PACKAGE ALERT: PRAGUE / BUDAPEST!
$900s Prague - Budapest Package!
Includes all Flights, Trains, AND 6 Nights Hotels!
(Lots of dates fall - spring)
PACKAGE INCLUDES:
• Flights into Prague and out of Budapest
• Hotel for 3 nights in Prague
• Train from Prague to Budapest
•Hotel for 3 nights in Budapest
(upgrade hotels / add nights as wanted)
PACKAGE DEALS:
This is what we look for in Packages:
1. Trips with at least decent flight schedules!
2. Great Prices. That's the main thing we're trying to find you - awesome deals!
3. We only post packages from travel companies with at least 2 decades experience - and a good reputation. We have personally used TRIPMASTERS a few times - with good results.
4. Hotels with great reviews, great track records, and in great locations. Tripmasters seems to have a good handle on these - especially with their "recommended" hotels feature.
SCROLL DOWN FOR 7 DAY ITINERARY AT BOTTOM:
DEPARTURES: Arkansas, Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Kansas
DESTINATIONS: Prague, Czechia / Budapest, Hungary
DATES: Nice options now through next May. The best deals seem to be OCT-MAR from all departures
AIRLINES: American (on most)
BOOKING COMPANY: TripMasters
HOTELS: City Center - hundreds of options (different prices)
NOTES:
We got some good feedback on our last package deal - thanks. We're working on finding more of these, but only the ones that offer fantastic values.
When we see a few weeks without cheap fares, we start looking to reputable package companies for deals. This one really stands out this week! With package pricing coming in at similar pricing to flights only.
*photos from pexels.com, pixabay.com, and unsplash.com
PRAGUE - BUDAPEST / ONE WEEK GETAWAY / INCLUDING ALL FLIGHTS, TRAINS, AND 6 NIGHTS HOTELS.
Supplier: TripMasters
EXAMPLE DATES:
NOVEMBER 23 - 30 (Thanksgiving)
MARCH 22-29 (Spring Break)
(Based on 2 people / one room)
*Package prices fluctuate almost hourly. The prices shown were accurate when information was compiled today. Can go up or down.
(Booking links / search engine link posted below):
WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT THIS PACKAGE:
- The destinations: Prague and Budapest are both awesome - and have become some of the favorites for Europe travel (especially for those of us on a budget)
- Package price compared to booking on our own. Most of our departures have this package priced in the $900s - Including flights and hotels! Its only a few bucks off of flight-only prices if we try to book ourselve. That’s where we like packages.
- Hotels in great city center locations - in the middle of all the action. The locations are perfectly situated to get you to the attractions with very little trouble. Both cities are extremely walkable!
WHAT WE DON’T LOVE:
- 6 nights? Add a couple nights - or several. 6 is the bare minimum for a Europe trip. If you can swing 5 or 6 nights in each location, that would even give you time for a day trip or two.
- The Hotels. We like them, but we don’t love them. There are hundreds of other options provided, so take some time to scroll through and find one you absolutely love. In our experience, it’s often worth an extra hundred bucks to get rooms a level or two above the basics.
Arkansas Packages:
$1172 - XNA / Arrive 11-23-22
$1181 - XNA / Arrive 3-22-23
$986 - Little Rock / Arrive 11-23-22
$984 - Little Rock / Arrive 3-22-23
Missouri Packages:
$986 - St. Louis / Arrive 11-23-22
$984 - St. Louis / Arrive 3-22-23
$979 - Kansas City / Arrive 11-23-22
$984 - Kansas City / Arrive 3-22-22
$979 - Springfield / Arrive 11/23-22
$988 - Springfield / Arrive 3-22-23
$1093 Joplin / Arrive 11-23-22
$1098 - Joplin / Arrive 3-22-23
Oklahoma Packages
$986 - Tulsa / Arrive 11-23-22
$984 - Tulsa / Arrive 3-22-23
$986 - Oklahoma City / Arrive 11-23-22
$984 - Oklahoma City / Arrive 3-22-23
Texas Packages
$998 - Dallas / Arrive 11-23-22
$988 - Dallas / Arrive 3-22-23
$998 Austin / Arrive 11-23-22
$996 Austin / Arrive 3-22-23
$985 Houston / Arrive 11-23-22
$990 Houston / Arrive 3-22-23
$979 San Antonio / Arrive 11-23-22
$984 San Antonio / Arrive 3-22-23
Kansas Package:
$996 Wichita / Arrive 11/23/22
$984 Wichita / Arrive 3/22/23
Tennessee Packages:
$974 Memphis / Arrive 11-23-22
$972 Memphis / Arrive 3-22-23
$982 Nashville / Arrive 11-23-22
$981 Nashville / Arrive 3-22-23
Tripmasters Links - Start Your Package Search Here:
Package Starting Link: This is your package search engine for this deal. You’ll be asked to fill in your departure airport / dates (we found cheapest was usually “arrival date” of 11/24). Arrivals Tuesday through Thursday are typically the cheapest.
