Amsterdam/Austria/Prague - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

Beau · 11-20-2007, 08:39 AM

My wife and I are planning a 2 week trip next spring. I think we've settled on a pretty good itenary, but I'm looking for some advice on transportation.

This is the plan so far:

4/28 - Arrive in Frankfurt (Stay and Learn Hostel)
4/29 - Travel to Amsterdam (Flying Pig Uptown)
4/30 - Amsterdam (Queensday) (Flying Pig Uptown)
5/01 - Amsterdam (Flying Pig Uptown)
5/02 - Travel to Prague (Sir Toby's)
5/03 - Prague (Sir Toby's)
5/04 - Prague (Sir Toby's)
5/05 - Travel Salzburg (Yoho Hostel)
5/06 - Salzburg (Yoho Hostel)
5/07 - Travel Innsbruck (Nepomuk's B&B Hostel)
5/08 - Innsbruck (Nepomuk's B&B Hostel)
5/09 - Munich (stay with friends)
5/10 - Travel Frankfurt (Stay and Learn Hostel)
5/11 - Return Home

We were planning to fly from Amsterdam to Prague, and take the train everywhere else. I don't know if a bus would be a cheaper option, or worth it. Our friends in Munich can give us a ride to Frankfurt. Any advice or sudjestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Beau

**lauren313** · 11-20-2007, 08:47 AM

Hey Beau, I'm afraid I can't help with your travel plans, but just wanted to say welcome to tpunk! I'm sure someone will have the answers you're looking for though!

**joe7f** · 11-20-2007, 10:04 AM

Welcome to TravelPunk

That is a great itinerary! You and your wife are going to have a good time as that is the best time to visit pretty much all of Europe.

Two questions...Is this your first time to Europe? Have you already gotten your tickets? If the answer to the latter is no, have you considered doing an "open jaw" ticket? Fly directly in to Amsterdam and return out of Munich. <-This eliminates spending two nights in Frankurt which can be spent elsewhere.

I think you are right to opt for a flight between Amsterdam and Prague since that is about 15 hours by train (part of that can be while you sleep but still). British Airways can get you there for about 215 USD per person, one way.

It looks like you may be on a bit of a time crunch. If so, you may want to prioritize between Salzburg and Innsbruck. In fact you may find it easier to take a (night)train from Prague to Munich and a train to Salzburg (it is included on the Bavaria (Bayern) pass for 20 Euros).

--Joey

**marc873** · 11-20-2007, 10:43 AM

You need to make your reservations for Amsterdam TODAY!!!! The entire city will sell out, and I haven't checked, but I bet the flying Pig is already booked. Queens Day is the biggest party in The Netherlands, so be ready for one of the best street parties ever. I think you could fly austria air or czech air for about $100 each or less. I currently own 2 tickets (non-refundable) from Brussels to Prague that I bought a few months ago, because the deal was so sweet, but then of course my timeline jumped 3 months, and they are now bunk. We paid $156. for two tickets total one way.

I have a wealth of knowledge on Amsterdam, so ask any questions you may have.

Cheers,
Marc

**joe7f** · 11-20-2007, 10:57 AM

Czechair is clocking in at the same rate.

You may find this interesting...If you punch in Amsterdam->Prague one way the price is 356 USD, if you do it roundtrip 43. With taxes it is 210 and nonstop (which is how I would go)

Good suggestion Marc!

--Joey

**mbo108** · 11-20-2007, 11:09 AM

Welcome to Tpunk. I stayed at Sir Toby's last summer and it was great. Nice choice. In fact, I have a coupon thingy. If you send me a private message with your address I can mail it to you.

Beau · 11-20-2007, 11:32 AM

Thanks for the welcome. Even though this is my first post, This forum has been the best resource for my planning. I've found most of the info. I was looking for just digging through old threads.

We've been to Munich before, but that's about it for Europe. We haven't purchased our tickets yet, but I have checked on flights. The problem is there isn't a straight flight into Munich for us. To fly into Munich we still have a layover in Frankfurt and it's about $400 more. It looks like it isn't much more to fly directly into Amsterdam and leave from Frankfurt than to do a round trip into Frankfurt. That would allow us to cut out one night in Frankfurt. I've been using Kayak. Is there a better source to use for open jaw tickets?

I'll keep that in mind about the night train. My wife is really looking forward to traveling through Austria. I don't know if I can cut out much of that. We were also thinking about making a stop in Ceske Budejovice on our way to Salzburg.

You should have seen all our want to do list before I trimmed it down to this. It's the same old story I'm sure you've heard a 1000 times before. It's so hard to try and cut down your trip.

**joe7f** · 11-20-2007, 12:22 PM

If you fly into Amsterdam and out of Munich it is about 900 on Kayak. Not sure that is much more expensive than in and out of Frankfurt.

Since I see that you have been to Munich you can disregard my previous remark (I personally think that Munich has more to do than Salzburg). With your saved day(s) I hear Cesky Krumlov is pretty awesome

--Joey

**Dig** · 11-20-2007, 04:45 PM

I would like to suggest a stay at "Haus Christine" in Salzburg. It is more of a pension then a hostel. Search for it on hostelworld dot com. Last May it was 18 Euros a person and was an extremely nice deal.

This is a picture from our balcony
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...s/SUNP0117.jpg

This is a picture of where you have breakfast
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...s/SUNP0112.jpg

This is a picture of our bedroom (in a real house) and does not do it justice. There is no bathroom in the room, just a sink.
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...s/SUNP0116.jpg

It is a 4 minute train ride out of town, which you can purchase multiple train passes for cheaply.

Hope this helps