advance tickets Budapest to Prague

But 50% more than what? Train fares in eastern Europe are really reasonable. I've been in second class cars, and they aren't anything to write home about.

Here is the website for the Hungarian Railroad: http://www.mav.hu/english/index.php Start in the upper left hand corner. Train advice is are a little out of my comfort zone but most people I know purchase their tickets in Budapest upon arrival. Apparently the cost is substantially lower and the trains are never fully booked. For Prague enter PRAHA (and type slowly so the choices have a change to come up). You realize that this is a 7 to 9 hour trip? Maybe break it up with an overnight or a day or two in Vienna?

We bought all our tickets in the train stations while in eastern Europe. None of the trains were full. Buy first class if you can. Its not that much more, and you deserve it. On the other side of the coin, trains in western Europe are often full so it is often a good idea to get a reserved seat. If you buy your tickets at least three days ahead you will get a good discount.

First class is 50 % more and I would buy it only if I suspect full train like in holidays, etc.