Hi,
My husband and I are planning a 14 days travel to Europe in early
September. The cities/area are Berlin, Prague/Czech Republic and
Budapest. The major destination is definitely Prague/Czech Republic.

Here is our tentative plan after surfing all kind of information for a
week:
1. Arrive Berlin in the morning. Stay for 2 days. (including the
first half-day)
2. Take train to Prague on the 3rd day in the morning. Arrive Prague
midday.
3. Prague for 4 days, including the traffic from Berlin to Prague
(Is it enough for at least not-so-rush sightseeing?)
4. Cesky Krumlov, stay overnight. (So totally 2 days.)
5. Karlovy Vary or Telc or Kutna Hora or Brno or other small cities,
suggestions are welcome!! (3 Days)
6. At the end of the 10th day, night train to Budapest.
7. 3 days in Budapest or cities around. Plan to take a 1 to 2 hour
boat trip one night. (Can anyone tell me is there any good city
nearby? Is 3 full days too long, comparing with the time I spend in
Czech Republic.)
8. Fly back from Budapest. ( I must be crying and refuse to go back
to work at that time...)

If you have any suggestions to my tour plan, please tell me. I know
there are tons of information on the web and in the book, and I've
checked the Czech Republic information website. However, the advice
from the people actually being there before is still invaluable!

I have some other questions:
1. I checked the price of the flight ticket from Madison, WI to
Berlin. It is around 1,000 USD. Is it a fair price? Should I wait a
little bit longer to see if there is any better rate?

2. I plan to book the hotel/pension and rail ticket around late
June/early July. Is it too late for Prague and Cesky Krumlov? How
about the sleeper ticket from Prague to Budapest?

3. While in Prague, what is the most convenient area to stay if we
plan to see the Black Theater and Pinocchio show? It seems that
staying around Old Town is very convenient, but how about the other
area around subway stations?

Thanks in advance for your advice! I've been to Europe before.
However, it is the first time I plan a trip myself. Kinda excited and
a little bit confused by the information over the internet. Any
suggestions are welcome!!

On 22 Apr 2003 10:49:50 -0700, [email protected] (SnowSky) wrote:


    >Thanks in advance for your advice! I've been to Europe before.
    >However, it is the first time I plan a trip myself. Kinda excited and
    >a little bit confused by the information over the internet. Any
    >suggestions are welcome!!

Never been to Berlin or Prague, but that is how I plan all my
vacations and they've all turned out to be very pleasant. I have no
doubt you're going to have a wonderful time. Enjoy yourself and give
us a report on how it worked out when you return.

    > 1. I checked the price of the flight ticket from Madison, WI to
    > Berlin. It is around 1,000 USD. Is it a fair price? Should I wait a
    > little bit longer to see if there is any better rate?

It's high for September. A couple weeks ago I bought a Madison-Frankfurt
ticket for late June travel for about $770, and at the time Berlin was
roughly the same fare (with a 30 day maximum stay). July and August are
priced very high right now, but September SHOULD be well under $1K. In
fact, you might want to pop over to www.flights.com (an online consolidator)
and pull up available fares--I just did, and Madison-Berlin for September
5th to 25th (random dates) priced at $795 including all taxes on United, but
depending on your dates you might find something even cheaper.

But the FIRST thing I would do if I were you (or me for that matter) is call
Educational Travel in Madison. They negotiate their own consolidator fares
with airlines (often people are under the mistaken impression that you need
to be University affilitated to book with Educational Travel, but it is just
a regular travel agency for the most part). Chances are what they offer
will match the best that online consolidators will list, but their
availablility is usually even better. And they might be able to tell you
if there might be more of their September consolidator fares yet coming in.
What you'll find on Orbitz, etc. right now is probably inflated--and chances
are they will see a fare sale too, but it is always impossible to predict
exactly when or by how much.

    > But the FIRST thing I would do if I were you (or me for that matter) is
call
    > Educational Travel in Madison.

