nrwayne

We're planning about a 12-day visit originally intended to be mainly in Poland. We had wanted to use Warsaw and Cracow as our bases. After looking more deeply, however, we're thinking that it might be better to focus on Cracow and Vienna in addition to more interesting country villages in between. There will be eight of us (including four teenagers) and we will be driving (probably two cars). Assuming we use Vienna as our gateway, we're looking for suggested itineraries: where to stop and stay, where to eat, and which villages en route are standouts. Essential visits will include Auschwitz/Birkenau and we would want to hire private guides there, in Cracow, and in Vienna. We'll be looking in the moderate price ranges and prefer Old World restaurants and accommodations with charm. All suggestions greatly appreciated.

Kristinelaine

Have you been to Prague? I think it is more interesting than Vienna and less expensive also. But, if you have already been there, Vienna would be another choice.

jason888

Hi, nrwayne!

This entire area likes to be called "Central Europe", which is mostly the old Austro-Hungarian Empire.

I second Kristinelaine's suggestion of Prague. Beautiful old world city. Great experience.

Even closer to Vienna is Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. Not many people go there, but it is worth a visit. Especially the older part of town. The castle itself is not much to look at, but the museum inside has interesting displays.

Not far from Vienna is Sopron, Hungary. It is in the middle of a wine growing region.

If you were to use Vienna as a "base", these would be some of the nearby destinations that you could travel to. On the other hand, I would suggest that you do a "loop" and not drive back and forth between Vienna and these other cities.

All three countries, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary will become part of the EU in May, 2004. You should have no problems with the roads, entry/exit, hotels, and so forth. They are truly wonderful destinations!

Have fun!
Jason

Borealis

Poland will also become paert of the EU in May 2004, and is the largest of the countries to do so.

Depending on how you like to spend your time, there is plenty to see and do in Poland. I don't think that I could plan to see two or three countries in only 12 days, but that's me

Have you considered the southern mountainous region of Poland? - it is a charming area with its own distinctive flavour.

nrwayne

Thank you for your replies. We were in Prague in 1997. Great city. Spent several days in late November exploring many nooks and crannies, thanks to a very knowledgeable guide. My last trip to Vienna was decades ago, it's closer to Cracow, and we have friends living there, so it seems to be a worthwhile gateway, especially since our FF tickets will probably require arrival/departure from the same airport. Even so, I will be looking for interesting places en route, whether they be in the southern mountains of Poland or the wine-growing area of Hungary.

iliketotravel

If you are going to Auschwitz, I highly recommend that you visit the Auschwitz Jewish Center. A couple years ago a philantropist from NYC bought back the only remaining synagogue in the town of Oswiecim (auschwitz) and restored it to the original condition. he also bought the house next door and made it into a museum that has exhibits about the pre-war life and also has survivor testimony and computer terminals to trace history and a place where you can eat your lunch and just reflect. The museum and synagogue are free of charge. If you want more information you can respond to this post or even look at their website www.ajcf.org for more information. The museum and synagogue are a five minute walk from the death camps and I think well worth a visit. Since they are so new they are not in a lot of the tour books yet. But I highly recommend a visit.

SAnParis

I too would suggest Prague & Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic. Another idea may be to include Budapest. Bratislava is also a good idea & very convenient to Vienna.

nrwayne

Iliketotravel -- Thank you for your suggestion. I suspect that the guides available through AJCF are first rate and hope that we could arrange for one to lead our group of eight. A friend had visited Auschwitz/Birkenau a few years back and mentioned that his visit became a lot more interesting, and perhaps more painful, when he went off on his own to walk around Birkenau. He found the "soil" unusual and then discovered what it consisted off. Though I don't have an interest in being morbid, I would like to allow sufficient time to observe and consider the signficance of the surroundings. We had visited Dachau a few years ago, but were disappointed to discover how sanitized it had become. What happened at Auschwitz/Birkenau stands as one of the most horrendous events of all time. I'd like to pay proper respect for same. Any further suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks.

MaryZ

Your friend is absolutely right about Birkenau. When we visited a few years ago, we went to Auschwitz first. This camp has become quite museum-like. Although it's very powerful and informative, I was more deeply moved by Birkenau. Only a short distance down the road, Birkenau has been left much as it was found. It's in a very quiet, almost pastoral setting that allows for reflection, grief, and solitude.

