London to Budapest by train

littlerock

OK I had a go at booking my outbound journey myself via loco2. I tried booking direct from London to Budapest. Their system said it was unable to do this. I assumed this was because the last leg, from Munich to Budapest is a sleeper and one of the German sleeper services loco2 is currently unable to book.

So I decided to try to book just to Munich and do the sleeper separately. I logged onto the loco2 website and specified a journey from London to Munich from 11:30am on a weekday. I know that the train I want to catch from London is a Eurostar with leaves SPI at 11:31 for Paris. (The fast connection is via Paris and then direct to Munich for the sleeper to Budapest).

Loco2 generated three departure slots, two at 06:50 (with 2 and 3 changes) and one at 10:58 (with 2 changes). I refreshed the screen's later button,but it just returned these same three slots again. So I chose the 10:58 one. This generated a journey via Brussels and Frankfurt to Munich.

Why would I want to go via Brussels and Frankfurt when I can go direct to Munich from Paris? And why cannot I get the loco2 system to display any departure slots beyond the first three of the day.

I think everyone who says it is easy to book the separate legs of your journey, probably already has a lot of experience in doing this, more than you realise. It is not proving straightforward for me.

richardw

Is there a reason to avoid flying?

Voyager2002

richardw wrote: »

Is there a reason to avoid flying?

Yes: the OP wants the experience of doing it by train.

And of course there are good environmental reasons to avoid flying.

richardw

Part aeroplane, part train may work. I'd quite enjoy a flight to Munich and then the sleeper train from Munich to Budapest. It may not be enough train travel for the OP though.

eDicky

I just tried searching London st Pancras to Munich on SNCB, Oct 12 with time window of 10:00 to 12:00. Six options don't include the 11:31 Eurostar you are looking for, fastest is the 10:58 departure, 9:07hr via Brussels/Frankfurt for €140 'mid flex', arriving Munich 21:05. The German ICE trains are excellent and the route looks faster than by French TGV.

littlerock

OK here is update

We wish to travel on weekday in October from London to Budapest. Current plan is to leave London late morning on Eurostar to Paris where we change for a train to Munich and from there board the overnight sleeper to Budapest. This is to minimise changes.

Options for 2 people (seniors) THIS IS COST FOR TWO PEOPLE
- OUTBOUND ONLY -

1. Trainline Europe/SNCF. 1st class - book straight through to Budapest. (You have to travel first class if you book a double sleeper via SNCF.)

Trainline/SNCF Total = £582 for 1st class seats inc double sleeper (all-in price)

Alternative is to book Standard class from London to Munich but book sleeper direct with DB. Standard seats London to Munich = £274. Booking double sleeper direct with DB costs £233. (Total = £274+£233)

Trainline/SNCF Total = £507 for standard class and double sleeper

OH suggested splashing out on 1st class from Paris to Munich leg only which is £218. (So £158 (LP) + £218 (PM) + £233 sleeper)

Trainline/SNCF Total = £609 for 1st + standard and double sleeper

2. Captain Train (does not sell night sleepers.) London to Paris to Munich fare = £286. Then add double sleeper to Budapest booked via DB Bahn = £233.

Captain Train Total = £519 for standard seats and double sleeper.

On Captain Train, 1st class seat prices from London to Munich are £378 then add £233 for booking DB sleeper direct.

Captain Train Total = £611 for first class seats and double sleeper

3. Loco2 (does not sell night sleepers.) London to Paris to Munich. Standard class = £280+ £233 double sleeper .

Loco2 Total = £513 for standard class and double sleeper

On Loco2, 1st class from London to Munich =£365 + £233 for DB sleeper.

Loco2 Total = £598 for 1st class and double sleeper.


4. DB Bahn - I looked for special prices and it could not find any. DB Bahn will not route you direct from London to Budapest via Paris. You have to book via Brussels and make at least one extra change in Germany as well, to get to Munich, so I have left it out for now.

What is interesting here is that SNCF works out more expensive for a mix and match option but is the cheapest for the first class route AND the standard route if you book it with Trainline Europe/SNCF and book the sleeper direct with DB Bahn.

Also of course, assuming you have a double sleeper, and still with standard seats, it costs a good deal more than travelling by air.....

artichoke

maninseat61 also recommends this website https://loco2.com/ which has always worked for me in the past..

you can choose a sleeper compartment on this site..

art