PACKAGE SEARCH ENGINE - START LOOKING FOR DATES / HOTELS HERE:
Read 189 Reviews on this Prague / Budapest Package:
CLICK HERE FOR REVIEWS:
Tripmasters Search Instructions Video:
Here’s a YouTube video from Tripmasters on how to customize your trip. We’ve done this hundreds (maybe thousands) of times - and still don’t find it very intuitive. But, it works OK - and you can sometimes find great deals here.
https://youtu.be/K9-19D0sy-4
Package Changes, and Things to Look at:
FLIGHTS: After you find a package and dates you like (and a price that works), we recommend double and triple checking the flight schedule. They do a pretty good job of recommending decent schedules, but not always. Most of us will pay an extra $40 to avoid a 10 hour layover in Chicago! Or, we might opt for an optional flight schedule because we know we won’t get through La Guardia in 45 minutes. Double check before proceeding to the final checkout.
LODGING / HOTELS: This is important! While Tripmasters does a decent job of building packages with good hotel options, they’re not always great. The good news - there are usually dozens of options to choose from. We always recommend you do a little research before making the decision. 1) decide which neighborhoods at your destination are preferable. 2) make sure your hotel will be in a good location for getting to sites and activities you’re interested in. 3) Make sure the hotel has great reviews.
EXTRAS: Sometimes, they have a pretty good list of tours, activities, etc. for cities. These are worth looking at - and can be pretty cheap when booked with the package.
ADDING DAYS! This is the big one. While we might post a 7 day trip, it’s almost always preferable to add to that. It won’t raise the price much, and can make your trip so much more enjoyable! We always like to allow at least a whole day for a leisurely recovery of the flights - so tacking at least day onto the end of the trip makes sense. Add as many days to your package as you can - it’s cheaper than you think!
About TripMasters
Why Tripmasters? These guys have been in business for almost 40 years, and we’ve personally used them on a few trips. They are A+ rated by BBB, and we’ve had dozens of friends use their services. We track their packages simply because of their reputation - and because their prices are often extremely good! They don’t pay us a penny - we’re just in the business of finding you affordable travel adventures. In times when there aren’t any awesome sales on flights, these guys come through with some amazing deals. We pass them along when we see them. See links / their website for more information about their company - and their packages.
Confirmations Note:
Even though we’ve had good experiences with Tripmasters, they are not a full-service travel agency. We always recommend that you double confirm all the bookings on your own after the package is booked. We like to be extra careful by confirming all legs of travel prior to trip. We confirm all flights (and re-confirm the week of travel). We confirm all lodging bookings ahead of time. And, we confirm (or at least obtain proper confirmation) of all train / car transfers included in trip. We travel with paper and digital copies of all booking legs - and keep the agent on our speed dial in case of a problem.
Tripmasters' Suggested Itinerary for Barcelona and Rome:
Day 1 in Prague
Welcome to Prague! Upon arrival, you will go through customs and immigration. Should you opt to purchase a transfer to your hotel; a representative will be waiting for you as you exit immigration. Arrive at your hotel, check in and do not give in to jet lag! The city of a thousand spires awaits you!
Begin your visit in the Old Town (Staré Mesto). Old Town Square is the historical heart of Prague and it is here that you will find the Old Town Hall and its famous Astronomical Clock, dating from the 14th century. Be sure to see the hourly procession of the apostles on the clock and then climb (or take the elevator) to the top of the tower for panoramic views of the city, including the Gothic spires of the Tyn Church and Jan Hus monument. Then stop for lunch (and more amazing photos) at the rooftop restaurant of the U Prince restaurant on the square or try the traditional goulash and roast pork knee with cabbage and dumplings served at U Vejvodu, one of the original restaurants of the Pilsner brewery, located on Jilska street.
