appreciate tips on Poland, Hungary
Jan 13th, 1998, 06:55 PM
#1
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appreciate tips on Poland, Hungary
I am considering a trip to Poland & Hungary in the summer and would like to hear from anyone that's been to either place. I have traveled in western Europe independently but am concerned that it won't be so easy in the east. Do many people speak English? how about renting a car - how is driving & gas availability? I would probably contact the Polish tourist agency, Orbis, and make hotel reservations before we go. I hear Krakow is beautiful but Warsaw does not sound so appealing. I appreciate any information.
Jan 14th, 1998, 09:04 AM
#2
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My husband and I visited Budapest in 1995. We loved
it--took the train in from Viena. It is a very con-
fusing city at first--not much English spoken, but we
got by. We absolutely loved it! Very interesting,
inexpensive, and beautiful if you look beyond the
neglect of the communist era. We visited Prague,
Krakow and Warsaw last October. I highly recommend
all three--Warsaw just for a day, though. Everyone
in Prague and Warsaw spoke English. Krakow was ok--
you could make yourself understood. Krakow is a
wonderful destination! Make sure to visit the salt
mines and Auschwitz. We spend 4 nights there and it
was just right. Great food and very inexpensive. We
stayed at a hotel called the Pod Roza--great location
and moderately priced. Really good breakfast was
included. Do not rent a car! It's very expensive
because there are so many car thefts in Eastern Europe.
Have a great trip!
it--took the train in from Viena. It is a very con-
fusing city at first--not much English spoken, but we
got by. We absolutely loved it! Very interesting,
inexpensive, and beautiful if you look beyond the
neglect of the communist era. We visited Prague,
Krakow and Warsaw last October. I highly recommend
all three--Warsaw just for a day, though. Everyone
in Prague and Warsaw spoke English. Krakow was ok--
you could make yourself understood. Krakow is a
wonderful destination! Make sure to visit the salt
mines and Auschwitz. We spend 4 nights there and it
was just right. Great food and very inexpensive. We
stayed at a hotel called the Pod Roza--great location
and moderately priced. Really good breakfast was
included. Do not rent a car! It's very expensive
because there are so many car thefts in Eastern Europe.
Have a great trip!
Jan 14th, 1998, 09:12 AM
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
My husband and I visited Budapest in 1995. We loved
it--took the train in from Viena. It is a very con-
fusing city at first--not much English spoken, but we
got by. We absolutely loved it! Very interesting,
inexpensive, and beautiful if you look beyond the
neglect of the communist era. We visited Prague,
Krakow and Warsaw last October. I highly recommend
all three--Warsaw just for a day, though. Everyone
in Prague and Warsaw spoke English. Krakow was ok--
you could make yourself understood. Krakow is a
wonderful destination! Make sure to visit the salt
mines and Auschwitz. We spend 4 nights there and it
was just right. Great food and very inexpensive. We
stayed at a hotel called the Pod Roza--great location
and moderately priced. Really good breakfast was
included. Do not rent a car! It's very expensive
because there are so many car thefts in Eastern Europe.
Have a great trip!
it--took the train in from Viena. It is a very con-
fusing city at first--not much English spoken, but we
got by. We absolutely loved it! Very interesting,
inexpensive, and beautiful if you look beyond the
neglect of the communist era. We visited Prague,
Krakow and Warsaw last October. I highly recommend
all three--Warsaw just for a day, though. Everyone
in Prague and Warsaw spoke English. Krakow was ok--
you could make yourself understood. Krakow is a
wonderful destination! Make sure to visit the salt
mines and Auschwitz. We spend 4 nights there and it
was just right. Great food and very inexpensive. We
stayed at a hotel called the Pod Roza--great location
and moderately priced. Really good breakfast was
included. Do not rent a car! It's very expensive
because there are so many car thefts in Eastern Europe.
Have a great trip!
Jan 15th, 1998, 12:56 PM
#4
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Posts: n/a
Do not miss Cracow, itīs definitely one of the loveliest cities in Europe!! The athmosphere there is really unique and surroundings are beautiful. It was a bit hard to get by in English (German and French are perhaps better bets) but not impossible. I have been to Budapest too, itīs a great city (and CHEAP!) but the size of it was a surprise to me - itīs really big. I havent been elsewhere in those countries yet, plan to go in April, but I can pass on other peopleīs recommendations to you.
Poland - try Wroclaw, Poznan, Torun and Mazury Lakes. No one has said much good about Warsaw but I guess it would be worth it to try it out.