Oh--and don't forget that it is eminently doable to fly into Berlin and back
from Budapest (open jaw), using simply half of each respective round-trip
fare to the two different cities. If you want to check that price online
you need to chose the "multiple cities" option. Otherwise any travel agent
will be able to check it out as well.

Hi, Douglas:
Thanks for your tip! We are living in Minneapolis right now.
However, we need to drop our dog at my friend's in Madison first. And
I do love to go to the farmer's market for a fresh bread before I head
out! I've booked the air tickets through Educational Travel center
while I was studying there. Good service. I will check with them
first before I do anything. (They even got a website nowadays!!)
And like what you suggested, I plan to fly to Berlin and back from
Budapest. The price is almost the same as the round-trip to and from
Berlin.

"Douglas W. Hoyt" wrote in message news:...
    > > But the FIRST thing I would do if I were you (or me for that matter) is
    > call
    > > Educational Travel in Madison.
    >
    > Oh--and don't forget that it is eminently doable to fly into Berlin and back
    > from Budapest (open jaw), using simply half of each respective round-trip
    > fare to the two different cities. If you want to check that price online
    > you need to chose the "multiple cities" option. Otherwise any travel agent
    > will be able to check it out as well.
(I've changed my topic a little. Try to get more feedback for the
tour plan.)
Original Post:
Hi,
My husband and I are planning a 14 days travel to Europe in early
September. The cities/area are Berlin, Prague/Czech Republic and
Budapest. The major destination is definitely Prague/Czech Republic.

Here is our tentative plan after surfing all kind of information for a
week:
1. Arrive Berlin in the morning. Stay for 2 days. (including the
first half-day)
2. Take train to Prague on the 3rd day in the morning. Arrive Prague
midday.
3. Prague for 4 days, including the traffic from Berlin to Prague
(Is it enough for at least not-so-rush sightseeing?)
4. Cesky Krumlov, stay overnight. (So totally 2 days.)
5. Karlovy Vary or Telc or Kutna Hora or Brno or other small cities,
suggestions are welcome!! (3 Days)
6. At the end of the 10th day, night train to Budapest.
7. 3 days in Budapest or cities around. Plan to take a 1 to 2 hour
boat trip one night. (Can anyone tell me is there any good city
nearby? Is 3 full days too long, comparing with the time I spend in
Czech Republic.)
8. Fly back from Budapest. ( I must be crying and refuse to go back
to work at that time...)

If you have any suggestions to my tour plan, please tell me. I know
there are tons of information on the web and in the book, and I've
checked the Czech Republic information website. However, the advice
from the people actually being there before is still invaluable!

I have some other questions:
1. I checked the price of the flight ticket from Madison, WI to
Berlin. It is around 1,000 USD. Is it a fair price? Should I wait a
little bit longer to see if there is any better rate?

2. I plan to book the hotel/pension and rail ticket around late
June/early July. Is it too late for Prague and Cesky Krumlov? How
about the sleeper ticket from Prague to Budapest?

3. While in Prague, what is the most convenient area to stay if we
plan to see the Black Theater and Pinocchio show? It seems that
staying around Old Town is very convenient, but how about the other
area around subway stations?

Thanks in advance for your advice! I've been to Europe before.
However, it is the first time I plan a trip myself. Kinda excited and
a little bit confused by the information over the internet. Any
suggestions are welcome!!

Frank:
Thanks! I will have a report once I am back!
(Waiting for my guide books from Amazon..... )

Frank Clarke wrote in message news:...
    > On 22 Apr 2003 10:49:50 -0700, [email protected] (SnowSky) wrote:
    >
    >
    > >Thanks in advance for your advice! I've been to Europe before.
    > >However, it is the first time I plan a trip myself. Kinda excited and
    > >a little bit confused by the information over the internet. Any
    > >suggestions are welcome!!
    >
    > Never been to Berlin or Prague, but that is how I plan all my
    > vacations and they've all turned out to be very pleasant. I have no
    > doubt you're going to have a wonderful time. Enjoy yourself and give
    > us a report on how it worked out when you return.

