Easter Europe - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

insanediplomat · 09-15-2005, 06:27 PM

Leaving in less than four days traveling alone through Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Czech Republic and Poland. Has anyone done this route before? What should I watch out for and what should I do.

Also, I needs help with choosing a hostel in London. I will be flying into London Heathrow and need to catch another flight the following day out of London Luton. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

**space virgin** · 09-15-2005, 08:05 PM

In Slovakia make sure you validate your tickets if you take the bus or the tram thingie (forget what it's called). Granted they don't check very often, but if they do ask you for your ticket and you didn't stamp it, it's a big pain in the ass and an expensive fine. Transit tickets are so freakin' cheap it's not worth it to try to save them (in my opinion). A similar system exists in Austria but as far as I can tell, they're much more lax about checking the tickets. *shrug* And if possible, when arriving or departing Bratislava, try to NOT go to the Petrzalka train station. It's out in a suburb and kind of a pain to get to. I forget what the main one is called but it's right in the middle of town.

And don't miss Hrad Devin (Devin Castle, really just a ruin), a 20/30-minute bus ride from central Bratislava at the intersection of the Moravia and Danube rivers. It's wonderful! And free!

And be nice to elderly people taking public transpo-- give up your seat if it's a crowded bus/train/whatever.

Hell, try to do that anyway.

**beergal** · 09-16-2005, 01:24 AM

Jeanie has given you some good advice here about the transportation tickets. this is the same for ALL of the route that you have chosen. Its not worth trying to act the dumb tourist because they will hit you with a bigger fine.

Places to visit in Hungary would be gyor, debrecen, szentendre, eger, budapest and godollo and pecs pronounced peach
if you need any info about any of these places pm me

insanediplomat · 09-16-2005, 08:50 AM

Thank you for the quick reply. Now, for the trains, do I have to catch a different train in every country or is it one rail system?

**beergal** · 09-16-2005, 09:07 AM

it depends as you can get direct services from bratislava to budapest with some rail services connecting through different countries (for obvious reasons)

Make sure that when you catch a trainthat it is on the right route i have made that mistake many of times and have been caught out by crafty train inspectors!

mr-turisty · 09-17-2005, 01:23 PM

i went to devin castle by boat. It probably takes a bit longer than the bus but I think its worth it for the view. It was cool seeing the castle appear on the horizon whislt going down the Danube. it was fairly inexpensive and a pleasant journey (and i was hung over!)