Eastern Europe 15 Days --Newbie

It is normally best to build the flight connections Frankfurt-Prague and Ljubljana-Frankfurt into the trans-Atlantic ticket that you buy (from N. America, right?). On the airline web site, such as Lufthansa or other, look for a "multi-city" flight plan, from home to Prague and from Ljubljana to home. That usually doesn't cost much more than the Frankfurt roundtrip ticket and also protects you if any flight delays might hamper your connections.

There certainly are trains, but probably no benefit to taking them unless you want to visit something else along the way.

If you are coming in from Frankfurt, the easiest way if you can include another stop along the way would be:

Prague >> Vienna >> Ljubljana >> Munich

Flying in from Frankfurt and flying out or taking train from Munich back to Frankfurt.

RJean, I believe the OP is on a Rick Steves Tour, which starts in Prague and ends in Ljubljana. No need for alternate routes.

Travel Man, I'm a big supporter of trains. But my informed opinion is that the traveler will already see lots of countryside on the tour, that a coordinated flight plan is probably cheaper and faster than trains, and that many visitors don't care about spending time in Frankfurt. So the best benefit of a train would be to take you somewhere else.

I am sure you will enjoy this tour! Are you starting your trip from Frankfurt? I flew from Denver to Munich to Prague and home from Ljubljana to Munich to Denver so can't offer any train advice. I would recommend you consider staying extra time in Ljubljana (my personal 'newest favorite European city') for your after tour days because it is simply a fabulous city and you won't be spending much time there during the tour. As I recall, only a few hours walking tour. Your tour guide will help you with arrangements to get there from Bled. We arrived in Prague early enough to have two full days before the tour began and spent those days seeing some places recommended on the website under "things not included on the tour" or something worded like that. We did enjoy the Communist Museum and just walking around, having a beer in one of the wonderful outdoor cafes and watching the world go by. Doing this enabled us to interact with other travelers (met a lovely family from Poland, where we would be headed with the tour) and locals. In Ljubljana, the Castle is interesting and the views spectacular. There could even be the possibility of booking a guided day trip to the caves, if you have the time. You can find info for things to do in Ljubljana under the RS Adriatic Tour as it starts there. Oh, have fun! One of my favorite tours!

First thanks to all for replies, I do appreciate it. Not sure of the finer points of this forum, but to clarify -- I named Frankfurt as my starting and ending point just because it the closest major city to Oestrich-Winkel, about 29 miles away. Will be staying there both before and after -- free boarding / family. Actually flying round trip Chicago to Prague were the cheapest flights I pulled up -- but I want the time before and after the tour. One mentioned staying in Ljubbljijana post tour. I like the thought of that as then I would be where I need to be for the return. As to trains -- I love the idea, had a Europass my first time there in 1972. Seems like it cost around $200 for 30 days, and maybe covered 10 countries. Used it a lot, cheap and not fast. Not so economical any longer and except for a few express trains -- very time consuming. A couple of years ago did take the train round trip Brussels to London. Tickets very reasonable and very convenient. Now -- I'm just babbling. Once more thanks for feedback.

Hrmeroar,

I'm doing the June 29th Eastern Europe tour. Any chance this is the one you are on? I am planning on arriving in Prague the day before and staying in Ljubljana for one night after the tour. I think I'm gonna then fly from Ljubjana to Heathrow on British Airways (it will be their very first flight on this route) on a late evening flight and then quick-stay in Heathrow, to head back to the US the next morning.

Please let me know if you have any great ideas for pre-post tour options. I'm still coming up with ideas myself.

I will look at the Adriatic tour for ideas as well for Ljulbljana.

:)

My wife and I along with a group of friends are on the June 23rd BOEE tour. We am coming from the west coast (SFO) via Frankfurt. We then fly on to Prague. We are going out 4 days early with 3 nights in the same hotel the tour uses. We have a Eating Europe tour scheduled in Prague and are looking at doing a concert as well. Since the tour does not cover the Jewish Qtr we will do that museum before the tour.
We have planned an extra night in Bled. Not sure if we will walk the lake that day or go the Ljubljana as a day trip. There are also day tours to the Julian Mountains if that is of any interest. We then catch the train from Lese-Bled station about 4K from our hotel to Munich where we fly home after 3 extra nights visiting friends. We have done German trains before and have excellent service.

Hope this helps. If by chance your on our same tour I am looking forward to meeting you.

hrmeroar, that tour will sit you on a tour bus for about 38 hours in a two week period. When a train ride exceeds about 4 hours I generally go looking for a flight. Sure, a bit more hassle in the airport, but i eat lunch or breakfast in the airport which i rationalize as being productive. Still, my very uninformed opinion, is that after all that bus time a little laid back time on a train might be just the ticket.