Original Post:
Hi,
My husband and I are planning a 14 days travel to Europe in early
September. The cities/area are Berlin, Prague/Czech Republic and
Budapest. The major destination is definitely Prague/Czech Republic.

Here is our tentative plan after surfing all kind of information for a
week:
1. Arrive Berlin in the morning. Stay for 2 days. (including the
first half-day)
2. Take train to Prague on the 3rd day in the morning. Arrive Prague
midday.
3. Prague for 4 days, including the traffic from Berlin to Prague
(Is it enough for at least not-so-rush sightseeing?)
4. Cesky Krumlov, stay overnight. (So totally 2 days.)
5. Karlovy Vary or Telc or Kutna Hora or Brno or other small cities,
suggestions are welcome!! (3 Days)
6. At the end of the 10th day, night train to Budapest.
7. 3 days in Budapest or cities around. Plan to take a 1 to 2 hour
boat trip one night. (Can anyone tell me is there any good city
nearby? Is 3 full days too long, comparing with the time I spend in
Czech Republic.)
8. Fly back from Budapest. ( I must be crying and refuse to go back
to work at that time...)

If you have any suggestions to my tour plan, please tell me. I know
there are tons of information on the web and in the book, and I've
checked the Czech Republic information website. However, the advice
from the people actually being there before is still invaluable!

I have some other questions:
1. I checked the price of the flight ticket from Madison, WI to
Berlin. It is around 1,000 USD. Is it a fair price? Should I wait a
little bit longer to see if there is any better rate?

2. I plan to book the hotel/pension and rail ticket around late
June/early July. Is it too late for Prague and Cesky Krumlov? How
about the sleeper ticket from Prague to Budapest?

3. While in Prague, what is the most convenient area to stay if we
plan to see the Black Theater and Pinocchio show? It seems that
staying around Old Town is very convenient, but how about the other
area around subway stations?

Thanks in advance for your advice! I've been to Europe before.
However, it is the first time I plan a trip myself. Kinda excited and
a little bit confused by the information over the internet. Any
suggestions are welcome!!

SnowSky wrote:

    >
    > 7. 3 days in Budapest or cities around. Plan to take a 1 to 2 hour
    > boat trip one night. (Can anyone tell me is there any good city
    > nearby? Is 3 full days too long, comparing with the time I spend in
    > Czech Republic.)

I would say that 3 days in Budapest is definitely NOT too long. The first
time my husband & I visited Budapest, we planned to stay for 2-3 days,
and ended up spending a week there. For a 14-day trip, though, I'd say
3-4 days in Budapest would be about right. There is so much to see and
do (museums, baths, great food, concerts, etc.), and there are good day
trips nearby, such as Szentendre and Eger.

    > I have some other questions:
    > 1. I checked the price of the flight ticket from Madison, WI to
    > Berlin. It is around 1,000 USD. Is it a fair price? Should I wait a
    > little bit longer to see if there is any better rate?

I agree with the other posters that that seems high to me.

    > 2. I plan to book the hotel/pension and rail ticket around late
    > June/early July. Is it too late for Prague and Cesky Krumlov? How
    > about the sleeper ticket from Prague to Budapest?

It depends on what class of lodging you're interested it, but early
September
is generally not a busy time. For the train ticket, we have booked similar

routes in August, and never reserved more than 3-4 days ahead.

Have a fantastic trip!

