Know the entry requirements for Croatia. U.S. citizens will need a passport and a pre-booked return or onward ticket to enter the country. However, U.S. citizens may stay up to 90 days without a visa.
Bring at least 4,000 Hungarian forints per first-class ticket you intend to buy. Second-class tickets usually cost about 2/3 the first-class price.
Decide when you'd like to leave. Most days, 4 trains connect Budapest and Zagreb via Siofok on Lake Balaton. Most trains make the trip in about 6 hours, but some routes make additional stops. Timetables can be found online at the Hungarian railway Web site (see Resources).
Go to a Budapest train station. The Budapest-Keleti train station ticketing agents will have probably more experience with westbound international travel. The central ticket office for the Hungarian state railway in Budapest will probably have more experience dealing with foreigners.
Order your ticket or tickets as clearly as you can and don't leave out any information. Say when you'd like to leave, where you are going, what class you will be traveling and how many tickets you would like.
Call mom once you've arrived safely: there are many public phones and many kiosks that sell calling cards in Glavni kolodvor.
