Jaime Torres George

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Peter

mid July will be hot, also get a good sun block lotion and/or lite white long sleave, since the ozone rays can be kind of bad in those areas around that time. <BR>Your selection of cities is great, but I would drop Warsaw, and spend more time in Krakow and near by Zakopane (in Tatry mts). As for prices they will be lower in Poland, Czech Rep. and Hungry but higher in Austria and Germany (Prices similar to USA). ATMs are all over in all of those cities (you may need 4 number pin - and on some they are just numbers on a pad). AMEX travel checks also can be exchanged in all Banks (but not private exchange booths). Credit cards excepted in most Hotels and restaurants, as well as attractions (may have a problem with the budget type locations that only locals use - as well as private places). For prices check www.HotelsPoland.com <BR>Do reserve mid July is high season and it is packed!!! Safety? use caution be aware you are going to high tourist places, which are on a list of every crook, Just be aware of surroundings like you would in New York City or LA and You be just fine. As a metioned earlier skip Warsaw and spend more time in Krakow, Zakopane, Wieliczka, Oswiecim (if you like to see concentration camp) etc. Zakopane is really "don't miss it" category at any season. Try Gazda Hotel in Zakopane which a good value and is right at the center, but a little to the side so there is no noice. Few blocks behind the hotel there is a regional flea Market with some great prices (You can also buy Russian stuff here as well - if you into that). But there is a lot of stuff for home (HandMade table cloths, lace, napkins, clothing, crystal, colored glass dirt cheap - same in Krakow is bit more expensive, which still is a great deal). Make room in your luggage for extra stuff that you will buy, which is a guarantee. <BR>

jeanie

Night at Prague can be cold in summer, especially if u like to see the night scene from Charles Bridge, do bring a windbreaker. Likewise in Berlin. <BR>Vienna and Frankfurt got wonderful sunshine. <BR> <BR>Price wise, Prague is a cheap city in al sense. Consider spending more time there. Also, it is the most beautiful city in Europe. Do watch out the local summer holiday there. Hostels and hotels can be full in July. Don;t forget to but the ticket on bus though, otherwise the fine can be very high when they caught u. <BR> <BR>Vienna is a bit more expensive. Yet if you wanna watch opera, try queue in front of the opera house's side door, they have afternoon show which is about 10% of the normal price). Don't miss the horse show there. <BR> <BR>Berlin is a great place. The museum and nazi's concentration camp are touching. <BR> <BR>Frankfurt just a city.

Kristin

Unless things have changed very recently I would say that Vienna is A LOT MORE expensive than Prague. The great joy of Prague is that it both beautiful and inexpensive! WOW, what a dream combination! <BR>

Ben Haines

Fodors <BR> <BR>Dear Mr George, <BR> <BR>You've had good advice from Peter and Jeanie -- indeed Peter's is among the best notes this month on this forum. To a great degree I repeat what they say. <BR> <BR>Frankfurt is "just a city". It was beautiful, but we British and Americans bombed it to bits about 1944. Warsaw is not too good. Again in the disaster year, 1944, the Nazis set out with dynamite to blast down the inner city block by block. Only the very centre is rebuilt, and even then only the frontages. Warsaw is sad, since in a sense Hitler won. <BR> <BR>In order of cost per day these cities run: most expensive Vienna, Frankfurt, Berlin, Prague, Krakow, Warsaw, Budapest least expensive. Which means that if you're watching your budget you should give more time to the cheaper, and less to the more expensive. <BR> <BR>I don't know how long you'll trour. If for a month, then you might think of including beautifiul small cities, which are cheaper than the great cities, in Poland (Torun), the Czech Republic (Cesky Budejovice, with a visit to Cesky Krumlov) and Hungary (Sopron or Eger). <BR> <BR>For weather details see http://www.worldclimate.com/. <BR> <BR>For safety see consular advice <BR>from Australia on http://www.dfat.gov.au/consular/advice <BR>from Britain on http://193.114.50.10/travel <BR>from Canada on http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/menu-e.asp, under "Travel Reports" <BR>from the USA on http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html <BR>Some experienced American travellers find the American site over-cautious. It is therefor useful to check all four sites. <BR> <BR>Please write if I can help further. <BR> <BR>Ben Haines, London <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

