Train from Vienna to Prague
Jan 8th, 2003, 04:31 PM
#1
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Train from Vienna to Prague
I will be traveling from Vienna to Prague by train at Easter time. I noticed there are only 3 trains daily. Would it be better to buy my ticket now over the the internet or wait until I get to Vienna? Are the prices the same online? If tickets are purchased one day in advance is it also necessary to pay for a reservation in addition to the price of the ticket? Thanks for any advice.
Barbara
Barbara
Jan 8th, 2003, 06:14 PM
#2
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The prices are 25 to 60% higher if you buy before you go to Europe.
Tickets purchased there at a station will have the price of a reservation included in the price you pay, for routes where they are required, or if you simply request it at the time of purchase.
For Easter travel, you might purchase a day or two in advance.
Best wishes,
Rex
Tickets purchased there at a station will have the price of a reservation included in the price you pay, for routes where they are required, or if you simply request it at the time of purchase.
For Easter travel, you might purchase a day or two in advance.
Best wishes,
Rex
Jan 8th, 2003, 07:50 PM
#3
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Technically speaking you can order tickets per post from the Austrian train system, but the web site is all in German for the ticket purchasing.
I do not know for sure if the tickets would be shipped out of the country but i doubt it because on the web site the only nation I could plug in was Österreich. You could supply the address of your hotel, and ask that the tickets be sent there.
The limiting factor here of course is the language. I waded through it, but I was wishing a native speaker was available to ensure I was reading it right, even with a dictionary.
For the cost, the nearest I can tell, and I am not confident, is that a one way ticket, second class, from Vienna to Prague is 34 e.
Rail Europe lists one way at $46 plus the handling/shipping fee of about $10.00. RE is usually 25% to 30% higher so the cost is consistent. The euro right now at bank rates costs about $1.04. The ticket in Austria would run you about $36 depending on some other factors, like whether or not you pay by credit card and get clipped an extra 2% for conversion fee that some banks charge. (Let's not get into bank credit card surcharges!)
I could not get an exact price without supplying credit card info (I did not try faking everything.)
There are several a trains a day, but only 4 are no change connections.
They leave from Südbahnhof, South Station, at the following times:
6:50, 10:25, 14:25, and 18:25.
The travel time is about 4 and a half hours. Other connections involve a change and many more stops, thus prolonging the travel time by at least an hour and 13 minutes.
If you are traveling on Easter Sunday, I think your choice of where you buy your ticket depends on how much lead time you have in Vienna. I frankly would go ahead and get a seat reservation because conditions can be crowded on that particular day, especially in the afternoon. Seat reservations are not that much more of an add on. Besides, and here is the hooker as far as I am concerned, non smoking cars fill very fast. If you want to ensure that you can have a seat in a non smoking car, then by all means get a seat reservation.
I fell into a small trap last year when traveling on a Sunday afternoon. Nothing open in the 2nd class non smoking car, so I opted for first class. That was a small price to pay for the added comfort, and for the assurance that I could ride smoke free. Some of those smoking cars are vile pits; even some smokers opt to sit in non smoking! I think that tells you something.
I hope this helps.
If I were in your position, I would opt for first class and ride in relatively more comfort for the 4.5 hours of travel.
I do not know for sure if the tickets would be shipped out of the country but i doubt it because on the web site the only nation I could plug in was Österreich. You could supply the address of your hotel, and ask that the tickets be sent there.
The limiting factor here of course is the language. I waded through it, but I was wishing a native speaker was available to ensure I was reading it right, even with a dictionary.
For the cost, the nearest I can tell, and I am not confident, is that a one way ticket, second class, from Vienna to Prague is 34 e.
Rail Europe lists one way at $46 plus the handling/shipping fee of about $10.00. RE is usually 25% to 30% higher so the cost is consistent. The euro right now at bank rates costs about $1.04. The ticket in Austria would run you about $36 depending on some other factors, like whether or not you pay by credit card and get clipped an extra 2% for conversion fee that some banks charge. (Let's not get into bank credit card surcharges!)