Hungary - Pecs, Eger, the surroundings of Miskolc.
Have a great trip!!
Poland - try Wroclaw, Poznan, Torun and Mazury Lakes. No one has said much good about Warsaw but I guess it would be worth it to try it out.
Hungary - Pecs, Eger, the surroundings of Miskolc.
Have a great trip!!
Jan 15th, 1998, 09:21 PM
#5
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Hi Liz:
I was lucky enough to live and work in Krakow for 1 and 1/2 years after finishing my MBA. Also, I have traveled and lived in western Europe and I can report that eastern Europe is basically just as easy to visit. Krakow is a must, and day trips to Auschwitz and the salt mines are also important. One thing that most tourists don't do is to spend a few days in Zakopane, which is the Aspen on Poland. It is a charming mountain town in the Tatras which is at its best in the summer. Lots of local color and real mountain peaks to climb or to ride up to on lifts. Don't underestimate Warsaw. Although it is not necessarily beautiful, it is like New York in pace, style, and in its many important points of interest. It has many beautiful neighborhoods, world class museums and palaces, and a fascinating combination of the old communist style going head to head with free for all capitalism. It is worth visiting for its energy alone.
Don't rent cars -- take trains which are inexpensive, as nice as western Europe, and fast. Roads are generally poor -- even the highways.
Budapest is a world class city which reminds me in size and scope of London. GREAT food, architecture, scenery, etc. Make sure to get massages (the foot massage is not to be missed!) at the Gellert and at other spas. Prague was a total joy when I first "discovered" it in 1992, but it is today overrun with tourists. Literally overrun. This is not to say that you should not go there. In fact, you should. But be prepared. My advice is to see all the obvious sights -- Charles Bridge, Old town, the castle, etc -- but to also spend a fair amount of time wandering around adjacent neighborhoods which are off the well-beaten tourist track. Neighborhoods where you can hear your footsteps echo on silent cobblestone streets and where you may get sweeping views of the city's spires from hillsides. There is a large park on a hill on the castle side of the river which is well worth a long walk and climb. Some of the best views of the city are from hilltops. Make sure to get off the tourist route, and you will have a wonderful visit. It is a breathtakingly beautiful city.
In Krakow, stay at the Grand or the Francuski. About $100 per night and worth it. Visit more than one of the famous underground pubs which are in the old beer cellars.
I could go on and on. I guess the last bit of advice is that if you travel by train, go first class (it is not much more)and lock your sleeper at night. There is more petty theft in eastern Europe than western Europe. But not much more.
Have
I was lucky enough to live and work in Krakow for 1 and 1/2 years after finishing my MBA. Also, I have traveled and lived in western Europe and I can report that eastern Europe is basically just as easy to visit. Krakow is a must, and day trips to Auschwitz and the salt mines are also important. One thing that most tourists don't do is to spend a few days in Zakopane, which is the Aspen on Poland. It is a charming mountain town in the Tatras which is at its best in the summer. Lots of local color and real mountain peaks to climb or to ride up to on lifts. Don't underestimate Warsaw. Although it is not necessarily beautiful, it is like New York in pace, style, and in its many important points of interest. It has many beautiful neighborhoods, world class museums and palaces, and a fascinating combination of the old communist style going head to head with free for all capitalism. It is worth visiting for its energy alone.
Don't rent cars -- take trains which are inexpensive, as nice as western Europe, and fast. Roads are generally poor -- even the highways.
Budapest is a world class city which reminds me in size and scope of London. GREAT food, architecture, scenery, etc. Make sure to get massages (the foot massage is not to be missed!) at the Gellert and at other spas. Prague was a total joy when I first "discovered" it in 1992, but it is today overrun with tourists. Literally overrun. This is not to say that you should not go there. In fact, you should. But be prepared. My advice is to see all the obvious sights -- Charles Bridge, Old town, the castle, etc -- but to also spend a fair amount of time wandering around adjacent neighborhoods which are off the well-beaten tourist track. Neighborhoods where you can hear your footsteps echo on silent cobblestone streets and where you may get sweeping views of the city's spires from hillsides. There is a large park on a hill on the castle side of the river which is well worth a long walk and climb. Some of the best views of the city are from hilltops. Make sure to get off the tourist route, and you will have a wonderful visit. It is a breathtakingly beautiful city.
In Krakow, stay at the Grand or the Francuski. About $100 per night and worth it. Visit more than one of the famous underground pubs which are in the old beer cellars.
