NvB: Bored in Brno?: 2765 Kč

2765 Kč

There are a lot of reasons that I don't ride the train in the U.S. Mostly because it's inconvenient, expensive, and slow. European trains, on the other hand, are usually quite convenient, reasonably priced, and on time. This is not always the case. Today I bought a long-distance ticket to Berlin, and it was pricey. At least in context.

The price of a round-trip bus ticket from Brno to Vienna: 299 Kč (about 12.60 USD at today's exhcange rate).

Round-trip train from Brno to Vienna: 772 Kč (32.52 USD)

But you get further discounts on Czech trains if you're cool like me and have the "Z" Card.

But here's why not to ride the train when you go Germany: Deutsche Bahn prices are like Amtrak. I think I paid between 60 and 80 USD to ride between Ann Arbor and Chicago a few years back.

Cost of a round trip ticket between Brno and Berlin (with a "sale," including the required seat reservation charge): 2765 Kč (about 116.60 USD).

I was at first put off by the cost, but then I realized: it's not even twice the amount of a ticket from Ann Arbor to Chicago (a four-hour journey), and this is from Brno to Berlin, two great cities - "cool" cities as Governor Granholm might call them - and a seven-and-a-half hour journey one way. So it must be a lot cheaper per mile.

So why do you ride the train?

(Photo courtesy of Deutsche Bahn)

Posted 02 March 2006 at 19:35.

The Blog

What is "Bored in Brno"? a) the best Czech movie of 2003, b) a blog about Brno (the Czech Republic's second largest city) and my adventures in and observations of south and east Moravia. I usually post about music, arts, culture, and stuff in Brno; or, I talk about whatever; or, I may bore you.

There's a Czech saying about how you are a new person for every language you learn. Here's your chance to experience Czech vicariously and to become your new self, now conveniently available in English translation. (Or at least something reasonably close to English.)

If you have questions, suggestions, like what you see, or you're just plain bored, don't hesitate to leave a comment or e-mail me.

The Blogger

A graduate student in music and anthropology writing a dissertation about music in Moravia, the eastern third of the Czech Republic. At some point, the Czech Republic's "second city" (that would be Brno) captured my attention, and I've since been blogging about events, arts, music, and other stuff—basically whatever interests me in and around the cityscape. I'm not living in Brno now, but I keep up with the cultural pulse from afar as best I can.

More about Brno, Me, Euro-Czech

Comments:

Anonymous said . . .

Ahh, I see you did what I suggested and bought round trip. You should see what they cost when you don't get them on sale. It's obscene! Have a great trip!

12:43 AM, March 03, 2006

morskyjezek said . . .

Yes, thank you for the heads up on the train situation. It took the people at the Brno ticket office a while to grasp the situation - which they subsequently blamed on computer problems - but they finally got it and I have a guaranteed seat, too!

Will miss you all in Berlin.

9:14 AM, March 03, 2006

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