abeyro

"train to Gdansk, if flight, which airline? BA ?"

That's interesting how such ideas are invented…
It's like Washington to Miami... which airline? Air Canada?

moon4fun

Thanks again. I appreciated it.
I am going to start with flight and hotel.

1. Start at Budapest, (3 night suggest by JBod), Stay at IHG or Marriott if the hotel expensive
2. we will take train to Bratislava, Slovakia (1 night) ... need hotel suggestion please
3. train to Krakow (3 night)
4. Kraków to Gdańsk (plane, the airline is LOT and it takes less than an hour); 2 nights in Gdańsk (Marriott Gdynia waterfront) Cat 3
5. Gdańsk to Warsaw ( Polish Airlines or ~3 hours on the train 2 nights in Warsaw
6. train to Brno (2 night) any hotel suggestion for cash or better use points?
7. train to Prague (3 night)

Thanks!

AlicorporateUK

kipper

For Brno, two nights is probably a good recommendation. If you are looking for a novel lodging experience, I recommend 10-Z Bunker. Yes, you have to share bathrooms, but depending on when you visit, you'll find very few guests. Whether or not you stay, I believe they will allow you to tour the bunker. We stayed there for two nights and it was definitely an interesting glimpse into communist military life. They also had a great exposition and our tour guide (for the bunker tour) was awesome.

In Brno, I enjoyed Nok Nok for lunch and dinner. We were able to sit outside and people watch.

As far as Prague, I'd spend 3 or 4 nights. There are threads devoted to just what to do in Prague. That said, my suggestions:

• Prague Castle
• Letna Beer Garden-nice place to relax and have lunch
• Petřín Lookout Tower
• Vyšehrad Castle
• Ss. Cyril and Methodius Cathedral-where the paratroopers from Operation Anthropoid were finally killed (National Memorial of the Czech Heroes during Heydrich terror)
• Vítkov Hill for a nice view
• Jan Palach memorial

I loved Prague Castle at night. St. Vitas was breathtaking. My suggestion is that, as you are walking through the little entryway (like a walkway through a building) before you get to St. Vitas, look down at the ground. Only once you are out of that, then look up. You will be greeted with an amazing sight. Generally, throughout the Czech Republic, always "look up" as you'll see artwork and other things you might otherwise miss.

You might also want to consider a day in Plzen, Karlovy Vary, or České Budějovice for a small town feel.

Eugeniusz Bodo

In Gdansk I would recommend Marriott or Sofitel Grand right at the pier in Sopot. Gdansk is really a TriCity (Gdansk/Sopot/Gdynia), easy hop by local train. I would skip Brno in favour of Wroclaw, otherwise you picked the finest cities!
Best!
^

moon4fun

AlicorporateUK, Got it, will change to Sheraton Sopot Hotel.
Kipper, great info for Prague, will I able to do day trip for Plzen, Karlovy Vary, or České Budějovice ?
Eugeniusz, good info for TriCity (Gdansk/Sopot/Gdynia)
Now, decision time, between Brno and Wroclaw, if I do pick both, do I travel from Gdansk -> Wroclaw -> Brno.?

Thanks again for all suggestion.

Eugeniusz Bodo

If you pick both, you have the right sequence. You will love the trip. All those places are absolute gems. Make sure you go on Carol's Bridge in Prague before 6 a.m. Daytime this place is busier than Venice or Ponte Vecchio in Florence and the unobstructed vista from the bridge towards the castle and old town is everything. I did it, played Mozart on my phone and danced on the bridge. Not a soul in sight and I moved 300 years back in time. Priceless!

kipper

Trains run to/from Plzen and České Budějovice several times/day, so yes, you can leave Prague that morning, take the train to either, spend several hours and then head back to Prague. I believe for Karlovy Vary, you need to take a bus (Google Honest Prague Guide and Karlovy Vary--he did an episode about visiting there and I think discussed how to get there). To get there, we rented a car and drove there, stopping at Lidice and Terezin on the way.

fallinasleep

Personally, I would look at taking some flights, especially if you are traveling light and don't need to pay checked baggage fees. LCC Wizz has hubs in Budapest, Warsaw and Katowice (outside Krakow). Fares are very reasonable. I don't see a Budapest Gdansk flight but there is definitely one to Warsaw.

