Thanks very much for all this skatedancer, Poland is on our list for a couple of years from now and my husband is very interested in many of the places you went to. We are gradually making our way around most of the Gestapo headquarters in the occupied countries, Copenhagen only just last week, and the places you went to are likely to be on our list also. Bookmarking!

Skatedancer, saw Spring Awakening last year and loved it (guess you did too)....still waiting for your Berlin portion! Heading down to DC this weekend (Labor Day), you too? :)

I am also looking forward to your account of Berlin. We leave for Berlin next Friday! Unfortunately, I had to cancel the Krakow portion of the trip because of some family issues.

I have enjoyed this very much and am hoping that you will post your next episode - Berlin - and also the one about Hamburg.

Thanks!

I like the way you write-loking forward to more!

Skatedancer, I hope you are a professional writer. If not, you should be. Incredible report!

Instead of 'tourist', how about, 'EXPLORER'?

Thanks for this - I'm printing for later use :-)

Hi skatedancer,

So glad you posted this interesting report. I missed it when you first posted. As you know, we have contemplated a similar trip as a family. Our 16 year old did take his trip to Prague, Krakow, Warsaw (including Auschwitz/Birkenau, Schlindler's Factory, and more) this summer before spending a month in Israel. He thought the whole experience was amazing.

Anyway, looking forward to hearing about the rest of the trip. :)

skatedancer

I am fascinated, particularly about your details about oppression under Stalin et al, something which is infrequently commented upon by travel writers. I also like your giving a history of why you took the trip, along with your specific explanations of your reactions, i.e., the service in a given hotel was termed excellent because of response within two minutes of your request. Or about your conflicting feelings about commercial signs in a given square.

Looking forward to more.

skatedancer: It's 1:00 in the morning in California and I have just had a fascinating browse through your trip report. You're an incredible writer and I feel pulled right in. I'm looking forward to printing this one out and having a closer read. Your title says it all.

I did some pre-tri-planning reading several months ago. Now it's time for me to plan our 1st family trip to Eastern/Central Europe for real...as we're going September 2007. Though I've planned a lot of trips, I find myself boggled by the fact that Prague and Krakow are so far apart, and I've got to lace a 2-week trip around those 2. I'd really like to avoid an overnight train trip...I'm afraid I wouldn't sleep on a train and I hear they bang on the door to check your passport.

Anyway sorry I'm a bit off subject. Thank you very much for sharing. I'll be back with questions!

My great-grandparents were from Krakow, which is one of the reasons that Krakow is really important to my itinerary.

OOpsie! I made a dumb typo above. I meant that our trip will be in September 2008, NOT 2007!

Great report! Thanks for sharing! :)

Thanks skatedancer for great report on Krakow. Plan now is to go to and from Krakow via day train from/to Prague near end of Oct. so enjoyed your review! Departure is in two weeks so the excitement is building! Have confirmed Czech pass and Polish train tickets and hotels for entire party. Can't believe how we could have travelled before the internet with all its helpful information! Thanks!

Very interesting report--thank you for posting. Do Americans need visas to go to Poland?

Loved your report; I felt right back there again! I think the combination of Poland and Lithuania is a very appropriate one, considering some of their shared history and the geographic advantage of getting from one to the other. I visited Krakow, Warsaw, Vilnius/Trakai) and Kaunas (with daytrips out to Curonian Spit and Hill of Crosses) in 2006; certainly a fascinating destination.

I'm looking forward to reading the Germany portion; I've only managed to get visit Munich there so far...

Thank you for all the wonderful responses. I am sorry I haven't posted the rest of my trip. Got very busy with end of summer (what amazing weather we've been having in the Northeast US!) and back to school activities.

I will get back to the report, I promise....

To answer some questions, Kellye, you do not need a visa for Poland.

Kenav, if you still want the flight info, we booked all our flights in advance from home. Our total cost was just under $1500, which was for: Newark - Krakow, Warsaw - Vilnius (both on Lot) , Vilnius - Berlin (Baltic Air), Hamburg - JFK (LTU). The inter-city flights were all reasonable, but I can't find the specific breakdown now. I found all the info myself, but ended up using our agent to book it, as he got my husband a cheaper direct return from Berlin than I was able to (I stayed on longer), and we just wanted to support his business (he helps my husband alot with his work travel).

Noe, I'm so sorry you didn't get to Krakow! I hope that your recent Berlin trip was as good as your first.

Amy, I remember your trip report and it influenced my decision to travel where we did!

Thanks, skatedancer. Berlin was fantastic! I will post a summary trip report soon, I hope. As it turns out, I may not have had to cancel Poland. It just makes me more determined to get there.

skatedancer - You said your total air price was $1500 - was that for the two of you or for each of you? Can't think that it was for both (i.e., only $750 per person?)

$1500 was per person.