Budapest to Prague by private transfer?

The train and the car take approximately the same amount of time. 6-7 hours. The train is significantly cheaper. On the train you can actually move around, take bathroom breaks, have a coffee. I know what I would choose.

I just came back from a trip where I took the overnight train from Prague to Budapest and found all the info I needed from this website.

From there I found the ticket on the czech railways website České dráhy and I think you can find the Hungarian equivalent for the train going the other direction.

And make sure to print the tickets out

Be very wary about using rail ninja giving in an earlier post. Many complaints about customer service.

Take the train; best info here: https://www.seat61.com/trains-and-routes/prague-to-budapest-by-train.htm

James, our Budapest expert, has recommended this car service:

Silver Wings: http://www.silverwings.hu/index.html

I've used them many times for airport transfers and find them to be professional, reliable, and very safe. I'm sure the fee will be hefty to get to Prague, and perhaps James has more info, but they would assist with your luggage and provide a really lovely trip.

Silver wings has a price list on their website, 6 500 HUF/h + 210 HUF/km. If that is correct for trips to Prague it would cost you around 290,000 forint, or about €790. Take the train, it will be a lot cheaper.

It could also be worth seeing the airline might allow a change to the ticket, even for a cost, so that you fly out of Budapest.

I'm sorry for you that you don't have time to experience Budapest, which is a beautiful city. I think you should heed the suggestion to try and change your flight to go home from budapest. Next time remember to check open-jaw/multi city. If you include the cost and time to go from Budapest to Prague it is usually a better option. I have a few more comments:

To me USD790 would be prohibitively expensive - but your check book might be heavier.

If you choose to go by train (my choice), you can still book a car to take you from the boat to the station to avoid carrying your luggage too far.

If you choose to fly, you can still book a car to take you from the boat to the airport to avoid carrying your luggage too far and it will make transport in Prague much simpler.

Changing your flight might be cheaper; and if time isnt a constraint you could spend a few nights here. Really worth the stay.

Otherwise:

James, our Budapest expert, has recommended this car service:

Silver Wings: http://www.silverwings.hu/index.html

I've used them many times for airport transfers and find them to be
professional, reliable, and very safe. I'm sure the fee will be hefty
to get to Prague, and perhaps James has more info, but they would
assist with your luggage and provide a really lovely trip.

Yes, this is who I would call. His rate might be a bit better than published for the long haul. Then again, maybe not because the driver will need to spend the night. But he is good, used him just a few days ago.

Thanks, everyone, for your input! I’m rechecking all these options, especially changing our return flight to Budapest. That would allow us to spend at least one day there. If that doesn’t work, and the car & driver are too expensive, then we will take the train. And make sure we pack light :)