I would also look into visiting the Tatras, although there might still be snow on some of the hiking paths in May. If you do this, then you can travel from Budapest to Poprad (via Bratislave) to Zakopane to Krakow.

Lastly, here are a couple of recent New York Times articles on Prague and an alternative to Prague.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/09/t...in-prague.html

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/...er-crowds.html

moon4fun

Great info. Thanks All. . I will get up early in the morning like Kipper suggestion. I did watch the Honest guy video about Prague.
I start checking the hotel and flight, I will choose the less cost of points for some city.
1. Start at Budapest, (3 night), Stay at IHG or Marriott if the hotel expensive
Hotel:
· Hyatt, Párisi Udvar Hotel Budapest (cat 2, 8000 points)
Petőfi Sándor u. 2-4
Budapest, 1052, Hungary
· InterContinental Budapest (cat 4, 40,000 points)
Apáczai Csere János u. 12-14, Budapest, 1052 Hungary
2. Train to Bratislava, Slovakia (1 night)
Hotel:

· Crowne Plaza Bratislava (20,000 points)

Hodzovo Namestie 2, Bratislava,816 25 Slovakia

3. Train to Krakow (3 night)
Hotel:
· Sheraton Grand Krakow (Cat 5, 35,000 points)
7 Powisle Street Krakow, Poland 31-101
· Holiday Inn Krakow City Centre (25,000 points)
Ul Wielopole 4, Krakow,31-072 Poland

4. Train to Warsaw (3 night)

Hotel:

· The Westin Warsaw (Cat 4, 25,000)

AI. Jana Pawla II 21 Warsaw, Poland 00-854

· Holiday Inn Warsaw City Centre (20,000 points)

Twarda 52, Warsaw,00-831 Poland

5. Train to Gdansk ( LOT Polish Airlines or ~3 hours on the train) 2 nights

Hotel: (2 night)

· Sopot Marriott Resort & Spa (Cat 4, 25,000 points)

Bitwy pod Plowcami 59 Sopot, Poland 81-731

TriCity (Gdansk/Sopot/Gdynia) - local train

· Sheraton Sopot Hotel (Cat 4, 25,000 points)

Powstancow Warszawy 10 Sopot, Poland 81-718
6. Train to Wroclaw (2 night)

AC Hotel Wroclaw (Cat 3, 17,500)

Plac Wolnosci 10 Wroclaw, Poland 50-071

7. Train to Brno (2 night)

Hotel:

· Holiday Inn (15,000 points)

Krizkovskeho 20, Brno,603 00 Czech Republic

8. Train to Prague (3 night)

Hotel:

· Courtyard Prague City (Cat 3, 17,500 points) - walk 5 min, train A Nemocnice Motol (Platform 2, 5 stops, 7 min), walk 7 min

Lucemburska Street 46 Prague, Czech Republic 130 00

· Prague Marriott Hotel (Cat 5, 35,000 points)

V Celnici 8 Prague, Czech Republic 110 00

· InterContinental Prague (40,000 points)

Parizska 30, Prague,110 00 Czech Republic

abeyro

You will arrive in Praque to the station called "Praha hlavni nadrazi":





Towards the Old Town where your hotels are located::

EmailKid

Don't know if it's in your budget, but from outside

moon4fun

Hi abeyro - the picture you shown, which hotel is it ?
Hi EmailKid - Radisson Blu Carlton is not available with points when I put in the date 5/17 or 5/18. Currently it list $100 USD.

Brno - HI does it mean Holiday Inn - Krizkovskeho 20, Brno,603 00 Czech Republic ?

Thanks All.

EmailKid

That is too bad, it's a great location. The HI Bratislava is a bit from center, but was good value when I was there. About 10 minute walk to streetcar.

Yes, Brno Holiday Inn. Kind of hard to find if you go by that address, but it's right next to cyclodrome if you ask locals for directions. Closer to center than Bratislava's HI.

But I usually just walked even though streetcars are dirt cheap (and I LOVE streetcars) because I like to walk.

moon4fun

Thanks EmailKid.
Me too love to ride on streetcars, see the local building and people.
Continuing working on hotel, checking on the air fare available ... use AA mile to book but try to avoid BA flight from US to LHR ...

Thanks again for all the great info.