Eastern Europe shopping questions
Apr 15th, 2004, 07:33 PM
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Eastern Europe shopping questions
My girlfriend and I are leaving for our first trip to Eastern Europe. We'll have 23 days in Eastern Europe - Poland -Warsaw and Krakow- Prague, Budapest and Vienna. We are with a Grand Circle Travel Tour - we usually travel independently but decided to try a tour this time. Anyway, we're wondering - can we find European brands like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, etc. in these cities at better prices than in US? Thanks
Apr 15th, 2004, 09:11 PM
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Just a word on "political correctness" that is currently en vogue. The three countries you mention are clearly in the very center of Europe, thus the term Central Europe. Eastern Europe is Russia and countries of the former Soviet Union.
If Grand Circle Tours calls this Eastern Europe, well, what can I say? Kinda like Memphis, Peoria and
Tupelo are in the Eastern United States.
Best wishes,
Rex
If Grand Circle Tours calls this Eastern Europe, well, what can I say? Kinda like Memphis, Peoria and
Tupelo are in the Eastern United States.
Best wishes,
Rex
Apr 15th, 2004, 11:49 PM
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In my limited experience in shopping in some of those countries, you can find the goods in some of them, but the prices are the same as the US, or even slightly higher., esp a place like Vienna which is in the Euro zone and the Euro is so strong now against the dollar. I would not waste my time shopping for branded goods. You will also pay VAT, which you can get refunded, but is kind of a hassle and you have to have everything at the airport to show to customs in the event they ask. Finally, your personal allowance for re-entry into the US is only $800 per person, so you may end up paying US customs duty on those goods as well. All in all, not really a bargain.
Rex, I generlly agree with your posts, but don't know where you are getting this "Eastern Europe" thing. Except for Austria, people in those countries DO consider themselves to be in eastern Europe and are not offended by the term. I live in Switzerland, we consider ouselves to be in CENTRAL Europe; hence those countries are east of us. As a rule of thumb, I would use the term to describe Russia and all FORMER Satellite countries which include Poland, Hungary, the Czech Rebpublic.
Rex, I generlly agree with your posts, but don't know where you are getting this "Eastern Europe" thing. Except for Austria, people in those countries DO consider themselves to be in eastern Europe and are not offended by the term. I live in Switzerland, we consider ouselves to be in CENTRAL Europe; hence those countries are east of us. As a rule of thumb, I would use the term to describe Russia and all FORMER Satellite countries which include Poland, Hungary, the Czech Rebpublic.
Apr 16th, 2004, 12:19 AM
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Shopping...try the open markets. Real bargains are available but you need a discerning eye! Try and secure a receipt. Dollars may buy more than local currency. Cooperative art galleries offer excellent modern works at fair prices. Cash prices are usually lower than credit card ones.
Europe: Norman Davies notes that Europe is separated from Asia between Yekaterinburg and Tyumen. Early geographies used the Don River as a line. Later works simply called Europe the area between the Ural Mountains and river and the Atlantic Ocean. Language may be a way to identify or name areas. Davies also called Poland, "The Heart of Europe." Would this be Central Europe?
Europe: Norman Davies notes that Europe is separated from Asia between Yekaterinburg and Tyumen. Early geographies used the Don River as a line. Later works simply called Europe the area between the Ural Mountains and river and the Atlantic Ocean. Language may be a way to identify or name areas. Davies also called Poland, "The Heart of Europe." Would this be Central Europe?
Apr 16th, 2004, 05:59 AM
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Rex - Grand Circle advertises this tour as "The Best of Eastern Europe" - Fodor's, Frommer's and Rick Steve's all have books titled The Best of Eastern Europe which included these countries.
Apr 16th, 2004, 06:33 AM
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I have to agree with Rex on his point about considering Prague and Budapest in Eastern Europe. It was our experience when we visited last year that residents don't consider themselves as Eastern Europeans and bristle when the term is used.
Sort of like in my neck of the woods, we don't like to hear San Francisco called Frisco. Perhaps not a good parallel, but I think you get the gist.
Sort of like in my neck of the woods, we don't like to hear San Francisco called Frisco. Perhaps not a good parallel, but I think you get the gist.
Apr 16th, 2004, 06:36 AM
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cheriegal: I should have included this in my previous post. I can't help with designer goods, but in Prague shop for garnets and crystal. Beautiful pieces for good prices. Crystal jewelry is also reasonable.
Apr 16th, 2004, 06:53 AM
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cheriegal - when shopping in Poland buy amber - it is very cheap compared to the prices charged by jewelers here.
As for the "Eastern Europe" question, being a person of Polish origin, I agree wholeheartedly with Rex.
Also do not like to hear that Poland is designated as a "satellite" of the former USSR - most Poles considered Poland to be an occupied country during those years.
(by the way - I live in Canada now).
