Very easy for the most part — like taking the subway in most cities. Things are confusing at first, but once you get the hang of it everything makes perfect sense. You’ll be an expert after your second train trip.
For the most part it’s very safe. Where, specifically, in Eastern Europe? You’ll have no problem in touristed areas of Czech, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Croatia, Slovenia. Same for language skills. No problem, although I’d make first night reservation in advance and make your last night reservation a few days in advance so you can work out transportation to the airport for your flight home. I would try to arrive in any city where I didn’t have a room booked by mid-afternoon.

Hi, thanks for the reply. I will be in Prague and Budapest. I am considering Warsaw and Krakow. But the information above is helpful and plus whatever I have been reading in this site, and a few helpful tips I have been getting from one of the users here.

Hi, I stayed in a great hotel in Prague for two nights. It cost Euro 149.00 for two night’s B+B for two of us. It is very central. (200metres from Charles Bridge). the name of the hotal is the Waldstein. It consisted of really quaint apartments and the breakfast was fine. It is worth travelling First class by train for the bit extra. You get a lot more comfort on your journey. Good luck on your trip,
Peter

Hi Peter, thanks for the tip. I will be sure to take note of the hotel you mentioned.

149 euros is alot

For 2 people for 2 nights?

I personally disagree with 1st class being “a bit extra” for the train. 1st class is routinely 1 1/2 times regular fare and on some trains the reservation is more expensive, too. On most trains it’s not worth it — although the exceptions to that are in Eastern Europe, so may be true for the specific train mentioned.

Hi, this would be my travel plan. I am leaving this Saturday, 4 Oct, and still going solo. I am actually having second thought about going for a trip especially when the world is turning upside. I might just come back without a job. On top of it all is this slight fear of going away for 3 weeks, alone sob sob. Anyhoo…

5-7th Oct : Vienna
7-8th Oct: Budapest
9-10th Oct: Prague
10-11th Oct: Berlin
12-16th Oct: Frankfurt, and then Strasbourg. Will be spending days here a break from a break. Think it will be nice to explore the Black Forest area and the winery in France.
17-21st Oct: London via Paris. I have to be in London to catch my footie team, Arsenal playing Everton on 18th. Oh yeah, got my football ticket and I am really a big footie fan.
21-26th Oct: I do not have anything plan after London. Might stay in Paris for a day or two, then head over to Bruges, Munich, Salzburg.
26-27th Oct: Have to be back in Vienna to go back to where I come from.

This looks great. Think about adding some of your extra days between Munich and Vienna. I don’t particularly care for Vienna, but Bratislava (a great place for a day or two) is only an hour away. Salzburg is a great day trip from either Vienna or Munich. It’s also a great place to spend the day (or an overnight) en-route from Munich to Vienna.

I am also a lone female traveler….I am a bit apprehensive, (but excited too!) about doing Europe all on my own. I’m married, but I will be going alone and have some of the same concerns. I will be mostly in the UK and Western Europe, but would like to see Krakow, Budapest and western Romania. I’ve heard horror stories about female travelers in Eastern Europe, so I haven’t made up my mind about those places yet.

1. Don’t believe the horror stories. The latest guide books still tell horror stories about Russia and Ukraine, which may or may not have been true a decade ago, but certainly aren’t true now.

2. I don’t think you’d have any problems in Budapest or Krakow. Bucharest, Romania was a bit dicy with beggars and street urchins when I was there in 2004, but the other areas of Romania we visited were comfortable. I doubt you’d have any serious problems there, either.

Just remember to follow the same basic street rules you would at home. Avoid/leave dangerous situations and people, and trust your instincts.
A single girl can travel alone in complete safety.