MÁV offers discounts on train travel to Western Europe

It's possible to head west of Hungary very cheaply - though very slowly - with train ticket discounts offered by the Hungarian state railway MÁV. Though the advertisements and website are only in Hungarian, with a little know-how, it's possible to take advantage of the company's "Go West" discount program, which offers one-way train tickets to Western European destinations from €13 (Ft 3,400).

MÁV

See Venice for less, there are daily departures for this city of romance and travel time is 14 hours and 16 minutes, while tickets costs Ft 7,500 (€29) one-way. The city is one of the many destinations offered at a discount by the Hungarian train company.

MÁV does not indicate an end date to this sale, and a representative at the train station said the sale will likely last through the summer. Discounted one-way ticket prices range from €13 to Vienna (Bécs), from €29 to Venice (Velence) and Munich (München), and from €39 (changing trains in Vienna) to various destinations in Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.

While there are many promotional fares from discount airlines to these same destinations, the airfares are not always cheaper when taxes and fees are taken into consideration.

With MÁV's discounts, train travel is certainly the cheaper choice. For instance, it's approximately 700km from Budapest to Venice, Italy. By train, that journey takes 14 hours and 16 minutes, there are daily trains that depart Budapest at 17:00 and arrive in the center of Venice, right on the Grand Canal at 7am. A one-way ticket costs €29 (Ft 7,500; €60, Ft 15,000 round trip), and passengers arrive in time to see the city's canals and lovely corners before the other tourists have eaten breakfast.

Going by plane is a bit pricier. Though WizzAir promises a flight, no flights were available when this article was researched. Alternatively, both Alitalia and Málev offer flights, the latter being the cheaper option at Ft 34,900 (€135) round trip. The Hungarian airline departs Budapest daily at 17:55 and arrives at 19:15 at the Venice-Treviso airport, which is 26km outside of town. After waiting for luggage, getting a taxi or minibus and heading into the city, the experience isn't all that more relaxing than sitting on a passenger train looking out across the Slovenian countryside. And you'll still have to pay for accommodation in Venice, where a bed in a hostel starts at €20.

Granted, comfort can be compromised on both means of transportation. But on trains, though the ride is long, a first class upgrade with MÁV costs just €10 more. For example, some destinations in Germany can be reached for €39 if you buy a ticket for a seating carriage. For €10 more, you can travel in a car where you can lie down (couchette car) and for €69, you will have a reservation in a comfortable sleeper car. Better still, both of the latter prices include breakfast.

Drawbacks of train travel include dirty toilet facilities and expensive food. But there's more legroom, fewer security checks, and no baggage weight restrictions.

Since the MÁV site is only in Hungarian, here are some useful words to know in the meantime:

tól means "from"

közvetlenül means "direct"

Bécsi átszállással means "transfer in Vienna"

egyirányú means "one-way"

oda-vissza utazás means "round trip"

Furthermore, train tickets can be purchased at travel agencies around the city as well as at the train station. MÁV prices are listed in euros but should be paid using Hungarian forints using the exchange rate given here.

Travelers beware: MÁV has been the subject of strikes, most recently on April 7, and these strikes will halt both domestic and international train travel. According to Tamás Lakori, a customer service representative for the train company: "if there is a strike, then no trains will leave even if they are going outside of Hungary."

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