jackbauer24 Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 Has anyone travelled extensively abroad using trains? I'm thinking of heading to Budapest in late August and am trying to decide whether to take the plane or try something new and go by train. I'm not going to drive it as I've done that before! I know it'd take about a day on the train but no idea as to how much it costs (way more or less than plane?) is it too much hassle and has anyone ever used a sleeper train? Plane costs circa £180pp return. Train Route is; Lon St Pan - Paris (Eurostar) 3hrs (+1.30hr for connection) Paris - Zurich (TVG) 4hrs (+1.15hr for connection) Zurich to Budapest (Sleeper) 12hrs Budget is a major consideration due to change of personal circumstances but I quite like the idea of a different way of travelling. Any thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyh29 Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 I've not done that route by train but I've done a few 24 hour and even 36 hour train journeys over the years and I'd take the plane every time given the choice 3 hours and you can be sipping Unicom whilst be served by some Hungarian hottie ... Or you can just be arriving in Paris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milfner Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 (edited) I took sleeper trains in and out of Budapest (from Prague to Budapest and then Budapest to Belgrade). Both trains were around £60 so I doubt that you'd be able to get to get a London to Zurich train for £30 both ways. Seems a bit pointless going through the cities if you're not going to actually visit them, I'd just get a plane and save myself a shitload of time and most probably money. Edited April 16, 2015 by Milfner 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackbauer24 Posted April 17, 2015 Author Share Posted April 17, 2015 Cheers for that - was more 'thinking aloud' than actual planning. Thinking now of one way flight to Budapest, week there, some form of transport to Split in Croatia, week there, then fly homeway. But it's all just thought at moment. Might be worth a separate thread but anyone tried Airbnb type services? Seems pretty cheap for Split. Don't need anything for Budapest as I'd be camping (Sziget Festival). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blandy Posted April 17, 2015 Moderator Share Posted April 17, 2015 Google for the man in seat 63 - loads of train info 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wainy316 Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 Google for the man in seat 63 - loads of train info This. Apart from it's 'Seat 61' Amazing web-site contains extensive information on practically any train route possible all from first hand experience of 'the man in seat61'. He's a British guy as well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenko#4 Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 Google for the man in seat 63 - loads of train info This. Apart from it's 'Seat 61' Amazing web-site contains extensive information on practically any train route possible all from first hand experience of 'the man in seat61'. He's a British guy as well. Yep, this is the place to go for info. I went to Berlin on the train a couple of months back (via Brussels and Cologne) and everything on the website is spot on. The German DB trains are really smart as well, they make the Eurostar look like the number 11 bus. 3 trains, loads of beer, and 10 hours of pretty much uninterrupted Football Manager, my idea of bliss! Travelling back the same way with a stinking hangover wasn't so nice though..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackbauer24 Posted April 17, 2015 Author Share Posted April 17, 2015 Very interesting site, but having looked at it closely it'd actually work out more than the plane so, unless you're really enjoying the views or can break up your journey, it's just not worth it. Ah well, always look for something new! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyh29 Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 Google for the man in seat 63 - loads of train info This. Apart from it's 'Seat 61' Amazing web-site contains extensive information on practically any train route possible all from first hand experience of 'the man in seat61'. He's a British guy as well. I'm not sure they are all his first hand ? I got the impression he hadn't done the Tibet train for example and thus he relied on users to supply info on some routes ? either way he's given me some great tips over the years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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