I have to travel from Brusels, Belgium, to Rybnik this Summer to visit relatives.
I have 2 options - by air or by road.
Air fares - is there any way to improve on the current USD 364 per adult quotation I currently have?
By road - can anyone advise the best itinerary and what average speed to consider once in Poland (I am told roads are pretty basic)?
- can anyone advise nice hotels in the area?
- can anyone advise a nice, scenic itinerary through the Czech Republic on the way back?
- can anyone advise attractive sightseeing spots?
Since it is my first visit I am interested by any and all info that can be shared with me.
Thks,

You have a third option, by rail in a sleeper. Leave Brussels Midi at 1428, buffet car train, change at Cologne 1650 to 1714, Hamm change and dine 1844 to 2033, train with 1, 2 and 3 berth sleepers, Warsaw Central 0831, change, leave 0900, train with restaurant car for breakfast, Krakow Glowna 1135.

On the way back Krakow Glowna 1150, Katowice for lunch 1310 to 1429, train with good views in north Moravia and restaurant car for dinner, Prague Hlavni 2055 to 2145, sleeper, Frankfurt 0620 to 0630, buffet car for breakfast, Cologne Deutz 0743 to 0801, Brussels 1040

For the fares you can phone German Rail UK: www.deutsche-bahn.co.uk/ Phone : 00 44 870 243 53 63 then 6. Fax : 00 44 20 8339 4700. E-mail : [email protected]/.

Please write if I can help further. Welcome to Europe.

Easyjet.com has fares from London Stansted to Prague starting at 41.50 GBP

And Virgin Express has Brussels to London (City) from as low as 19 euro.

Not sure about transport from London City to Stansted.

And of course, this still leaves you with the car rental from Prague to Rybnik and back - - but better than driving from Brussels.

As for Poland roads in Silesia, the little bit we saw of them were very, very comparable to any (better) country roads in America.

Best wishes,

Rex

thks for your advice.
Rex, did you come from Germany? Via Dresden?
Ben , I will check your suggestions.

If by road, does anyone have suggestions for a scenic itinerary?

Any suggestion still much appreciated.

No, we entered the Czech Republic from the road that leads out of Hollabrunn, towards Jihlava.

It was quite an eye-opener to our daughters that in the first five miles, we saw at least six young women in mini-skirts just standing by the side of an otherwise desolate country highway.

In the Czech Republic, that is - - not in Poland.

no Czech nor Polish readers on-line?

There are more Poles and Czechs on http://www.lonrlyplanet.com, then Thorn tree, then east Europe, then search, then Poland or Czech.

[email protected]

Suggestion: Fly to Krakow. Rent car drive to Rybnik. Rybnik also has multiple train connections. Use Michelin map service. Driving fun in Rybnik, many round-a-bouts! Alternate, train to Rybnik from Krakow. Driving times, depends on time of day. Plan on 35/40 mph. City, town, limit is 60 kph. 2 lane highway 90 kph. Expect rural traffic, tractors and horse drawn vehicles plus bicycles. Bored in Rybnik? Drive or train west to Raciborz for day visit.