My family of four is planning a trip to Prague in November. We had hoped to travel from Vienna to Prague, however, the cost of train travel for 4 is exorbitant. Is there any economical way for a family of four to get to Prague. We have Eurailpasses. Would it be cheaper to go from Furth-in-Wald in Germany? Are train tickets cheaper when you get inside Prague? If so, would there be any way to take a bus from the border town in either Austria or Furth-in-Wald in Germany to just inside Prague and then get a cheaper train fare into Prague? Just trying to look at all the options. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
Exorbitant? Where are you getting fare quotes, Rail Europe? The Austria Rail 2nd cl fare from Wien to Hohenau looks like it is €13,50. The Czech Rail fare from Breclav to Prague is about €22. There is a few minute of fare gap from Hohenau to Breclav, but that can't make much difference. You can get the exact fare from Austrian Rail by email, www.oebb.at.
German Rail will sell you an Anschluss Ticket from Furth i. Wald to Prague for €18,70, but it is a long way around.
Posted by
White Bear Lake, MN, USA
479 posts
Kenneth, normally I would say you should just rent a car for that cost, as it is usually cheaper to go by rental car if you have more than 2 people. But the fees and extra cost that most car rental companies charge for going from Austria or Germany into the Czech Republic increase the car rental cost significantly. So, unfortunately, if you can't find anything cheaper, the car rental route won't help you out.
Posted by
Redding, CA, USA
1568 posts
If you are in Munich you can buy a Bayern Ticket to Furth Im Wald. At the same time (in Munich) you can also buy a ticket from Furth Im Wald to Prague.
Scroll half way down the page on this link to Bayern Ticket (Barvarian Ticket):
http://www.bahn.de/p/view/international/englisch/travelservice/laender_tickets.shtml
If you are already in Vienna (Wein) take a train from there to Prague and enjoy the scenery. Not that expensive. Would advise not renting a car and taking into CR.
Train travel very inexpensive in CR.
Posted by
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2779 posts
On the rent-a-car issue: The CR is now part of the European Union and things have changed. There is no additional fee to take your car into the CR or e.g. Hungary. BUT you must let them know upon pick-up as they can't give you a German car brand for a trip to that country. So you'd end up driving a Ford, Opel, Volvo or Asian car - nothing you couldn't survive. Driving in the CR is pretty straigtforward, gas is cheaper than in Germany but they charge freeway tolls. Also you must return your car in the country you picked it up or else they charge you a pretty high one-way rental fee. Parking in Prague is pretty difficult, especially since the signs explaining you who can park where, when, what side of the road and at what cost are in Czech only. But it may still be the cheapest option for you.