Look into the thread called “Berlin to Prague, Prague to Munich”, I explain there why you don’t need the rudely overpriced Prague excursion pass and what you need instead for your trip from Berlin to Prague. Also, take a look at “Berlin 2 Prague 2 Salzburg and more” thread. The Prague excursion pass does not cover Berlin-Prague, just the German/Czech border to Prague segment.

From Prague to Vienna, take a bus. Inquire at Prague Florenc Bus station at the yellow booth marked Student Agency. Buses to Vienna leave at 10:30 and 12:30 and are as fast as the train, except they offer more comfort for just CZK 450 or EUR 18, which is half the train price.

Unless the current Prague excursion ticket is different from the one they used to sell, it only covers the part from the Czech border to Prague.  You’ll need to use a day of the eurail pass for the trip from Berlin to the Czech Border and for the trip from the Czech Border to Vienna — although you might find it cheaper to just buy the point to point tickets from Berlin to Prague and Prague to Vienna and not buy the excursion pass.

Since you have an itinerary, try using www.railsaver.com  Follow the “I have a good idea of my itinerary” route and click “I prefer purchasing railpasses (to point to point tickets) ‘only when it saves money.’”

first off thank you both for your replies!  they have been truely helpful.  After reading both of your posts I agree that it it best to avoid the czech excursion pass altogether, and using my europass/point-to-point from berlin to prague.  From prague to venice, bus seems to be the best option (although I haven’t been able to see the exact price anywhere).  The only question I really have now is regarding the time schedule of the buses.  Is there a website to see the prices and schedules?  I originally had planned for an overnight train (to save on hostel money), but if there is no overnight bus, then are there late evening departures? 

Thanks so much once again!  I really appreciate it greatly!

Midnight720

edit:  i found the website finally!  for future reference:  http://www.studentagencybus.com/en/419_419/STUDENT%20AGENCY%20PRAGUE%20-%20WIEN

If I knew you were willing to take a night bus, I would have told you

In fact, there is a night bus from Berlin to Prague as well as night bus from Prague to Vienna. But the website of the carrier has only a little information in English, all I write here comes from the Czech version of the site www.studentagency.cz .

The night bus from Berlin to Prague is the Hamburg-Ostrava line, which calls at Berlin “Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof Am Funkturm” bus station, platform 12, at 23:55 (that’s here http://www.studentag… ). Calls at Prague Florenc bus terminal at 5:00 the next morning. The price is 750 CZK or €29.

The night bus to Vienna leaves Prague Florenc bus terminal at 00:15 and arrives to Vienna Nord Praterstern bus stop at 05:15 in the morning. The price is 450 CZK or €18 and can be bought at the departure point.

Contact info@studentagency.cz for further information and also so that you can believe I’m not making this up

thank you papyr! you are so unbelievably helpful!  although i can only read the limited information they have on that website in english, i definately trust that you are correct about the night bus.  i’m still considering the night train point-to-point from prague to vienna because it’s a 8 hr train ride.  Yeah, I am looking at paying more for a longer commute, but only having 6 hrs on the bus would be a big tease! 

Thanks again!

Midnight720

Oh, you’re welcome

Except… there is no overnight train from Prague to Vienna. I know that a five-hour ride on a bus seat when one would normally expect to be sleeping in a bed is no good. You would end up in Vienna tired as hell and more ready to go to bed than to see the sights. But if you insist on riding and sleeping at the same time on your Prague to Vienna trip, there is one solution that might be a compromise.

Taking a sleeper train from Prague to Bratislava.

Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and is mere 60 kilometers east of Vienna. Take the express train No. 377 “Galileo Galilei” which goes to Budapest and get out in Bratislava. This train makes two stops in Prague, a short one-minute stop at Praha Smichov (23:37 to 23:38), followed by a long 45-minute stop at the Main station (23:45 to 0:30). In order to maximize your sleeping time, get on that train as soon as possible, no matter which station you choose. The train arrives to Bratislava Main station at 5:41 in the morning. It’s not a significantly longer ride than the Vienna bus, but at least you will be sleeping stretched out on a bed, not jam-packed on a bus seat. Then, take the EuRegio train No. 2507 “Adebar” leaving Bratislava Main station at 5:50 and arriving to Vienna South Station at 6:58. If you miss it (i.e. due to delay or due to buying tickets at Bratislava main station) then you should know that trains to Vienna go from there every odd hour 00 and 50 minutes (e.g. 7:00, 7:50, 9:00, 9:50 etc.)

Tickets and prices:
Prague to Bratislava (2nd class fare): CZK 505 (EUR 19.80)
Prague to Bratislava (Bed): CZK 285 (EUR 11.40)

Bratislava to Vienna (bought in Prague): CZK 337 (EUR 13.20)
Bratislava to Vienna (bought in Bratislava): EUR 9.2
Bratislava to Vienna including public transportation in Vienna for that day (bought in Bratislava): EUR 12.60 (ask for Wien Ticket + VOR Wien)

Note: Czech prices are to be paid in Czech crowns, Slovak prices in Slovak crowns. But you can put it on your credit card when buying the ticket at the train station, no need to run around Bratislava at 6 am trying to find an exchange office.

Personally, I would buy a ticket plus a bed to Bratislava for 505+285=790 CZK in Prague (the best is to go to Wasteels travel agency located in the upper lobby of Prague main station, is open till 6PM and they are all fluent in English, also they accept credit cards) and a Wien Ticket + VOR Wien for 12.60 EUR in Bratislava in the morning.

How does that sound? Getting to Vienna 3 hours later, for 43.8
EUR instead of 18 EUR, with one transfer, but sleeping well for 5 hours

Have you guys traveled much, and traveled together before?  A fast-paced trip like this can be quite tiring and strain your relationship (not saying you’ll break up, just that there might be times when you get a bit grumpy with each other).

Papyr:  thanks again!.  Using the www.eurorail.com website I am finding an 8 hr train ride leaving from Praha Hlavni Nadr to Wien Suedbahnhof.  This is train #225.  this is the train I was planning on taking to vienna.  Although, after you mentioned it I am not sure how i will get there.  I was assuming there would be a train or something to get there. 

augustin25:  i agree with your thoughts that it could be a stressful time with a significant person with such a fast paced trip.  This will be my 3rd time in europe, but i haven’t been to several of these countries.  However, this will be the first time my girlfriend goes to europe.  This post will definately be kept closely in mind though if we ever come to the situation where i want to strangle her

Ah, you’re right. There is a sleeper coach in the train 225 to Kosice, which is shunted in Prerov to train 203 to Vienna. I forgot about this. 22:05 from Prague, 6:03 in Vienna.