Europe Trains Guide Forum
General discussion => Travel plans, routes and timetables => Topic started by: Lucy on July 28, 2011, 03:31:03 pm
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I am looking at options for family of 4 to travel from Bratislava to final destination of Chop (being met by family from Uzhgorod, Ukraine).
Any advice appreciated on rail travel, times, approx cost and how to book in advance from the UK would be appreciated.
Look forward to hearing from anyone who has travelled this route for any tips and advice.
Thank you, Lucy
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First of all, it makes sense to understand whether your final destination is Chop or Uzhgorod? Since passenger rail connection from Cierna nad Tisou (last Slovak station before Ukraine) to Chop isn't that frequent, only twice a day (14:01-15:47 and 23:04-00:50). Travel time is only 46 minutes, but due to time zone difference in schedule it seems like almost 2 hours. Connections from Bratislava to Cierna via Kosice is better and available almost any time of day. Travel time Bratislava-Cierna is app. 8-9 hours.
While if destination is Uzhgorod, then it might makes sense to save time and money and travel cross border by bus instead of train via Cierna-Chop. From Kosice or Michalovce there are frequent buses to Uzhgorod during day time (rail travel from Bratislava to Kosice take from 5 to 7 hours depending on train, to Michalovce - 7-9 hours). Thus such bus option for short cross-border leg will allow you more connections (since in most cases you won't need to wait for either of two trains or arrive 1am to Chop).
Slovak Railways doesn't sell tickets to Ukraine online, but that is not a big deal since anyway all the trains (besides very few InterCity) in Bratislava-Eastern Slovakia connections don't require seat reservation allowing you just to board any train and take any free seat.
Fare and Tickets: here you can have two options:
a) depending on your choice of Chop or Uzhgorod, purchase domestic ticket Bratislava-Kosice/Michalovce/Cierna nad Tisou (respectively 17,18/19,3/19,62 EUR per person). Such domestic tickets can be purchased either at the ticket counter or online from ZSSK website - www.zssk.sk . Bus ticket Kosice-Uzhgorod cost 6.7 EUR per person. Michalovce-Uzhgorod - 2.6 EUR.
b) in case you plan to travel there and back the same route (meaning Bratislava-Chop-Bratislava), then it might make sense to use such return factor along with your "family of 4". Slovak Railways offers special type of ticket called CityStar for travels to Ukraine, its specifically designed for groups and families, since second, third etc. adult passenger pays only 50% of the first passenger fare (children pay even less, since two children go as one adult). Thus depending on the age of your 4 passengers, it might make sense to use such international CityStar ticket instead of two one-way tickets Bratislava-Kosice/Michalovce/Cierna nad Tisou.
p.s. you probably already have app. timing you want to depart Bratislava (or arrive to Ukraine)? If so, just let us know, then we can already advise you more precisely (with exact train numbers, timetable etc.) Because some of such preferences from your side might as well cancel some options described above ;)
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Lucy, as a family of 4, you can purchase specially designed ticket for small groups called "SKUPINA MINI". This ticket is valid for group of at least two people (one person over 18 years AND one child under 15 years of age) but not more than 5 people (e.g. 4 adults + 1 child). First adult in the gorup travels for full fare, but the next adult travels with 25% discount and each child in the group travels with 60% discount (instead of 50% discount). This ticket can be purchased for domestic travel only, i.e. as far as Cierna nad Tisou.
You cannot book this ticket on-line, however, this is not necessary at all. Book on-line just the reservations for the train you wish to travel (it's perfectly possible) and then buy the tickets in the station once you are in Bratislava.
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jfk, good suggestion ;)
But, as far as we see, the only tricky nuance here is must presence of at least one child <15 in such small group. So here ZSSK, unlike CD, doesn't give discount for any small group ≥2. Anyway, Skupina Mini is the best suggestion in case of one way travel, and probably even will beat CityStar Bratislava-Chop.