This is my first time in Eastern Europe on a 12 day vacation. Will visit Vienna, Prague and Budapest. Would English speaking only be a problem in any of these cities? Major concern is ordering of food for me. Can%26#39;t run on empty when you have to walk all over town.
Also, trying to figure out what makes more sense between buying a Europe East Pass or just the tickets. Will be traveling from Vienna to Prague, Prague to Budapest, then Budapest back to Vienna. Are Seat reservation a must do?
Thanks
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I%26#39;m not a expert of rail tickets, hopefully others will jump in.
Vienna isn%26#39;t really classed as %26#39;eastern Europe%26#39;.
The other two, Prague is a tourist mecca, no worries about language whatsoever. Budapest I know very well and similar applies, as it%26#39;s more spaced out you can find a few that only speak Hungarian but you are unlikely to see them doing the tourist thing. Once Easy Jet etc. get a route, places change quite quickly.
You need to go into the country and smaller towns to experience language difficulties in any country, even less popular Eastern European countries. Every Capital city caters for all, but it doesn%26#39;t hurt to learn and say please and thank you in local tongue.
Stoofer
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Why do you wanna buy a pass when you only travel between landmarks? A pass is good if you use it almost every day for longer distances. I don%26#39;t think that a pass makes sense in your situation.
Language won%26#39;t be a problem in Vienna, no idea about Prague and Budapest.
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BTW, none of these capitals are considered Eastern Europe - that%26#39;s Cold War language, and the countries experienced only 45 years of that depressing era. As you will find, the capitals have more than 1,000 years%26#39; worth of history and attractions. You will have to carefully monitor how many days to spend in each.
German is the alternative language in Hungarian restaurants, whereas either German or English will get you through Prague menus.
Since Magyar has virtually no linguistic relationship with other European languages (except a distant one to Finnish), Hungarians have had to be multi-lingual to survive. Learn a couple of words and memorize them along with %26#39;sör%26#39; (beer).
%26quot;Pivo%26#39; is the Czech term, so now you have taken care of the beverages of choice. However, the Czech kitchen (which like the Hungarian is well-represented in what is called Viennese food) will require a dictionary or convenient waiter to interpret the menu. Don%26#39;t worry - you will be well-fed at either table.
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I remember a contributor becoming quite upset when
her country was reffered to as Eastern Europe but I think people need to be less sensitive and don%26#39;t assume it%26#39;s a political or historical statement.
For many people, especially in U.K. As we go across Europe we are heading East, or south to meditteranean or North.
It%26#39;s normal to call countries central European, Eastern European, Mediterranean and Scandinavian as a quick geographical generalisation.
For me, as I drive into France I%26#39;m in Europe, as I get towards German/Austrian borders I%26#39;m in Central Europe, as I cross to Slovenia or Cz, Slovakia, I am in Eastern Europe. Budapest and Prague will always be Eastern European cities in my mind.
Someonme told me that Budapest is not Eastern Europe but Belgrade is Eastern Europe. For me, that%26#39;s a matter of opinion but in any event most will undrstand why British or Americans will call anything East of Austria %26#39;Eastern Europe%26#39;.
As said before, language not an issue in any city due to tourism.
Stoofer
Stoofer
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Wow! Sorry for using the wrong term. Actually, I wasn%26#39;t sure whether the cities I will be visiting are classified as Central or Eastern Europe until my travel agent told me it is eastern. I apologize.
The only reason for the pass is the cost seems to be less than the individual tickets(pass is about $ 210 + reservation) and the 3 individual train tickets from Rail Europe is more than that (about $ 265 reservation included). We are a family of 4 so the cost is quite significant.
From some of my readings there seems to be many train companies. It is quite possible that Rail Europe is not the cheapest.
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As explained, there is no apology required.
Vienna is won%26#39;t be regarded as Eastern Europe but it%26#39;s not offensive to make an error from a different continent.
From your perspective, it is not wrong to regard Prague %26amp; Budapest as being in Eastern Europe. The majority do, as do tour operators and even agencies in Hungary and Cz.
Cold war has nothing to do with it, it%26#39;s simply geographic generalisation with no sinister implications.
Stoofer
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%26gt;3 individual train tickets from Rail Europe is more than that (about $ 265 reservation included).
Ouch.
Rail Europe marks up the tickets - the further away from France, the more (don´t ask me why). The difference between the original prices and Rail Europe prices can be easily double in central Europe. And reservations for 15-20 USD is another rip-off. In most cases you don´t even need them.
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Altamiro gives you good advice about Raileurope.
Their prices usually 50-100 % more than you buying the same ticket at the individual train station before journey..
Mostly reservations not needed.
Save your monrey and buy your tickets here.
Mr. Stooferuk gives good statement about no need apology is needed.
Many here in Vienna and elsewhere will still consider anything east of Vienna as Eastern Europe.
Others say any country east of the former Iron Curtain is Eastern Europe .
Some of this perception is found more in older people but it is still everywhere
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That term gets its own life, doesn%26#39;t it? It will take another couple of generations to wipe out the commonly employed interpretation.
%26quot;Central Europe%26quot; will always be acceptable, though. Once travelers and travel agents stop throwing these political designations around in their brochures and posts, maybe we%26#39;ll see some progress.
When you consider how large the rest of the land mass of Europe is, maybe you can understand why residents of these countries are sensitive about it. There is a lot more that binds Vienna, Prague and Budapest than what differs among these lovely cities - a result of hundreds of years of relationship, as you will find out.
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My son lives in Germany and I visit him every year. I have tried both ways of buying tickets. Last year I decided to buy in Europe based on the advise of people on TripAdvisor. I found that the prices where more at the station than they were in the states which is what I had been told by a friend of mine who is a travel agent and travels all over the world. I just went on line and checked the prices on RailEurope and found them really high this year but you have to remember when you buy anything in Europe you are on the euro and wait till you convert that dollar into a euro. That is so painful. Consider just purchasing point-to-point and not one country or two. I like doing the countries because it gives me more freedom to jump off, jump on same day. Go 2nd class, not worth the price for first. That is a ripoff. I also found the trains from Prague to Budapest to be very slow and old. Also watch out for the pickpockets in and around the stations. Prague and Budapest are absolutely beautiful and prices are still good there. Vienna is amazing and expensive. By the way there are other big companies that sell tickets other than RailEurope. Try Eurorail or type in traintravel europe. On language the only place I had a problem was Prague. Hotels and most food places do speak English but a lot of the citizens don%26#39;t. I had problems riding the subway with getting directions, but you will find someone who will if you keep asking. Have a great time.
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