I could not get an exact price without supplying credit card info (I did not try faking everything.)
There are several a trains a day, but only 4 are no change connections.
They leave from Südbahnhof, South Station, at the following times:
6:50, 10:25, 14:25, and 18:25.
The travel time is about 4 and a half hours. Other connections involve a change and many more stops, thus prolonging the travel time by at least an hour and 13 minutes.
If you are traveling on Easter Sunday, I think your choice of where you buy your ticket depends on how much lead time you have in Vienna. I frankly would go ahead and get a seat reservation because conditions can be crowded on that particular day, especially in the afternoon. Seat reservations are not that much more of an add on. Besides, and here is the hooker as far as I am concerned, non smoking cars fill very fast. If you want to ensure that you can have a seat in a non smoking car, then by all means get a seat reservation.
I fell into a small trap last year when traveling on a Sunday afternoon. Nothing open in the 2nd class non smoking car, so I opted for first class. That was a small price to pay for the added comfort, and for the assurance that I could ride smoke free. Some of those smoking cars are vile pits; even some smokers opt to sit in non smoking! I think that tells you something.
I hope this helps.
If I were in your position, I would opt for first class and ride in relatively more comfort for the 4.5 hours of travel.
Jan 8th, 2003, 08:11 PM
#4
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Traveling in June last year, we had no trouble without reservation from Prague to Vienna. Did have a bit of difficulty communicating with the agent at the window, so tried a different window and found someone with better English. So, if you do not purchase ahead, leave some extra time at the station. We were not, however, traveling during any holiday.....
Jan 10th, 2003, 01:09 PM
#6
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I asked the Austrian train folks about travelling from Vienna to Prague.
The price for two people at standard rates is 81.40 e for two adults in second class. The price from the Austrian rail people was not differentiated between 1 and 2, just 2 people second class to Prague.
If you want the ticket held for you at the window, you pay by credit card over the web, and in the remarks area you can put in the instructions. If you want to do it that way, I can tell you what to say, in German. But most of the time someone is around who speaks English. In fact, I consider it a red letter day when I write in German and the answer comes back in German. Usually it comes back in English!!!!!!!!!!!!
The problem with the web site is that there is quite a bit of it in German.
If you want to order in advance, someone who speaks German will probably need to be there to assist you.
I could get through it, but I know a little German and keep a dictionary at my elbow.
The price for two people at standard rates is 81.40 e for two adults in second class. The price from the Austrian rail people was not differentiated between 1 and 2, just 2 people second class to Prague.
If you want the ticket held for you at the window, you pay by credit card over the web, and in the remarks area you can put in the instructions. If you want to do it that way, I can tell you what to say, in German. But most of the time someone is around who speaks English. In fact, I consider it a red letter day when I write in German and the answer comes back in German. Usually it comes back in English!!!!!!!!!!!!
The problem with the web site is that there is quite a bit of it in German.
If you want to order in advance, someone who speaks German will probably need to be there to assist you.
I could get through it, but I know a little German and keep a dictionary at my elbow.
Jan 11th, 2003, 10:41 AM
#8
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DeaR mS gallardo.
The travel centre in Salzburg main station has staff who speak English and take credit cards. They can book you seats on any express train in Austria, including your seats from Vienna to Prague. So I think you should go to them on your second say in Salzburg.
The fares are 25 to 60 % higher if you book through RailEurope. If you can book through Austrian Rail you pay the same fare that you pay in Vienna. If you book through two agencies in the US you pay ten % extra:
Euraide, offices in Florida and Germany: http://www.euraide.de/. Telephone in USA 1 941-480-1555. Fax 1 941-480-1522. E-mail [email protected]
DER travel agency in the USA, formerly owned by German rail: http://www.der.com. E mail for information [email protected] and for sales [email protected]
First class costs 50 percent more than second class: I should use second.
Please write again if I can help further. Welcome to Europe.
Ben Haines, London
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