Help! We've never done this type of travel before, and we're having trouble with train schedules and so forth. Airline tickets are really expensive. Three adults traveling between Poznan Poland - Krakow - Vienna - C. Krumlov or Munich - ending in Berlin. Trip is 24 June to approx. 10 July. For those of you who have visited these cities...are we trying to cram too much into a short period? If so, what should we eliminate?
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
I haven't traveled the exact route to mention, but just be aware that some Polish trains are not nearly as fast as their counterparts in the West. My trip from the Lithuanian border to Warsaw took about 3 hours longer than I would have estimated just looking at the map.
Posted by
OP
Lacey, Wa, USA
4 posts
Thanks Tom. The route we are considering is the one I posted. Note, the only reason we're starting from Poznan is because our daughter will have been working there for 3 mths., and we want to see a bit of this city, meet her friends, etc. Our daughter will have to return to Poznan to collect her large suitcases and catch a flight back to US. Hubby and I have the flexibility to stay a bit longer.
Posted by
Chicago/Rural WI
811 posts
Hi, Mary,
If you aren't already familiar with this website, it offers a good estimate of train travel times and schedules.
http://www.raileurope.com/us/rail/fares_schedules/index.htm
For instance, the train from Poznan to Krakow is about 8 hours, so you may want to consider taking the overnight train and getting a sleeping car to maximize time and money.
Hope this helps with the planning - I've only been to two cities you are visiting (Krakow and Berlin), and both were awesome. Krakow, in particular, is beautiful. Have fun!
Posted by
OP
Lacey, Wa, USA
4 posts
Thanks Angela. I believe that is the website my hubby has been looking at, and complaining that they don't post the cost of tickets. :>( Or, maybe he is not looking in the right place?
Posted by
Chicago/Rural WI
811 posts
Haha - husbands. You end up doing everything yourself, right? :)
They do post the cost of the tickets, it is the number in the right-hand columns under the titles "Economy", "Freedom", etc. Looks like they add another $10USD, for some reason, because if, for instance, I click on the "Select" button for a $43 ride it comes up as $53, etc.
BTW, it also looks like different days offer different train runs/time, too. Some days have many more options for travel between Poznan and Krakow, for example, so hopefully you'll be able to find what you need.
Good luck!!
Posted by
Fresno, CA
30 posts
For travel in Poland, try Poland's train website at http://www.intercity.pl/?page=timetable
This gives you a list of all the trains that run, but at the top, you can enter your beginning and end points. From the next page, you can click on price and it will let you know.
Posted by
OP
Lacey, Wa, USA
4 posts
Thank you Angela & Kristin.....
Actually, hubby figured it out - finally. The only question now, is whether we should take the train from C. Krumlov or the bus. The time difference is apparently only 1/2 hour.
Posted by
kansas city, mo, usa
25 posts
The best tip I can give you is to be ready to get off when the train is at your stop. They stop as briefly as possible and if you are not ready to jump off with your luggage you will miss your stop as we did. Their announcements are not always understandable and not in English.Ask other passengers who speak English to allert you in advance.