This afternoon, explore the Jewish Quarter (Josefov) including the Maisel Synagogue, the Pinkas Synagogue, the Spanish Synagogue, the Old Jewish Cemetery and the Jewish Museum. Afterwards, head to Powder Tower, one of the historical gates to Old Town, before continuing next door to admire the exquisite Art Nouveau interiors of Prague's Municipal House, home to Smetana Hall and the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. This is a good place to stop for a cup of coffee or bite to eat in the ground floor restaurant. Or have dinner in the famous Sarah Bernhardt restaurant, located in Hotel Paris, opposite the Municipal House. Finish your evening with a romantic stroll across the Charles Bridge at night.
Day 2 in Prague
Wake up early today and head for Charles Bridge to gaze upon its many statues and touch the Cross of St. Jan of Nepomuk. (You can climb the towers at either end of the bridge for panoramic views of the city.) Across the Vltava River, in Lesser Town (Mala Strana), you will want to visit the baroque Church of St. Nicholas as well as the Church of Our Lady Victorious, home to the famous 'Infant Jesus of Prague'. Afterwards, explore the quaint streets of this area that were once home to diplomats and merchants and now house many foreign embassies.
From Mala Strana continue to the beautiful cloisters of Strahov Monastery, where you can stop for a refreshing beer and snack, before visiting the Prague Loreto, Castle Square and Prague Castle, which in not a single building, but rather a complex of buildings and churches. Your tour of Prague Castle, founded in the 9th century, should include visits to St. Vitus Cathedral, the Royal Palace, St. George's Basilica and Golden Lane.
After a busy day of sightseeing, board a relaxing dinner boat cruise along the Vlatava River and admire the sights of Prague by night. Or if you enjoy opera, you can catch a performance at the famous Estates' Theatre where Mozart's Don Giovanni was first staged in 1787.
Day 3 in Prague
Begin your day exploring Wenceslas Square, the busiest and liveliest part of the city. There are many choices for dining and shopping in this area, especially on Na Prikope Street. Here, you should visit the National Museum at the top of the Square, with its Hall of Fame devoted to famous Czech personalities, as well as the Alfons Mucha Museum on Panska Street, parallel to the square. This relaxing oasis showcases the Art Nouveau designs of the famous artist.
This afternoon, head into New Town (Nove Mesto), to see the New Town Hall and Charles Square before continuing towards the river to Dancing House and the Manes Exhibition Hall, dominated by a 15th century water tower and dedicated to all forms of visual arts. Its juxtaposition of old and new makes it one of the most photographed landmarks in Prague. Afterwards, follow the river up to the National Theatre then cross the Legion Bridge.
Time permitting, make your way to Ujezd tram stop and follow the signs for 'Lanove drahy' to ride the funicular up to the Petrin Tower (Little Eiffel Tower) for the most amazing views of the city! Finally, spend your last evening wandering around the quaint shops and restaurants of Kampa Park before making your way across the Charles Bridge one last time.
Additional Days in Prague
Should you be able to spend additional days in Prague then try a day trip outside of the city to experience even more of the rich history and culture of this beautiful country. We suggest our optional tour 'Karlstejn Castle Half-Day Trip from Prague'. By far the most popular destination in the Czech Republic after Prague, the medieval Karlstejn Castle was built by Charles IV to safeguard the crown jewels of the Holy Roman Empire.
Another popular tour is 'Kutna Hora Day Trip from Prague'. After Prague, this medieval town was the most important town in Bohemia due to its rich silver deposits. The historic center and Kutná Hora's main draw, St. Barbara's Cathedral, have been on the UNESCO list for more than 10 years. Cesky Krumlov, with the second largest castle complex in the country, the spa town of Karlovy Vary and the haunting Terezin Memorial are also great choices so be sure to check our optional sightseeing tours for availability and prices.
