2-person spleeper couchette

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Can a husband and wife stay in the same 2-person sleeper couchette on an overnight train from Prague to Krakow and another night train from Krakow to Budapest?

Because I heard that 2-person sleeper is for same gender only.

Thanks,
Luu

Most night trains contain couchettes AND sleepers...

Couchettes hold either 4 or 6 people, and as far as I'm aware they are mixed gender

Sleepers can be for 1-3 people, and they are single gender unless you book the whole compartment....

So a husband and wife can stay together, providing you ask for (and pay for) a two-person sleeper

This is my understanding - I'm sure tUt will confirm or amend

Thanks... I understand now.
This web site:  https://www.cd.cz/eshop/international/search_int.aspx?tt=5   does not have Prague to Krakow...  Do you know which ones have that info?

Yes, Alex is absolutely correct. If you purchase the whole compartment (in your case Double occupancy), then the gender doesn't matter.

This web site:  https://www.cd.cz/eshop/international/search_int.aspx?tt=5   does not have Prague to Krakow...  Do you know which ones have that info?

What info exactly do you need? This section of Czech Railways website sells discounted tickets for the certain routes only, overnight Prague-Krakow is not among those.

If you need just timetable, then same CD website can give it to you - http://www.cd.cz/spojeni/ or same on Polish Railways - http://rozklad-pkp.pl/ or already mentioned DB website, it has almost all the European timetables.
If you need fares: Prague-Krakow for direct train 36.8 euro for the ticket per person + 30 euro per person for bed reservation (double). But as you can guess, with a change it is possible to travel much cheaper.

Could you please elaborate on this: "But as you can guess, with a change it is possible to travel much cheaper."   
All I know is that there are trains leaving Prague at 21:32, arriving Krakow at 6:24.

Thanks.
Luu

Could you please elaborate on this: "But as you can guess, with a change it is possible to travel much cheaper."

Couple cheaper options here:
a) simplest thing is just to purchase domestic Czech ticket Prague-Bohumin (last station before Polish border). For two passengers it will cost 652 CZK (26.5 euro) + bought separately two tickets Bohumin-Krakow (15 euro each)=56.5 euro instead of 73.6 euro (36.8 euro*2) with purchase of direct international ticket Prague-Krakow. Price for sleeper reservations stay the same. At the end you just show conductor two sets of tickets - one for Prague-Bohumin part and the other for Bohumin-Krakow= no need to get off train at all.
So total for two 56.5+60= 116.5 euro.
b) go via C.Tesin-Cieszyn. Basically it is one town (check google maps), but in two countries, so you can avoid international fares. Prague-C.Tesin overnight for two passengers 705 CZK for the ticket part + 420 CZK*2 for two reservations in double=app.62 euro. From Polish part of the town (Cieszyn) there are frequent buses to Krakow for only 17 PLN (app.4 euro) per person. So in total you pay 70 euro for both.
Or you can do even better with 3 bed sleeper instead of double. For 3 bed sleeper there are discounted tickets available, so you pay only 1205 CZK for two for Prague-C.Tesin 3 bed sleeper (more on this topic here - http://europetrainsguide.com/forum/index.php/topic,88.0.html). So total adds up to 58 euro for the whole route from Prague to Krakow.

Thanks tUt.

I read the other topic you refer to.  The overnight train from Prague to C. Tesin arrive at 5:09 am.  Is there a bus/taxi from the Czech train station to the Polish train station?  Like the other fellow, we would like to take a train to Oswiecim before moving on to Krakow.

Also, as a couple, we have to buy the 3-bed compartment as a family which costs 1808 Kc.  To buy a 3-bed for a couple, we have to specify gender, which looks like either man, or woman, but not both.

Luu

Hi tUt,
You have tremendous knowledge about the train systems there and are very generous in sharing your knowledge.  So, I am asking for your advice.  Here is our (a couple) overall itinerary.