As for the "Eastern Europe" question, being a person of Polish origin, I agree wholeheartedly with Rex.
Also do not like to hear that Poland is designated as a "satellite" of the former USSR - most Poles considered Poland to be an occupied country during those years.
(by the way - I live in Canada now).
Apr 16th, 2004, 06:58 AM
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Hi,
Buying brand names in Central Europe might turn out to be just as expensive as in the U.S.
As far as the question of Cental/Eastern Europe is concerned.
Countries such as Czech Rep., Hungary, Poland, Slovakia etc., are geographically situated in Central Europe and should be refered to as such. The geographical center of Europe falls somewhere in Lithuania or Poland (diffent sources quote different).
As we all know these countries were forced to join. Eastern/Western Europe was a political division. Eastern Block has been now gone for 15 years. Therefore, calling these Central European countries Eastern Europe is a definite misnomer.
Buying brand names in Central Europe might turn out to be just as expensive as in the U.S.
As far as the question of Cental/Eastern Europe is concerned.
Countries such as Czech Rep., Hungary, Poland, Slovakia etc., are geographically situated in Central Europe and should be refered to as such. The geographical center of Europe falls somewhere in Lithuania or Poland (diffent sources quote different).
As we all know these countries were forced to join. Eastern/Western Europe was a political division. Eastern Block has been now gone for 15 years. Therefore, calling these Central European countries Eastern Europe is a definite misnomer.
Apr 16th, 2004, 03:10 PM
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Designer items in these Central European countries 
run as much, or higher, than in the US. If you want a luxury souvenir that will be truly unique, try some handcrafted designer jewelry (such as the lace necklaces & bracelets in the Czech Rep) or some original artwork (I brought back 2 Russian oil paintings last year, which fit in my luggage & were lightweight). A former poster commented on the customs allowance. YES - you need to be careful, so only purchase items that you REALLY want, so you do not go over the limit & have to pay duty.
run as much, or higher, than in the US. If you want a luxury souvenir that will be truly unique, try some handcrafted designer jewelry (such as the lace necklaces & bracelets in the Czech Rep) or some original artwork (I brought back 2 Russian oil paintings last year, which fit in my luggage & were lightweight). A former poster commented on the customs allowance. YES - you need to be careful, so only purchase items that you REALLY want, so you do not go over the limit & have to pay duty.
Apr 16th, 2004, 09:52 PM
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Was in a bookstore earlier this evening and noticed that Lonely Planet (am I allowed to mention them on Fodor's??) had Poland and the Czech Republic included in a travel guide called "Central Europe".
Apr 16th, 2004, 10:14 PM
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Like it or not, these places used to be referred to, routinely, by people in "the West" as being in "Eastern Europe."
The fact that some of the people there don't like that anymore obviously has a lot to do with the currency of naming, although it will never change the geography of location.
Perhaps Rex, and the others, can enlighten us as to where OFFICIALLY "Central Europe" and "Eastern Europe" are now divided since this seems to be such a BIG DEAL!
The fact that some of the people there don't like that anymore obviously has a lot to do with the currency of naming, although it will never change the geography of location.
Perhaps Rex, and the others, can enlighten us as to where OFFICIALLY "Central Europe" and "Eastern Europe" are now divided since this seems to be such a BIG DEAL!
Apr 17th, 2004, 09:12 PM
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I'm genuinely curious about the semantics of the division/distinction as well. No opinion of my own on this one.
Where do Romania, Bulgaria, the Balkans fall in all of this? Even Greece and the European portion of Turkey for that matter. They're not exactly central and not former USSR proper. Are there more than Western, Central and Eastern?
Apr 18th, 2004, 12:16 AM
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As Cicerone says, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and so on are not a good buy in central and east Europe. You might like to rethink your shopping, and buy the things people there make well: glass, porcelain, table linen, and carved wood. Also, if something takes your eye you can buy traditional costume, whether a few chosen scarves or a whole dress, with trimmings, for outdoor summer parties. Each great city has several shops to sell these things (at high prices) to tourists, and if you ask your hotel concierge he can name you a big department store used by locals, not by tourists, that sells good things on these lines. The concierge will know also whether there is a metro station or open air market in the city where women sell cloth, textiles, and costume.
You will be showing your own taste, not that of expensive mass marketeers in Paris and Milan, and you will be supporting cottage and small factory employment in the country areas. To my mind the best choices in these fields are the least ornate ? cloth or glass with just one colour, or woodwork that is simple and geometric, with no paroxysms of zig-zags and slashes.
Welcome to Europe
[email protected]
You will be showing your own taste, not that of expensive mass marketeers in Paris and Milan, and you will be supporting cottage and small factory employment in the country areas. To my mind the best choices in these fields are the least ornate ? cloth or glass with just one colour, or woodwork that is simple and geometric, with no paroxysms of zig-zags and slashes.
Welcome to Europe
[email protected]
