Europe Trains Guide Forum

General discussion => Train fares and tariffs => Topic started by: travellernew on October 18, 2010, 06:42:04 pm

Title: vienna-prague or 4 countries pass
Post by: travellernew on October 18, 2010, 06:42:04 pm
Hello - I did check the previous Vienna-Prague listing. My question is a bit different.
1) What's the cheapest Vienna-Prague route for a morning train / bus.

2) Is it more cost effective to buy a family saver for the following itinerary (3 adults)
Vienna- Prague
Prague - Stuttgart
Stuttgart - Brussels
Brussels - Amsterdam. (I tried looking at the EuroRail pass and it comes to 305 per person for four countries, Brussels + Amsterdam = 1 country = benelux).

Thanks much for your help!
Title: Re: vienna-prague or 4 countries pass
Post by: tUt on October 19, 2010, 12:00:20 am
What's the cheapest Vienna-Prague route for a morning train / bus.
Not a big choice here, same 29 euro discounted tickets bought in advance (https://ticket.oebb.at/bin/frame_ticket.pl?ticket=jticket.pl&LANG=EN). Other option is to go with Einfach-Raus-Ticket (group pass for up to 5 passengers, any regional train in Austria for a day) till the Czech border (better to go via Gmund-C.Velenice) and then group ticket from C.Velenice till Prague (530 CZK or 22 euro for all 3), as result you pay 50 euro of 87 euro with direct train. But Einfach-Raus-Ticket option will require more time spent on rails and multiple train changes.
Prague - Stuttgart: DB website sells discounted 29 euro tickets (http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en?newrequest=yes&protocol=http:&), but you will need to buy those in advance. In case you travel on weekend you can take advantage of DB group weekend ticket (Schönes-Wochenende -Ticket - 37 euro for up to 5 passengers), but same story as with Einfach-Raus-Ticket - you can use it only on slower regional trains + again multiple train changes required.
Stuttgart - Brussels: discounted DB tickets is the best choice for you here, start from 39 euro per person (117 for all 3 of you), but, once again, purchase in advance required since discounted tickets are in limited number.
Brussels - Amsterdam: If you purchase your tickets way in advance you might be able to get some promo fare (http://onlineboeken.nshispeed.nl/microtips/), but since that route is really busy, thus your chances are quite low. As result you might end up paying full fare (37.8 euro per person)

As you can see, smartly bought in advance tickets can save you quite a lot comparing to 305 euro pass  ;)
Title: Re: vienna-prague or 4 countries pass
Post by: tUt on October 19, 2010, 12:14:42 am
In case you plan to travel like any time soon, then it obviously will be much more difficult to accomplish cheaply. Nevertheless, Vienna-Prague option with Einfach-Raus-Ticket can be done even tomorrow. If not by train, then take a look at rather cheap Student Agency bus - http://www.studentagencybus.com/en/419_419/STUDENT%20AGENCY%20PRAGUE%20-%20WIEN Might check out Eurolines Austria as well - http://www.eurolines.at/de/home/tipps/prag/
In case of the rest of the journey, then probably the best choice is just to buy in Prague one international through ticket Praha-Stuttgart-Brussels-Amsterdam (valid for one month, multiple stopovers are possible). It wouldn't be cheap (should be around 200 euro per person), but at least cheaper than pass fare. And since it is difficult to find any cheaper train option for such close in time trip so you might take a look at buses as well - same Student Agency and Eurolines Germany (http://www.touring.de/index.php?id=2&L=1)