- Arriving Frankfurt airport at 7:20 am.
- go to Prague the same day (using combination of regional train and bus for 29euro each)
- overnight train Prague to krakow with stopping by Oswiecim  along the way
- overnight train Krakow to Budapest
- day train Budapest to Bratislava, or Vienna
- train Vienna to Salzburg (not sure day, or overnight)
- train Salzburg to Munich (Bayern ticket)
- train Munich to Zurich
- fly home from Zurich

The above itinerary is to avoid round-trip and cris-crossing.
What is your thought of the itinerary and what is the best train tickets?

Thanks much,
Luu

Is there a bus/taxi from the Czech train station to the Polish train station?  Like the other fellow, we would like to take a train to Oswiecim before moving on to Krakow.

Well, it is less than 2km between the Czech and Polish railway stations, so most people just walk, but we guess that you can get a taxi as well (http://www.google.com/search?q=Cesky+tesin+taxi&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:ru:official&client=firefox)

Also, as a couple, we have to buy the 3-bed compartment as a family which costs 1808 Kc.  To buy a 3-bed for a couple, we have to specify gender, which looks like either man, or woman, but not both.

There is no reason for purchasing whole 3 bed compartment for 1808 CZK, because you can buy double for 705 CZK for the ticket part + 420 CZK*2 for sleeper (both domestic Czech tariff)=1545 CZK. No sense to pay more.

- go to Prague the same day (using combination of regional train and bus for 29euro each)

Best choice in case of money and time, so nothing else to contribute here. Just remember to purchase the tickets in advance, since they are in limited numbers.

- overnight train Prague to krakow with stopping by Oswiecim  along the way

Basically we already given all the possibilities, so it's just your choice which one to choose.

- overnight train Krakow to Budapest

This connection might be a tricky one, because regular ticket cost kind of a lot - app. 75 euro + sleeper reservations. There are a number of discounted tickets available (from 39 euro), but you need to buy they in advance and only in Poland from the ticket desk, thus might not be an option for you. So in case you don't get discounted tickets, then maybe it is better to make a stop in Bratislava (regular Krakow-Bratislava ticket cost 56 euro) and then continue to Budapest (ticket for direct train 16 euro, can be purchased any time). Or alternatively, travel during the day via Zwardon-Skalite, thus avoiding Czech Republic= gives you possibility to 'break' ticket via border. Krakow-Zwardon domestic Polish ticket - from 27 PLN (app.7 euro), Skalite-Bratislava - from 10.5 euro, Zwardon-Skalite - 2 euro. From Krakow to Zilina there is a direct morning train via Zwardon-Skalite, so you will need just one train change in Zilina if you choose this option

- day train Budapest to Bratislava, or Vienna

As we already noted, it is 16 euro ticket for Budapest-Bratislava route. For Budapest-Vienna there is a limited amount of 13 euro tickets, but again, you will need to purchase those in advance from the ticket counter in Budapest. If not - regular tariff - 25 euro.

- train Vienna to Salzburg (not sure day, or overnight)

Well, it is only 3-3.5 hours ride, so not really overnight distance. In case of tickets it is better to do a small trick - avoid Austrian domestic tariff (47.5 euro per person), but purchase discounted international ticket from Vienna to Munich (from 29 euro) instead and then just get off train earlier in Salzburg (= saves 18 euro per person out of nothing)

- train Salzburg to Munich (Bayern ticket)

Yes, Bavaria group ticket is the best option for you. You can even drop off you stuff and continue traveling in Bavaria for the rest of the day, since the ticket is valid all day long anyway.

- train Munich to Zurich

Once again, try to purchase in advance discounted international ticket from DB, from 29 euro per person.

Hi tUt,
Thanks again.
Wish someday I can meet you; not only due to your knowledge; but mostly, due to your generosity with your time and knowledge; and yes.. a calm manner, and being patient with repeated questions.

I live in Los Angeles... whenever you'll have a chance going there; drop me a line.

best regards,
Luu