alan

Hi! Just read your posting and the responses especially Mr. Haines'. Budepest is one of our favorite cities and we have been there a couple of times. we find it inexpensive and pleasant. Can't recommend a hotel as the hotel we stayed in two yrs ago was upgraded in strars and downgraded in service according to what I have read. <BR> Went to Vienna this fall and stayed 3 days, as we had to pick up and drop off our car. Find it expensive, pleasant but the people somewhat distant. In Krakow we stayed at the Europejeski. Very pleasently surprised. Excellent location, near main train station and the price was under $USD 40 with breakfast. It doesnot have an elevator however but it mada no difference. Frankfort was expensive and not much to see. It is business center. They do have small Italian neighborhood near the train station with excellent pizzaria. Very authentic area. Went to Prague years ago and loved it. It may be inexpensive but the rest of the country is more so. We visited Chesky Kromlov, Telc Kutna Hora. Kutna Hora was a very interestinhg historical city. <BR> Sorry Mr Haines we drove through Chesky Budoviejie and counldn't find the brewery had the same misfortune in Pilsen. We did find a good beer in Chesky Bud, called Sampson. I prefer Eger to Sopron. We have visited both and found Eger more interesting Good wine there also. Haven't been to Warsaw or Berlin yet. By the way if you are in Budapest, consider a visit to the Danube Bend. They have several small cities Eztergom, Szendre and a couple of others that make it worthwhile for a couple of days. Enjoy yourselves alan

Ben Haines

Fodors <BR> <BR>Dear Mr Eiger, <BR> <BR>And I'm sorry too. In fact in missing the brewery you missed little, as I think neither Budweiser nor Sampson offer public tours. If you missed the beer itself then you missed a lot -- though you unhappy motorists have to watch your intake, unlike us freedom-loving travellers by train. <BR> <BR>Ben Haines <BR>

alan

Hi Mr. Haines. You made a good point about the consumption of alcohol. We usually will check into a hotel and have the car parked before we imbibe.You seem like an experienced traveler having read many of your postings, Just want to say "hello" and have a good New Years to all. <BR> alan

kristyna

There is much more to Poland then just Cracow, Warsaw, and a few other places where tourists go. If you enjoy hiking don't miss Tatras and Zakopane. It's so close to Cracow and hiking trails for everyone and so many, so well maintain. Scenary - you will never forget. At least I didn't after 9 years. It could be crowded in July so to avoid crowds we started our hikes very early in the morning. Hope you will be able to fit that area in your itinerary even if you are not hikers. As to the safety I don't know how much things changed since 1990, maybe there is someone who has more information.

Mary Ann

We were in Prague, Budapest and Vienna this past September, which was very warm during the day and mild in the evening. We walked almost everywhere. In Prague there are a tremendous amount of one way streets so we left the car at the hotel and walked. Hotels are more expensive but food and beer is great and cheap. We stayed at the 3* cloister Inn which had internal secure parking. Friends were just recently there and used the metro extensively, we had been warned against it for security. It did not matter, walking was much better. We used cyber cafes to keep in contact with home and concerts were very inexpensive as well. Crystal was a great buy, better outside the city but not bad in. Do reserve early. The cloister was about $100 for a double with wc and shower and breakfast, parking extra. In Budapest definitely take the night time danube cruise, it is wonderful. We stayed in Buda at the Kulturinov, the only hotel besides the Hilton in Buda. It was sparse but adequate with a WC, shower (old plumbing) and minimum breakfast for about $75 for a double. (The Hilton was $163 without breakfast). Buda is great you have the small town feel with Mathias Church, the hilton is right there with a casino and wonderful restaurants within walking distance of the hotel. We again parked in gaited parking and just walked or took the tram everywhere. It was warm here also with sweaters at night and this was mid September. We never had any problems in the 6 nights we spent in these two countries (or anywhere for the 20 nights we spent in total). Vienna is alot more expensive for accomodations and food. We stayed at Pension Nossek on the Graben which was beautifully appointed for about $100 with only a sparse breakfast. Parking was very dificult and they did not accept credit cards. ATMs are all over all the countries. Have a great trip, Prague was our favorite of the 2 with Vienna second, but Budapest was interesting also, my sister in law spoke hungarian which made it easier. Of the 3 countries, English was least spoken in Budapest.