Prague - Vienna - Budapest easter trip queries

Hi everyone,

I am planning a trip to the east of europe around easter holidays. Most likely my first destination will be prague as the flight to Prague from East Midlands of UK is cheap. So below is my plan:

1) Fly to prague
2) Prague to Vienna
3) Vienna to Salzburg
4) Salzburg to Graz
5) Graz to Budapest (via Vienna if there is no available transportation)
6) Budapest then take a flight home.

Questions:

1) Which is the cheapest method to travel between these cities? Should I get a EuRail pass? Should I book the tickets online or is it not much difference to buy the tickets at the train station?

2) Any other additional places that I should visit in these 3 countries?

Thanks in advance

Train ticket prices Prague-Vienna 40 EUR, Vienna-Salzburg 50 EUR, Salzburg-Graz 50 EUR, Graz-Budapest 65 EUR. Compare to the price of the pass.

Bus travel and special discounted train tickets might be cheaper.

You can buy some train tickets online from oebb.at, if you do you might get special offers. There is also a special ticket that allows you to travel on local trains on the cheap, this is most useful if you got time and are with a group of up to 5 people.

Bus: www.eurolines.at for Prague-Vienna and Vienna-Budapest.

You might want to go Prague-Cesky Krumlov-Salzburg-Vienna-...

[ Edit: Edited on 29-Jan-2009, at 20:36 by t_maia ]

I did Prague-Vienna-Budapest some years back with archersdirect (a UK company). Not too badly priced and it was flights, coaches, accommodation, food, entry with guides to various places. Everything laid on and no dragging luggage about.