Prague Travel Forum

We are 9 people and we intend to go by train from Prague to Salzburg on 23rd June 2008.

My questions:
1. We can get only Czech trains from Prague to Austria or also Austrian trains serve Prague? I noticed from Austrian trains official website that trains depart from Prague also. But how can i get tickets? I have to buy them while in Prague or can buy them on line well in advance?

Also for our one day excursion to Karlovy Vary what do you recommend train or bus?

Thanks in advance
Katerina

From Prague to Salzburg you can take any train that goes that route provided you have the correct ticket. The "nationality" of the train is not relevant, nor does the fact that a train is mentioned on the Austrian Railways website mean that the train is Austrian. (The Austrian Railways website has a trip planner that uses more or less the same data as the German or Swiss one, and has thus most trains in Europe in it).

Trains are not planes. You can buy an open ticket that will be valid on any train. (For some trains you might have to obtain a reservation separately). Such a ticket can be bought on the day of travel itself, or on any convenient day before, from the ticket counter at the railway station.
Nowadays railways do however sometimes implement airline style yield management, and this means that cheaper tickets are often sold, that require you to commit to a particular train.

1. You have to change the trains on this trip. This way almost certainly the first train will be Czech and the second for sure Austrian.

As far as I know Austrian Rail on-line shop will not sell you the ticket as the trip starts in the other country. Unfortunately Czech Rail has only Czech version of on-line shop - no English/German yet. So you have to buy the ticket after arrival to Prague. It is not likely it would be sold-out.

2. Trip to Karlovy Vary - definitely bus. It is cheaper, faster, more frequent. If you need details - please check my tip on Karlovy Vary.