Summertime in Europe can be a costly enterprise, and despite the fact that it's relatively cheap once you're in Prague, getting there inexpensively is not always easy during high season. Still, the city's beauty, architecture and charm are unrivaled, and you can often experience its finest cultural offerings for relatively little money; a friend of mine recently paid a mere $12 for tickets to the Prague Spring International Music Festival at the Rudolfinum, a neo-Renaissance building. We have found some summer specials and although we've also listed some fall deals, it's smart to think ahead, as these specials won't be available forever.
For a tour that hits three of Eastern Europe's popular cities, Friendly Planet (tel. 800/555-5765; www.friendlyplanet.com) is offering an 11-day trip from $1,499 that hits Budapest, Vienna and Prague and departs from New York City. There is, however, a waiting list for their September 6, September 20 and October 4 departures -- every other trip this year is already sold out. The trip includes airfare, hotels, eleven meals, touring and fuel surcharges. Prices quoted reflect cash discount purchase.
Gate 1 Travel (tel. 800/682-3333; www.gate1travel.com) is offering independent, budget-oriented trips to Prague, including daily departures for a six day-affair from $939 from now through October, and daily departures November through March 2007 from $699. Prices for "Six-Day Prague" are based on New York departures; season high, June 17-August 5, is priced from $1,329, which drops to $939 for travel September 1-October 27. Note: it's advertised as six days, but that includes your travel, as you're only staying in Prague for four nights, but breakfast is included.
Later in the year, starting in November, Gate 1 offers an "8 Day Budapest and Prague by Rail" trip priced from $769. An entirely independent package includes airfare from New York to Budapest, and Prague to New York, airline fuel surcharges, three nights apiece in the two cities, daily breakfast, and transportation between the cities in first class (or standard) rail with reserved seats.
General Tours (tel. 800/221-2216; www.generaltours.com) is offering a freestyle add-on of three nights from $499 land-only, if you're interested in extending a tour or can find really good airfare for summer travel, or, bless you, you've got a surfeit of frequent flier miles. The offer includes daily buffet breakfast and three nights in your choice of hotel, along with a private, half-day city tour that includes Prague Castle and Old Town. Local hosts are available to answer questions and offer restaurant recommendations.
Go-Today (tel. 800/227-3235; www.go-today.com) has two bike trips. The trip from Prague to Budapest is priced from $1,059 plus tax, with a July 8 purchase deadline good for travel through October 31. Or opt for Vienna to Prague, with the same price and purchase deadline, but from now until September 30. Both trips are land-only excursions that include seven nights' accommodations, daily breakfast, luggage transfers, bicycle and equipment, routes and maps, and a local contact for questions and emergencies. The Vienna-to-Prague trip features average daily distances of 20-50 miles on moderate inclines and declines. You'll clock a similar number of miles on the Prague-to-Budapest trip, but be warned: the company describes the terrain as moderate but with "many hills."
If you like to plan really far ahead, Picasso Tours (tel. 800/995-7997; www.picassotours.com) is offering a completely independent Prague "Off Season" special, with four nights from $399 per person for travel November 1-December 15. The rate also includes airfare from New York, daily breakfast at Hotel Denisa and four nights' accommodations; airport taxes, security charges are not included. The deal is good for Wednesday and Thursday departures. For travel earlier in fall, check out their "Prague Fall Special" and the price starts from a mere $599 for three nights at the same basic accommodations at Hotel Denisa, good for Thursday departures September 7-October 27 from New York. Breakfast, mandatory fuel surcharges, hotel taxes and surcharges are included; air taxes are not. For both deals, other departures from U.S. cities are available for additional price, along with hotel upgrades.
Tatra Travel (tel. 800/321-2999; www.tatratravel.com), which specializes in Central Europe packages, offers some trips just for Prague, but also other interesting pairings such as Prague and Venice. The Prague special, good for travel through August 31, is priced from $829 per person, if you can wait until the fall, based on double occupancy, for the Prague Silbellius or Orion. It's a six-night, seven-day trip that includes round-trip airfare and hotel-airport transfers, buffet breakfast daily, and a half-day sightseeing tour with an English speaking guide, along with free maps and pocket guides. Still, travel through August 31 is priced from $1,119 per person, also double occupancy and inclusive of round-trip airfare from New York. Both Hotel Sibelius and Orion are studio-type apartments, located within a 10-15 minute walk of the city center.
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