Hi,
I don't know what you're interests are, but I much preferred the
small towns of the Czech Republic to Prague. Telc, Kutna Hora, Tabor,
Trabon, Cesky Krumlov and Cesky Budejovice were all great in their own
way. You get a taste for real Czech life, prices were lower than in
the big city, you didn't have to fight with thousands of package
tourists. Most of the towns i listed above have what Prague offers --
castles, cathedrals, palaces, beer halls --- without the hordes. In
Telc, for example, you can walk across fields, and farms and hills,
all on marked nature trails, to castles that dot the surrounding
countryside, then return for to a beer hall full of friendly locals
for pork and dumplings and extremely inexpensive beer. Keep in mind I
haven't been there for almost 10 years, so prices have probably
changed as the nation's Communist past recedes. In the early 90s, a
train ride across the Czech Republic cost me $5 and a full meal with
beer in a provincial town was less than a buck. In my opinion, lop a
day or two off Prague and explore the smaller towns more extensively.
Kutna Hora's Cathedral is more spectacular than Prague's. Trabon's
Bohemian Regent beer is tastier than anything in Prague. Krumlov's
castle is more dramatic. Telc's town square is more quaint. Hope that
helps. Have fun!




[email protected] (SnowSky) wrote in message news:...
    > Frank:
    > Thanks! I will have a report once I am back!
    > (Waiting for my guide books from Amazon..... )
    >
    > Frank Clarke wrote in message news:...
    > > On 22 Apr 2003 10:49:50 -0700, [email protected] (SnowSky) wrote:
    > >
    > >
    > > >Thanks in advance for your advice! I've been to Europe before.
    > > >However, it is the first time I plan a trip myself. Kinda excited and
    > > >a little bit confused by the information over the internet. Any
    > > >suggestions are welcome!!
    > >
    > > Never been to Berlin or Prague, but that is how I plan all my
    > > vacations and they've all turned out to be very pleasant. I have no
    > > doubt you're going to have a wonderful time. Enjoy yourself and give
    > > us a report on how it worked out when you return.
    >
    > Original Post:
    > Hi,
    > My husband and I are planning a 14 days travel to Europe in early
    > September. The cities/area are Berlin, Prague/Czech Republic and
    > Budapest. The major destination is definitely Prague/Czech Republic.
    >
    > Here is our tentative plan after surfing all kind of information for a
    > week:
    > 1. Arrive Berlin in the morning. Stay for 2 days. (including the
    > first half-day)
    > 2. Take train to Prague on the 3rd day in the morning. Arrive Prague
    > midday.
    > 3. Prague for 4 days, including the traffic from Berlin to Prague
    > (Is it enough for at least not-so-rush sightseeing?)
    > 4. Cesky Krumlov, stay overnight. (So totally 2 days.)
    > 5. Karlovy Vary or Telc or Kutna Hora or Brno or other small cities,
    > suggestions are welcome!! (3 Days)
    > 6. At the end of the 10th day, night train to Budapest.
    > 7. 3 days in Budapest or cities around. Plan to take a 1 to 2 hour
    > boat trip one night. (Can anyone tell me is there any good city
    > nearby? Is 3 full days too long, comparing with the time I spend in
    > Czech Republic.)
    > 8. Fly back from Budapest. ( I must be crying and refuse to go back
    > to work at that time...)
    >
    > If you have any suggestions to my tour plan, please tell me. I know
    > there are tons of information on the web and in the book, and I've
    > checked the Czech Republic information website. However, the advice
    > from the people actually being there before is still invaluable!
    >
    > I have some other questions:
    > 1. I checked the price of the flight ticket from Madison, WI to
    > Berlin. It is around 1,000 USD. Is it a fair price? Should I wait a
    > little bit longer to see if there is any better rate?
    >
    > 2. I plan to book the hotel/pension and rail ticket around late
    > June/early July. Is it too late for Prague and Cesky Krumlov? How
    > about the sleeper ticket from Prague to Budapest?
    >
    > 3. While in Prague, what is the most convenient area to stay if we
    > plan to see the Black Theater and Pinocchio show? It seems that
    > staying around Old Town is very convenient, but how about the other
    > area around subway stations?
    >
    > Thanks in advance for your advice! I've been to Europe before.
    > However, it is the first time I plan a trip myself. Kinda excited and
    > a little bit confused by the information over the internet. Any
    > suggestions are welcome!!

