emerald4ever

Hello everyone,

First off I have to say I really enjoy reading the responses here and am amazed with the sense of helpfulness and intellect that exist in people here. It is amazing how people here spend the extra time to solve other people?s problems instead of being selfish?.. Well, hope I can find my answers here as well.

I finally decided it is time for vacation (after 2 yrs of work/stress) and have two weeks to spend. I want to go in September, with another friend, we are both male 32, to somewhere that I can really enjoy the sightseeing, good food, (if possible adventurous activities), relaxing by the beach, nightlife partying and hopefully meet and doing all the above with the opposite gender to make it a bit romantic too (no offence to the macho guys!). I had a choice of either go to Thailand and it?s islands or Eastern Europe for my long awaited trip. My friend is suggesting Eastern Europe to visit countries like Prague, Budapest, Warsaw, and Krakow.

What do you say? Is this a good choice?? I am not sure if I can do all that in E Europe. Are there beaches to get some tan, should we take train or plane for transfers? Should I throw in Russia as well?!!? Please Help! (if I don?g make sense please let me know!)

Thanks a bunch for your advise,
DifficultOne

ben_haines_london

That's pressed. I should certainly drop Warsaw and perhaps drop Budapest. Between Prague and Krakow (and if you go between Krakow and Budapest or Prague and Budapest) you can save time and a hotel bill by taking a sleeper all night. I shall gladly send more detail if you are interested.

[email protected]

rhkkmk

don't know where you are coming from or what your budget is, BUT i think two young guys, interested in either sex, would find thailand far more fun and much much cheaper, except for getting there than they would find eastern europe...i love eastern europe but i think the action is in thailand....i love both and with be able to visit both this coming 12 months ...

GSteed

Whoa..Adventure..Try the Lake region in Poland for canoe and kayak tours. Hike in the Tatras in Southern Poland. Do a castle tour in Slovakia. Really brave try Romania. Sopot on the Baltic has a good beach.

flanneruk

Eastern European beaches aren't, mostly, quite what you might expect. The Baltic in September is great for birdwatchers - but its beaches are north of Calgary. Bulgaria's Black Sea beaches are slightly Spartan, and even the Romanians try to avoid their Black Sea beaches (though the Danube Delta has great wildlife).

The closest to what you're looking for is Croatia. But Greece and Turkey, though outside your "Eastern Europe" brief, are probably more reliable for all the S's.

Intrepid

I agree about the beaches...depending on what you are used to/expecting..don't go thinking it will be like, say, Florida interms of pristine white sand or hot and steamy. I like Thailand but I think with two weeks to kill you'll be able to do a lot more varied sightseeing in Eastern Europe. In terms of "action" Thailand certainly offers that..and often at a "price" both money-wise and health-wise. Complete hedonism--then Thailand; more of a balance, then Eastern Europe.

razageorge

I just wrote a quick report on Prague. Great city.

I also read this board and found great ideas. By the way, I am also 32(time fly's!) Some of mine are:

-Partying: Ibiza, Mallorca, Prague, Bulgaria.
(the cheapest and greatest service was in Bulgaria, Sophia) the Women are Damn beautifull, as in Prague. The clubs are always packed and the taxi's are cheap as dirt to take from point to point(give no more than 5 lev per trip) Try the go-carts there-no speed limit! and eat at restaurant Brazil(awesome service and cheap as dirt) sightseeing was cool, try the flea market,cool stuff and always haggle the price.
-Croatia-next to bulgaria. I have not been there but a buddy just got back and said it was awesome and cheap-Beautifull people,he's honest with destinations(and he has travelled a lot)
-Mallorca and Ibiza-beaches and non-stop partying!
I have never been to thailand but you can't go wrong with the 6' blondes/brunettes of eastern Europe!-Not trying to offend anyone, just being Honest.
-Flying is easier/expensive.
-Going by train is cheaper but more adventurous and you meet all sorts of backpackers from all around(read-Single girls looking to have a great time!)

Just be carefull with the everything you do in eastern Europe, I had more problems in Paris than anywhere else, rude as hell! To many ethnicities trying to get your tourist dollar.
Anyways , if you want more info, shoot me an email.

emerald4ever

OK, Thanks alot for the great and exact info. I think I leave the suntanning for Cuba trip. So Eastern Europe here I come, but transportation not sure yet! Ibiza sounds interesting but it seems far away to include in my path and I don't really want another Cancun's teenage scene! We are thinking of flying to one city perhaps Budapest and then rent a car and drive along the path (Vienna, Prague, Krakow) and fly back to Canada from Warsaw, got to see Poland I hear good things about it. Do you think driving is good idea (and cheaper) instead of taking train? Should we stay in private houses or stick with rated hotels!? Is Ibiza (and those islands) crowded with <22yrs old party goers!?
Any other hints will help

Thanks so much.

GSteed

Driving. A good way to see country. Plus, access highway motels and hotels. Get International Drivers licence. AAA in Florida. $11. Know local speed limits. Read USA Embassy reports.

DB

Try Yalta on the Crimean Pennisula in Ukraine. Although September is getting into the low season, it will be cheaper and the weather should still be nice. You'll find swimming, night life, and lots of places to tour in the surrounding area.

check the yalta link at the following:
http://home.att.net/~db-ukraine

jason888

Went driving in Eastern Europe (Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary) in May-June of this year.

At that time, it was not possible to rent a car in WESTERN Europe (we started out from France) for driving in EASTERN Europe. However, we could LEASE a car.

Thus, would recommend that you look into leasing a car from either AutoEurope or EuropeByCar. A lease is for 17 or more days (you can always return the car earlier but not later) and the insurance covers everything - damage, theft, etc. This is a BIG plus, especially with the problems that people have with damage when renting a car. Price differential wasn't that great either between a lease and a rental.

You could also rent a car in a local country (e.g. Czech Republic), but I don't know if you can then take it into another Eastern European country.

Difference between lease and rent? Leasing is more like you are buying the car and then reselling it back. Don't worry, this is a great way to go. Check it out!

Before I left, I asked on Frommers, because for some unknown reason my question was not posting on Fodors. Got a number of responses and they were all positive.

Then I went myself and I can add to the positive experiences of leasing a car vs. rental.

Happy travels!

rhkkmk

there are definate problems with renting in the west and taking the car into the former east countries....check it out carefully...maybe best to train into east and then rent there...

Fidel

I didn't realize this thread was from 2003 until the end....for a moment I thought it was just another day at Fodors with another lovely post by Ben Haines. *sigh*