central/eastern europe, advice needed!

[cgallo10]

Hi!

My bf and I are planning a 3 week back-packing trip this July. We have done city breaks, hosteling etc before but this is our first time attempting travleing through different countries and would be grateful of advice from the more experianced!

We are starting in Berlin then going through Germany (with 1-2 stops) to Austria (salzburg then vienna) then on to Budapest, and finnaly thorugh Slovakia to Poland (krakow) planning to interail.

Is this realistic in our time scale?
Does anyone know what supplements you have to pay on top of interrail prices for these countries (website isnt clear)?
Should we book everythin ahead of time or just wing it? and if booking ahead can you book trains over the internet?

Any advice would be gr8!
Thanks

[Eagle]

cgallo10, first, welcome to the Board! Could you provide a bit more information, such as where you're located. You mentioned "interail" so I'm assuming you live in Europe? I'm not too familiar with this, but hopefully somewhere here will be able to provide some answers.

As you'll be travelling in July (peak tourist season), reservations might be a good idea, however it might be adequate to make reservations for each journey when you arrive in a particular city (ie: the day you arrive in Berlin, make reservations for the next leg of your journey).

Good luck with your planning!

[cgallo10]

Thanks! Sorry, I'm from Scotland and we will be flying to Berlin, we have book accom there as we know it will be really busy this july with world cup on but so far nothing else! Thanks for the tips so far much appreciated! :-)

[me]

never been, but i've been told that the Tatra mountains are nice. check 'em out while in the area!

- d

[herrbert]

I have been to Berlin, at the end of February (very cold). And if you would stay at the Circus Hostel in Berlin, it's possible to use internet to book your next hostel. But they are also offering an overnight bus to Prague (I have not seen that on you list, but maybe you reconsider) for I think 25 euros.

[commie]

if you going to some tourist places in east europe (cz, sk, hu) you can get good and not to expensive accommodation in guest houses along the road. because its not a peak session at this time i wouldnt care much about booking ahead, and you can spent the night wherever you want without bookings.