Kwoo

Hello,
We just returned today from a 12-day trip to Prague and Poland. Absolutely loved both places!! In Poland, we visited Krakow. Stayed at the Hotel Saski, which I definitely recommend. It is about 1/2 block from the Main Square. Lobby is very Old World. Our room for 3 was very large but plain. Their website shows rooms that are more decorated than the one we stayed in. The price was 90USD including breakfast. We had a drink at the Pollonia (across the street from the train station) while waiting for our train and I was not that impressed with it. I also didn't like the area by the train station. We spent 3 days in Krakow; also visited Auschwitz/Birkenau. Went with a small tour group to Auschwitz/Birkenau(7 of us). Had an English speaking guide. I though the tour was worthwhile. The cost was about 80USD for 3 of us. Including a 15-minute film, we spent 2 hours at Auschwitz and about 1/2 hour at Birkenau. We found many inexpensive restaurants in Krakow. Some favorites: Pod Aniolami, about 60USD for 3 people; Smak Ukrainski, #15 Kanonicza St, about 35USD for 3 people; Domowe Przysmaki, #24 Slawkoska, for lunch (it is a small cafe, you order your food at a counter) but it is delicious and cost us 8USD for 3.
We rented a car from Avis for 2 days and drove to the village of Krasiczyn (near the Ukraine border) and spent one night at the Krasiczyn Castle. Absolutely beautiful!! Cost: 125USD for a suite, including breakfast.
To get there, we drove Rt. 79 from Krakow to Baranow Sandomierski. Saw beautiful rolling farmland, lots of cabbage fields, cows and chickens. Definitely rural Poland...farmers driving their tractors and wagons on the road. Then Rt 9 to Rzeszow and Rt 4 to Krasiczyn. The next day we drove Rt 28 through the Carpathian Mountains (Bieszczady Mountains) and through the Beskid Niski to Nowy Sacz where we took Rt 75 north to Rt 4 and back to Krakow. Saw beautiful countryside, small villages, roadside shrines.
I am planning on posting a more detailed trip report...maybe tonight if I have the time. Please feel free to ask any questions.

iliketotravel

yes, their tour guides are amazing and they will customize to your needs and desires. I would recommend emailing either [email protected] or [email protected] and they can arrange for a tour guide for your group of eight- they are really helpful and I am positive you will be satisfied.

GSteed

Suggestion: Since there will be eight of you hire a van and guide driver. Spend your time now with the maps. Work out a loop trip. A visit to Trencin,Slovakia will prove more satisfying than Bratislava. Locate the castles in Slovakia. Don't miss the Salt Mine at Krakow. Wayside hotels are abundant. Happy traveling!

nrwayne

Gsteed -- Thanks for your suggestion. One of the blanks yet to be filled in is where to stop on the way from Vienna to Cracow. A good part of that drive is through Slovakia, so we are looking for interesting places en route. The tentative plan is to arrive in Vienna and drive toward Cracow, with stops at Trencin and Zakopane. Though I have yet to fully research Trencin, we would probably want to spend an overnight there to recover from jet lag since it appears to be about a 2 1/2 to 3 hour drive from Vienna. From Trencin, on to Zakopane, then to Cracow, with visits to the salt mines and Oswiecim, returning directly to Vienna for the last few days. I think this is a reasonable plan for 12 days or even 10. Your thoughts?

PeterB

How About adding Budapest (stopping over for some good Tokaj wine) to your itinerary? As for stop overs note that Slovakia be the cheapest for hotels and food... Also Tatry Mtns views some consider to be nicer from Slovakian side.

some good links for slovakia to:
http://www.slovenskyraj.com/
http://slovakia.ew.sk/slovakia/tatra-mountains3.html
http://slovakia.ew.sk/slovakia/travel.asp
http://www.kosice.sk/info/spis/spis1.htm
http://www.panorama.sk/kategoria.asp...d=3&kid=21
http://www.hotel.sk/
http://www.tanap.sk/index.html

Also if you be traveling 8 - you may want to consider private accomodations instead of hotels, which will set you back some.

I Zakopane few months ago I've rented form here: http://apartamenty.tatrynet.pl/indexan.html
you can reserve using email... they have 4 different very nice houses - which are divided into appartments with seperate enterance bathrooms (wc) with shower and kitchen with pots and pans as well dishes and silverware, cable TV. We are a couple with a small child - so we were looking for something with a fance around the place - we chose "Willa pod Nosalem" got a huge apartment with with a large balcony that would fit 4-5 easy paying about $50 total per night.

In Krakow (Cracow) check
www.sodispar.pl
www.warsawshotel.com/krakow-hotels.htm
http://www.hotelinwarsaw.com/krakow_hotel.php

Also with that many people traveling always ask for group rates... and maybe stay in a castle...
http://www.paszkowka.kra.pl/index_en.html

Enjoy!

nrwayne

Peter,
Many thanks for your various suggestions. We had considered a stop at Budapest, but decided otherwise. I had visited Budapest a number of years ago and will want to go back, but for this trip we are trying to balance the time between cities and countryside. There are indeed eight of us, made up of two families, so the apartment option may be appealing and, of course, better value. It depends upon the other family, since they have three children. There are only three in our family, so a single hotel room will be sufficient most of the time, assuming the room is large enough to hold two beds. Also, since time is short, it might be more useful to take advantage of the hotel's breakfast availabilities. Overall, we will prefer the charm of Old World hotels, assuming that they come along with a warm welcome and the local guidance that should be expected from a good proprietor. I expect we will be firming up plans within the next couple of months and I'm sure the information you have provided will be quite helpful. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.

Russell