Sorry for the Newbie-ish question, but I am trying find a train from Munich to Budapest on Feb 26 and returning Feb 28 and am finding it very difficult to understand/navigate the various websites. A few questions:

1. Is there any savings to booking a ticket in advance versus just buying it at the station once I get to Europe?

2. What is the difference / advantages / disadvantages among the various sites that seem to sell tickets for this route: DB Bahn, OBB, Eurorail, etc?

3. If I buy a ticket in advance, will it be shipped to me in the US? Do I need to "validate" it first?

4. How comfortable is the bus compared with the train?

Sorry for these questions - I am an experienced travel but am finding this search very confusing

I did a quick search on raileurope.com and it is 7 hours each way. You will be spending 14 hours in 3 days; My guess is that bus service is even longer.
The cost is around 170 US$ each way
I also checked on scnf.com which is the french website I use to buy tickets and the cost is 230 euros round trip which is similar to the 340 round trip US$ on raileurope
I would buy the tickets when you get there.
I think you will not find any cheap fares at this time.

Why not fly? If you leave saturday and return tuesday the round trip flight is 300 euros with lufthansa; there may be cheaper airlines

Could not figure out the OBB travel portal

I have purchased etickets from scnf.com and printed them at home; did not validate and just showed them to the conductor.

These prices are way out from what you need to pay.

Check on the DB website.

Assuming you want to travel by day, on Feb 26th, the 4 day trains from Munich to Budapest (leaving at 07:27 and every two hours to 13:27) are all currently showing fares at €49 in 2nd class and €69 in 1st class. The DB site is easy to use and you can print off your own ticket. If you want to travel Premium class (recommended), you can either buy an upgrade at the many ticket machines at Munich Hbf, until the day before you travel, for €25; or on-board for €27.50.

The prices for the 4 day trains from Budapest on February 28th are currently the same.

These are advance tickets - you have to travel on the train you purchase the ticket for; however, if you have to cancel, you can do so easily online up to the day before travel, and get a refund (less €15 admin charge).

You can buy the tickets from Budapest also on this page of the MAV (Hungarian railways) website at lower prices (€29 2nd class and €45 1st class), but it's only in Hungarian and you have to collect tickets from machines at the station in Budapest.

Better still if you have a contact in Budapest who can buy the ticket locally for you - you can get an advance ticket in Premium class for €70 instead of 1st class on DB for €69 - and you get a much better seat and free drinks and snacks.

Thank you so much for the replies.

I was able to book the tickets for the cheaper fares mentioned above on the DB Bahn website. They were much cheaper there than on Rail Europe and we were able to benefit from purchasing in advance. It would not let me print the tickets, but they said they would mail them within the next week (perhaps because I live in the US). I am hoping the tickets arrive and are in good shape as the website was slightly confusing (but much better than OBB, as mentioned).

For anyone else looking to book trains, I found this website which was enormously helpful

http://www.seat61.com/