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Plane, Train, Car and River Cruise

I am not totally sure if this is the correct place to post this but here goes:
My Daughters and I have been traveling with Rick (in book form) for years. We are planning another trip and wondered if we might get some suggestions or advice about a few things. It is an ambitious adventure; we are flying into Budapest, arriving June 13th from California, spending 3 days there, getting on a river cruise for a week, ending in Regensburg, Germany
1. My first question is best way to get from Regensburg to Prague. Train or Bus seem to be best options. Does anyone have experience?
We are spending 3.5 days in Prague and then flying out early 6:45am to Lyon. (we are going to spend last night in hotel at airport) We are spending just 1.5 days in Lyon, and one of those afternoons we are having lunch at Paul Busco cooking school, L’Institut Restaurant. We are then renting a car and driving through the Alsace wine region of France. We are going by way of Perouge and then on to Besancon for our first nights stop. We plan on a 5 day drive up to Strasbourg then dropping the car off in Metz.

2. How does one handle the toll roads in France? We will try to stick to mostly less traveled roads, but we might want to do some sections on highway.
3. Any suggestions about where to stop on our journey through the wine country. I understand there are wonderful towns along the route, do any standout as don’t miss. Maybe one that is not so “famous”?
Are we tired yet? After we drop off the car in Metz we are taking a train to Luxembourg and spend two nights. We will then head bright and early to Belgium.
1. Does anyone have any experience with traveling from Luxembourg to Brussels?

2. We are heading to the town of Sint Niklass where my daughter’s (Belgian significant other has a home). This is the part of the journey that is most unclear too me finding the correct train to Sint Niklass seemed challenging. Would it be best to just purchase the ticket at the station in Brussels?
3. We will probably train or drive to Ghent, Antwerp, Bruges. If we are still functional, we will fly home on July 9th.
4. Thank you

Posted by
873 posts

Make sure you have plenty of change for the toll roads......and if you download the VIA MICHELIN app it will tell you where on your route you will be traveling on toll roads. We travel with an internet source so using the maps features on our iPhones and IPads is great help!

Posted by
32772 posts

Your third question, number the first 1: It is an easy if uninspired train between Luxembourg and Brussels. Operated by SNCB. Standard older carriages. When I took it a few years ago it used Gare de Luxembourg which is near the EU area of Brussels rather than any of the main 3 stations. Not a very long walk.

Your first question, numbered the first 2: cash is easy or card if you have one that card reader recognises.

Your fourth question, numbered the second 2: Sint Niklass is a regular stop on the Gent - Antwerpen line. It is easy to get to. Belgian trains don't vary in price so getting the ticket on arrival is not any problem. If any of you are seniors the price gets really low.

Posted by
32772 posts

ah, since I read your questions you have changed the order or the numbering. I hope you can still match up my answers above.

Posted by
20103 posts

There is a direct train every 2 hours from Regensburg to Prague at 14 past the even hours. There is a "Prag Speziel" 1-way ticket available on board the train for 25 EUR per person.

Posted by
84 posts

You don't have to go via Brussels from Luxembourg to Sint Niklaas.

The train from Luxembourg to Liege takes longer, but it's much more scenic(crossing the Ardennes) and less crowded than the trains to Brussels.

From Liege you can get to Sint Niklaas in less than 2 hours changing trains in Leuven.

Posted by
14 posts

Thank you all for your replies. Sorry about the numbering, somehow I must have hit start over instead of continue numbering.

Jane, you said; "We travel with an internet source so using the maps features on our iPhones and IPads is great help!" Can you tell me what that source is. I will get plenty of change for Tolls., thanks for the tip.

Sam, thanks for the info re: train from Regensburg to Prague. Do you know if that is Czech Railway or Deutsche Bahn and which service might be best?

Nigel and Marduk, thanks for the tips about Belgium trains. I will check out going through Liege.

Posted by
84 posts

"train from Regensburg to Prague. Do you know if that is Czech Railway or Deutsche Bahn and which service might be best?"

There is only one service. The trains are run jointly by CD(Ceské Dráhy=Czech Railways) and Länderbahn - a German private railway independent from DB, owned by the Netinera group which is owned by FS(Italian Railways) and an ivestment fund.

This is totally irrelevant for the traveller however.

All you need to know: https://www.seat61.com/trains-and-routes/munich-to-prague-by-train.htm