You'll be hard pressed to find a cheaper tour than Cosmos's 9-day coach tour of Prague, Vienna, and Budapest, which starts at $999. The tour starts and ends in Munich and includes breakfast and two dinners (www.cosmos.com). Another choice is the tour company ITBC, which offers an eight-day Budapest, Prague, and Vienna escorted coach tour, with accommodations in three-star hotels (www.itbc.travel). Continental Journeys offers a similar Prague-Vienna-Budapest eight-day tour. It starts at $1,299 with tourist-class accommodations and includes breakfast. The tour departs in May, July, and September of 2010 (www.continentaljourneys.com).
General Tours bills itself as "affordable luxury." Its seven-day Classic Budapest & Prague Tour (three nights in each city) starts at $1,499 and includes a flight between cities and airport transfers. Six meals are also included in the price. The company's FreeStyle Travel option also allows you to extend your trip to Poland, Russia, Germany, or Italy (www.generaltours.com). Another moderately priced option is Insight Vacations' Select Imperial Capitals tour. The 10-day Budapest to Prague tour is priced from $1,625 and includes breakfast and shuttle service to and from the airport. An extended stay in either Prague or Budapest is an option (www.insightvacations.com). Gate1 Travel offers a nine-day Crown of Europe tour to Budapest, Vienna, and Prague (two nights in Budapest, three nights in Vienna, and two nights in Prague). The motor coach tour starts at $1,499 for land only or $2,089 with round-trip airfare. Transfers are included, as are seven breakfasts and two dinners (www.gate1travel.com). The fourth option is the well-known tour company Trafalgar, which offers an 11-day coach tour to Prague, Vienna, and Budapest (three nights in each city). The tour includes a stop at Lednice Castle and Esztergom, and 12 meals are provided. The tour departs on many days throughout the year and starts at $2,075 (www.trafalgar.com).
There are two companies to note if you're looking for a luxurious tour through Budapest and Prague. Artisans of Leisure offers a seven-day Best of Budapest and Prague tour, priced at $9,650. This private tour features your own guide and driver, a private car between Budapest and Prague, and tickets to a performance in Prague. The tour can be customized with your choice of museums and excursions, and accommodations are at the Four Seasons in both cities (www.artisansofleisure.com). Another luxury option is Abercrombie & Kent's tour called A Tale of Three Cities: Budapest, Vienna & Prague, which starts at $8,325. This nine-day tour features transfers to your hotel by private car, a private visit to the Parliament building, a cruise on the Danube, and accommodations at top hotels. The group size for this tour is capped at 24 (www.abercrombiekent.com).
