Hello! <BR>We're going to Krakow next week for 5 days. Any advice? Are there ATM's everywhere? We're staying at the Dom Turysty PTTK, ul. Westerplatte 15/16. Anyone know anything about this hotel? Thanks!

More questions! Can you drink the tap water there? How long should we allow for excursions to Auschwitz and the salt mines? Thanks!

Hi Paige, you will have a fabulous time in Krakow! I am a Canadian living in Gdansk and we recently took a trip to Krakow and Zakopane. There are ATM's practically on every corner. I don't know the hotel you're staying at but it's in a good location in the old city, walking distance to all the sights and shopping. Don't drink the tap water, bottled still water is "nie gasowana" meaning no gas. We didn't have time to visit the salt mines but I've read that all visits are in guided groups and take about 3 hrs. There are so many english tours per day at specific times. You might want to check with a travel agency in Krakow. Auschwitz is about a 20 minute drive from Krakow. We took the english guided tour but in hindsight should have toured on our own. Our group had 18 people in it and most of the time we couldn't hear a word she was saying. You can buy a self-guided tour pamphlet there and it'll take you through the entire camp. Make sure you watch the short film (in english at specific times) before you start your tour. There's a bus that goes from Auschwitz over to Birkenau and back again. We spent 4hrs at both camps and were extremely rushed. I'm going back again this summer with my sister and will do the tour on our own and at our own pace. Hope this helps you out a bit. Enjoy your visit.

PTTK hotels are budget hotels, but clean and with basic accomodations (there may not be a TV or Phone in Room), most offer food plans (breakfast, lunch, dinner etc.) which are always great value with good regional food. Most guest will be Polish, and not all receptionists may speak English. But their prices are the best. As for tap water, this is not Mexico or India, water is clean and save, but I would still get bottled water or mineral water to drink, which is available all over the place. Krakow is really beatiful and 5 days maybe even too short. As for excursions again PTTK has best prices, so ask at the hotel - try visiting Zakopane (in the middle of High Tatra Mountains - with easy access by bus or train) at least as a day trip. Auschwitz and Salt Mines are usualy offered as one day trip.

How beautiful mysterious Krakow was; I loved it! Some comments: 1) I heard Zakopane is really something, although I didn't go myself, 2)I remember Auschwitz being closer to 1 1/2 hours (by train, not by car...not prepared for the intensity of that experience; 3) If you go to the salt mines, dress warmly, you are far below ground level and it gets very chilly.

I think it sounds better to go to Auschwitz and the salt mines on our own (as opposed to a tour), so can anyone tell me how to get to these places without a car? Thanks!