Obelisque

First time backpackers traveling between these cities wondering which is more economical ; bus, youth Eurail pass, or ? ?
Also does one reserve beforehand or purchase on-site

fourfortravel

Our 19 year old son and his girlfriend traveled Prague-Munich-Salzburg-Vienna via a combination of ÖBB (Prague to Munich), DeutschBahn (Munich to Salzburg), and Westbahn (Salzburg to Vienna) earlier this month as the most economical/best logistical travel. Tickets were purchased in advance as a matter of convenience for ÖBB and DeutschBahn; in order to received the SparScheine (savings) on WestBahn, the tickets needed to be purchased online and in advance.

Hope this helps.

Man_in_seat_61

1. Munich-Salzburg:

Buy a Bayern ticket for €23 + €5 for the second person and use any regional Meridian train. Check times at www.bahn.de/en - but buy at the station, no reservation needed.

2. Salzburg-Vienna:

Hop on any hourly Westbahn train and pay the €25 fare on board. No reservation necessary. Check times at www.westbahn.at

The Austrian Railways service is more frequent, but wants €50-odd on the day or from €19 booked in advance at www.oebb.at, the cheap fare being inflexible of course.

3. Vienna-Prague in 3h59 by railjet train from €19 www.oebb.at or www.cd.cz/eshop -book in advance and buy from whichever is cheapest. On the day the full-flex fare is around €63.

4. Prague-Krakow by direct sleeper train, buy at station, €43 + sleeper supplement, €27 or so for a bed in a 2-bed sleeper.

PalenQ

If under 26 you can get the bargain Eurail Youthpass that lets you hop on just about any train anytime in all those countries - no need to book in stone months in advance as needed to get the discounted tickets mentioned above and they are generally non-refundable non-changeable once booked on a specific train.

But you may want to investigate the European East Railpass too valid in all your countries except Germany (bus to Prague from Munich is quicker and usually cheaper)


So do the maths - if the sum of discounted tickets even approaches the cost of a pass go for the pass and the completely unfettered option to take any train anytime once there - cheapest is not always the best for all people - to me flexibility is priceless.

For lots of great info on trains check www.seat61.com - Man in Seat 61 who posts above his commercial site; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Passes are not generally for sale in Europe - at least these passes so book in your home country.

Obelisque

Thanks for the amazing responses!
*LOVE Fodor's forums.
We'll begin to pour through your feedback and get some things figured out. With Gratitude <3

grrr

www.flixbus.com if you want to go by bus.