I've booked trip to Poland (Warsaw, Krakow, etc.) in August. I'm getting conflicting reports from travelers. Some loved it. Some hated it. Anybody care to share???

Krakow is a gem! Spend as much time as you can there. Warsaw is not much, but I wasn't expecting much so really enjoyed my stay there (a night or two is probably plenty). We also enjoyed Gdansk -- very picturesque. Much of the countryside and forest is quite beautiful if you want something other than the cities.

Krakow is a nice town, with its city center intact for centuries. The day trips to Zakopane (resort village in Tatras Mountains), Salt Mines (just outside of town) and Auschwitz/Birkenau Concentration Camps are well worth the extra time. I did not get to Warsaw but I was told Krakow is better. I have heard good things about Gdansk as well.

I've been a couple of times, and Poland is nice and has is a worthwhile destination. However many places (talking towns and cities here) are not as nice as some western European counterparts in terems of atmosphere, ambience, etc. Since much of the courntry was destroyed in World War 2, and was rebuilt in the Stalinist style, much of the architecture in cities leave something to be desired. Hence Krakow, whcih was not destroyed, is more likeable than Warsaw, which was. <BR> <BR>Krakow is a great "mitteleuropa" city, and the nearby attractions of Auschwitz, salt mines, and tatras mountains make it a fine base. One small town I would recommend is Kazimerz Dolny, about 80 miles southeast from Warsaw. (Your posting implies you will be on a tour???) <BR> <BR>Anyway, you should have a good time and the people are friendly!!

True Cities like Krakow and Gdansk are much nicer then Warsaw - but Warsaw is also not a complete waste of time. Visit "Lazienki" and "Wialanow" to really nice palaces in Warsaw which are located in large parks. "Lazienki" hosting some Chopin concerts durring summer. Old City is also nice and again durring summer many under the open sky concerts are happening in this area. Old City has a good amount of very stylish restaurants and pubs. Many extand to the old square durring summer. <BR>Enjoy both cities. <BR>

Linda speaketh the truth above. I highly recommend Zakopane and the rest of the areas in/around Krakow. <BR> <BR>You really arent missing anything Warsaw.