years ago or more, but US agencies including Rail Europe don't seem to have taken this on board.
A 1st class ticket is still required for a single-bed sleeper, although even this requirement has been dropped for City Night Line sleeper trains, unless you choose a deluxe sleeper with shower.
Only a 2nd class ticket is now required for a 2-bed sleeper in Germany, Austria, on City Night Line sleeper trains, and many international journeys in Eastern Europe including Prague-Krakow, Budapest-Bucharest, Bucharest-istanbul etc.
The requirement to hold a 1st class ticket for a 2-bed sleeper was dropped perhaps 5 years ago or more, but US agencies including Rail Europe don't seem to have taken this on board.
A 1st class ticket is still required for a single-bed sleeper, although even this requirement has been dropped for City Night Line sleeper trains, unless you choose a deluxe sleeper with shower.
Apr 9th, 2011, 12:57 PM
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Thanks, Man in seat 61! Can I at least pacify myself by thinking that the sleeper may have been sold out when I got to Prague? I love your sign-on name, BTW. I feel like I'm in the middle of a spy movie...I can see you sitting there, in seat 61....
