14 nights eastern Europe trip

Everyone preferences are different, but I would do Prague 4 nights Cesky krumlov 1 night in the middle of the Prague stay Vienna. 3 nights Gyor and the Archabbey 1night on the way to Budapest Budapest. 5 nights
Eger 1 night in the middle of the Budapest stay Just my opinion based on what i enjoy and what I did enjoy when i have been in each of these places.

James's itinerary sounds a lot better than yours ( except I don't understand the idea of 1-night stays in the middle of longer stays). Salzburg isn't in a direct path with the others, so it's the obvious one to drop. Also, going from place to place eats up more time than you think. The train ride from Budapest to Vienna is about 3 hours, but you have to pick up your luggage , get to the train station more than 5 minutes before departure, then travel to your new hotel and check in. I took a 12-day trip to Budapest-Vienna-Prague in May (couple years ago) and didn't have to deal with jet lag or long flights. I had (net of travel) 4.5 days in Budapest, 2.5 in Vienna, and 4 in Prague (including a day trip to Terezin). Looking back the time allocation was good for me, though I could have spent at least one more day in each city.

The overnight trips out of Prague and Budapest are just because for someone like me its the least hassle way to do it. There are pretty nice busses between Prague and Cesky K. Better yet rent a car and see one castle on the way down and another on the way back. Best yet spring for a private guide both ways and see the castles plus... Most hotels will let you check out, hold you luggage for a night and then let you check back in. The Eger trip is easy by train with no changes. There are some other interesting sights in The area so you could train up and guide back. Gyor and the Archabbey are just a stop on the rail line half way between Vienna and Budapest. Most hotels will let you check out, hold you luggage for a night and then let you check back in.

Thanks for the responses. I think we will skip Salzburg this trip and stick with Prague , Vienna., and Budapest and do some day trips from these cities. Thanks again for the quick responses :):)!

I've got some resources for Budapest here: budapestflat.shutterfly.com/fivedaysinbudapest The Archabbey outside of Gyor is really, really worth seeing. Go to mass and hear the monks doing Gregorian chants. Go most any time and try the wine. The historic district of Gyor is great too and worth a night on the way to or from Budapest. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pannonhalma_Archabbey
http://budapestflat.shutterfly.com/hungary2 For day trips consider the Danube Bend towns of Szebtendre, Visegrad, Esztergom. Im not sure when the river taxi starts running in the spring but if its up and running then you travel as far as Visegrad then Szebtendre and then take the river taxi back into Budapest. Let me know if I can help.