[email protected] (SnowSky) wrote in message news:...
    > Frank:
    > Thanks! I will have a report once I am back!
    > (Waiting for my guide books from Amazon..... )
    >
    > Frank Clarke wrote in message news:...
    > > On 22 Apr 2003 10:49:50 -0700, [email protected] (SnowSky) wrote:
    > >
    > >
    > > >Thanks in advance for your advice! I've been to Europe before.
    > > >However, it is the first time I plan a trip myself. Kinda excited and
    > > >a little bit confused by the information over the internet. Any
    > > >suggestions are welcome!!
    > >
    > > Never been to Berlin or Prague, but that is how I plan all my
    > > vacations and they've all turned out to be very pleasant. I have no
    > > doubt you're going to have a wonderful time. Enjoy yourself and give
    > > us a report on how it worked out when you return.
    >
    > Original Post:
    > Hi,
    > My husband and I are planning a 14 days travel to Europe in early
    > September. The cities/area are Berlin, Prague/Czech Republic and
    > Budapest. The major destination is definitely Prague/Czech Republic.
    >
Snip!
    > 7. 3 days in Budapest or cities around. Plan to take a 1 to 2 hour
    > boat trip one night. (Can anyone tell me is there any good city
    > nearby? Is 3 full days too long, comparing with the time I spend in
    > Czech Republic.)
    > 8. Fly back from Budapest. ( I must be crying and refuse to go back
    > to work at that time...)
Snip!
Try to get the regular Danube ship Bratislav-Budapest, marvellous!
It's a hydrofoil, further infos:
http://www.web-set.hu/admin/webset32...&O=5&S=14&L=50

If you need overnight stay in a ***Pension in Budapest for 19,99 EUR,
you ar welcome to contact me. You have to see the villages of Estergom
and szentendre in the Danube bow, 50km north of Budapest. Sz. is a
beautiful tiny village with
little alleys, nice Musems (Kovasc Margrit, sculpturist). Esztergom
with the cathedrale, where Liszt performed his "Deutsche Requiem" and
the tomb of cardinal Mindszenthy, who stayed for years in the US
embassy in Budapest; the Cristian Museum..

Budapest museums: http://home.hu.inter.net/~jekely/resource.htm
Joachim
www.jfgweb.de

I found these fares at BestFares
(http://www.bestfares.com/travel/desk....asp?id=104517 ) Not from
Madison, but substantially cheaper than $1000. You may have to join to get
hese fares.
Ken
"Douglas W. Hoyt" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > > 1. I checked the price of the flight ticket from Madison, WI to
    > > Berlin. It is around 1,000 USD. Is it a fair price? Should I wait a
    > > little bit longer to see if there is any better rate?
    > It's high for September. A couple weeks ago I bought a Madison-Frankfurt
    > ticket for late June travel for about $770, and at the time Berlin was
    > roughly the same fare (with a 30 day maximum stay). July and August are
    > priced very high right now, but September SHOULD be well under $1K. In
    > fact, you might want to pop over to www.flights.com (an online
consolidator)
    > and pull up available fares--I just did, and Madison-Berlin for September
    > 5th to 25th (random dates) priced at $795 including all taxes on United,
but
    > depending on your dates you might find something even cheaper.
    > But the FIRST thing I would do if I were you (or me for that matter) is
call
    > Educational Travel in Madison. They negotiate their own consolidator
fares
    > with airlines (often people are under the mistaken impression that you
need
    > to be University affilitated to book with Educational Travel, but it is
just
    > a regular travel agency for the most part). Chances are what they offer
    > will match the best that online consolidators will list, but their
    > availablility is usually even better. And they might be able to tell you
    > if there might be more of their September consolidator fares yet coming
in.
    > What you'll find on Orbitz, etc. right now is probably inflated--and
chances
    > are they will see a fare sale too, but it is always impossible to predict
    > exactly when or by how much.