I could go on and on. I guess the last bit of advice is that if you travel by train, go first class (it is not much more)and lock your sleeper at night. There is more petty theft in eastern Europe than western Europe. But not much more.
Have
Jan 21st, 1998, 06:25 AM
#6
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Hello! I am 23/f, Hungarian. I was just browsing here to find some tips to my trip to Manila, when I though that maybe there are people who don`t know too much about Hungary, and are scared to come here, so I jumped to `Europe`. If you have any questions, pls. don`t hesitate to contact me, I am ready to write about anything you want to know!!!! Hope I can help you with some informations!
Till then,
Zsuzsi ([email protected])
Till then,
Zsuzsi ([email protected])
Feb 14th, 1998, 08:15 AM
#8
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visited poland in 95,well worth it.english spoken widely in warsaw and krakow,but not much anywhere else-teenagers are likely to speak the best english,otherwise I found that most people speak german.do visit Warsaw,it's very beautiful in parts,especially the older areas-just wander down a few streets that look interesting.The underground pubs are another great way of meeting Polish people-and the alcohol is very cheap.Also don't miss Wroclaw-a must,especially if interested in the cold war.As regards travelling,trains are nowhere near western european standards,and expect not to find a seat if you join a train along its journey.However they are cheap.Also be careful with valubles-especially if you are in the corridor-there's a lot of theft about.
Mar 25th, 1998, 05:54 PM
#9
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I am also planning to visit Poland and Hungary this summer. The Polish National Tourist Office has a great website (www.polandtour.org) in English. You can also contact them by phone to request a free packet of information and maps. Their phone # is on the web page. I also found a good website for Krakow (www.krakow.pl).
Mar 25th, 1998, 06:12 PM
#10
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The above are right on the mark. Don't miss Krakow because it was the only large Polish city to escape near-total destruction during the war. Wawel Castle is a must. So is Auschwitz-Berkenau concentration camp. Take the train. Cheap, prompt, goes to city centers. You can always arrange locally to take a tour. Zakopane, south in the High Tatra Mtns. is lovely. We ran into two German fellows in Krakow whose car and all its contents had been stolen. Thieves are on the lookout for cars bearing license plates from the West, the police told us. If you rent a car in the West and take it East and it is stolen, you are in for the hassle of a lifetime. The insurance is no good, and you are stuck with the whole amount. Many western car rental companies will not rent you a car if they know you are taking it East. Warsaw, when we were there, was chill and gray, so that colored our impression. Attended a wonderful Chopin piano contest in a small palace in a park in the middle of the city, the high spot of our stop there. You might add Czestochova, the shrine of the Black Madonna. Very impressive.
Mar 26th, 1998, 02:39 AM
#11
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to deakzsu
5 of us intend travelling in Eastern Europe and Budapest is one of the definite locations were going to visit. We enjoy sightseeing but not museums, bars clubs, good food and would love suggestions on were to visit there.
Waiting patiently
shane
5 of us intend travelling in Eastern Europe and Budapest is one of the definite locations were going to visit. We enjoy sightseeing but not museums, bars clubs, good food and would love suggestions on were to visit there.
Waiting patiently
shane
Nov 14th, 2000, 08:28 PM
#12
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If you are going to Budapest & particularly if traveling alone, may I suggest the home of Dr. & Mrs. Walter Fleps. He is an English-speaking retired attorney. You have a bedroom with terrace view of city, bathroom to yourself and Mrs. Fleps makes a great breakfast. It is nice to have someone to care if you are ok. Their address is Bogar utca 20b, 1022 Budapest Hungary. The phone number is 011-361-340-1108. They charge about $40/night for 2--maybe $20 if just one, not sure. He has published a book of walking tours and they are very nice.
Nov 15th, 2000, 08:24 AM
#13
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I went to Budapest last May and had a wonderful time - didn't hear or bump into a single American for the 10 days I was there (I live in NYC - I needed to get away). It does get hot in Central Europe during the summer - Vienna + Budapest got to 100F this past summer, and I'm not sure about the use of air conditioning. Budapest is a very easy city to comprehend and get around. Have a great trip - I'm planning to go back in May again.
Nov 15th, 2000, 02:11 PM
#15
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lol! Im glad I read the last message from Art who pointed out the date of her post. I had already typed in a huge ass post which basically said everything Michael did. Least she coulda done was respond to what/where she did go an see. 
props to Lodz, Poland!
props to Lodz, Poland!