From Prague to Budapest
Today you continue on your trip to Budapest. We recommend that you make your train reservation between 10:00am and Noon. This will give you time to enjoy your final breakfast in Prague and head to the train station for your train to Budapest. In approximately 7 hours you will be in Budapest.
Day 1 in Budapest
Arrive at the train station in Budapest and proceed to your hotel. After check-in, enjoy a relaxing bite to eat at the famous Gerbeaud coffeehouse, opened in 1858.
This afternoon we recommend that you purchase one of our optional tours to acquaint yourself with the city. The 'Big Bus Budapest Hop On Hop Off Tour' stops at many different landmarks around the city, allowing you to explore Budapest at your leisure. Also popular is the 'Budapest Sightseeing Cruise' where you can relax and admire the panorama of the city, including the Chain Bridge and the imposing Parliament building (the second largest in Europe after Westminster), from the beautiful Blue Danube.
This evening, mingle with the locals. Enjoy a traditional meal of Hungarian goulash and chicken paprikash before heading out to a local bar or club. Budapest has many lively nightlife possibilities to suit every taste; just remember the bar and club scene starts late and lasts until morning. On the other hand, Budapest is a cosmopolitan city with a remarkable variety of cultural events. It is home to one of Europe's finest opera houses and you won't regret seeing its splendors up close whether it be an opera, ballet or theater performance. We also recommend the program of Hungarian dancing accompanied by a Gypsy orchestra at the Municipal Cultural House.
Day 2 in Budapest
This morning we recommend that you purchase our optional tour 'Budapest City Walking Tour'. The tour begins at the Opera House with a short ride by Millennium metro (the first underground metro line in continental Europe) to reach Heroes' Square and City Park. Afterwards there is a visit of the Vajdahynyad Castle complex followed by a stop at the Szechenyi bath house where the guide will explain about Hungarian bath culture. Continuing on, you will see the areas of Deak Square, Elizabeth Square and St Stephen's Basilica before taking a break in a cafe for a taste of Hungary's pastry called 'retes,' which is a strudel. Following a short stroll along the Vaci pedestrian street and Vorsomarthy Square, you will head down to Danube Promenade for spectacular views of Gellert hill and Citadel, Buda Hill and the Buda Castle district. After a brief stop at the former municipal hall you will cross the famous Chain Bridge. Then you will climb up the stairs into the Buda Castle district to see the Royal Palace, Matthias church and Fisherman's Bastion.
From Fisherman's Bastion, sip a glass of wine as you watch the sun set over Pest. Wander through the old cobbled stone streets while you wait for darkness to fall - the views of Parliament and the Chain Bridge illuminated at night are absolutely breathtaking!
Day 3 in Budapest
Budapest is home to many museums, including the Ethnographical Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Hungarian National Gallery. An afternoon in the Jewish district (District VII) will not disappoint. The Dohány Street Synagogue is the largest in Europe and the more humble Rumbach Synagogue is right around the corner. A trip to the Central Market Hall is not only a good place to pick up souvenirs, but also a fun place for people watching. The balcony overlooking the whole market is an experience you should not miss.
These days most people have forgotten that the city was once filled with statues to Lenin, Marx and other representations of the Communist era. In the aftermath of 1989, a plan was conceived for an outdoor museum, Memento Park, for these unwelcome reminders of those difficult times. Besides the 42 statues, you will find a lot of symbolism and metaphors for the ugly realities of Communism.
This evening, we suggest a trip to the Szechenyi bath house (or Gellért Baths) for some well deserved rest and relaxation. What better way to end your stay than soaking in the history and culture of this amazing city?
Additional Days in Budapest
Should you be able to spend additional days in Budapest, then try a day trip outside of the city to experience even more of the rich history and culture of Hungary. We suggest our optional tour 'Szentendre Half Day Sightseeing Trip from Budapest', which will take you to the picturesque artists' village of Szentendre where you will visit the magnificent Caprice Hungarian Jewellery Center. The 'Danube Bend Day Trip from Budapest' is an excursion into Hungary's history. You will be taken to Visegrad, the former Royal Residence and to Esztergom, center of the Catholic Church.
Your Last Day in Budapest
Depart your hotel for the airport for your return home. We recommend that you purchase a private transfer, if so a representative will meet you at the hotel, in time to take you to the airport for your flight out.
Previous Fare Alerts Archives
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