Itinerary Help: Krakow, Sanok (for wedding) then Slovakia and Hungary
 

Hi,
My husband and I are going to a wedding in SE poland at the end of July. We are thinking of arriving in Krakow for 2/3 nights, then going to the wedding in Sanok for 2 nights. After, we would like to travel down through Slovakia/Tatras mts, then through Eger/Tokay area for wine, ending in Budapest.

Questions: where in Slovakia are the prettiest towns/scenery to stop in? We only have maybe 6/7 days to do this after the wedding, so probably only 2 nights in Slovakia, 1 in NE Hungary near the wine area and the last 3 in Budapest?

We are in our 30's and generally love food, wine and culture. Not really history buffs, although we appreciate lovely architecture. We do like some liveliness in the evenings, although I am sure we will get plenty of that in Krakow, the wedding and in Budapest, so not necessarily a priority in Slovakia. Also, would like interesting driving routes and the chance to see some castles.

I thought the tatras sounded lovely, and there was mention that Kosice was a more interesting city than Bratislava, which we don't care to visit, at least on this trip. Trying to see countryside, scenery, folk culture, eat and drink. Also, what about any of the national parks, besides the Tatras? Slovensky Raj?

As for Hungary- we probably only have time for 1 night in Eger/Tokay and 3 in Budapest. Is three enough in Budapest or not enough? Should we do 2 and an extra night somewhere else in the country that might be interesting?

Car Rental: Who can we rent with out of Poland and leave the car in Budapest? or vice versa, as depending on timing we may do this in reverse. And are the rates ridiculously high as far as foreign drop off fees? Theoretically, we can do this trip on a train, but it seems like a pain and we would rather have the freedom of a car.

Thanks in advance for the assistance!
Lauren

I do not recall the villages as pretty but things may have changed in 30+ years. On the other hand, the Ruthenian churches are definitely worth seeking out:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...th/4204731790/

I thought Slovakia had an underdeveloped tourism effort. They don't make much fuss about their heritage, much less than the Czechs do. We enjoyed Bardejov, near Kosice.

Less than 3 days in Budapest, not enough. Three days will get you started. The town will grow on you with time. The whole town could benefit from a sandblasting, but if you can look thru the grime, it's beautiful. Interesting architecture, with good use of color. A little reminiscent of San Francisco hill district. Liszt Ter, an avenue about half mile NE of the center of Pest, has many outdoor restaurants, frequented by what appeared to be 30-something locals rather than tourists.

One day's enough for Eger.

Hm. Just spoke with autoeurope and the international drop-off fee is $715, to pick up in Poland and drop in Hungary. That is a large chunk of budget, so need to rethink the strategy now.

Have you tried Kemwel for car rentals? I have used them twice, and found they are reliable and have reasonable rates. I think they are a third party agency, so they could end up directing you to any car rental company (one time I booked through them and ended up wtih Avis and another time I believe it was Europcar). You must request a quote first in order to make a booking. Don't hesitate about requesting one, and you might have to wait a day to receive the quote.

www.kemwel.com

Or, their site for one-way drop-offs including Eastern Europe is:

http://www.kemwel.com/car.cfm

I have brought a car from Kemwel into Poland but actually dropped it off in Germany, so I can't offer any advice on the fee. They told me before my last trip (which was last summer) that Spain and Italy have the highest international drop-off fees. Good luck with these countries.

Another site I have used is kayak.com.

The south of Poland, especially the Tatras is a great place to tour around, and do just as you said - have the freedom of a car.

The drive from Krakow to the border with Slovakia is wonderful. Nowy Targ has a fantastic huge market (according to Wikipedia, Thursday and Saturday mornings) and there are many exquisite small wooden churches in the area plus many wooden houses. The small town of Levoca in Slovakia has stunning buildings from the 15th to 17th centuries in the town square. It's a World Heritage site. We drove from Krakow to Levoca then to Tokaj via Kosice and Miskolc.

Living in Levoca, I am at your disposal for any of your questions. Spis region and suurounding its worth to see for its history an landscape sightseeings! [email protected]