Which tour to take?
Jul 6th, 2007, 05:42 AM
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Which tour to take?
We'd like to go to Eastern Europe and think a guided tour would be best. We're looking at a Rick Steve's tour...anyone been on it? Any other tours to recommend? Could we do it on our own not knowing any of the languages? Thanks, Judy
Jul 6th, 2007, 06:05 AM
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You will probably notice pretty quickly that most of us here are do-it-yourselfers when it comes to traveling. Not to say that a tour group isn't a good option for those who are very uncomfortable with doing it on your own, but traveling in Italy is very easy and very doable. You won't have a problem with the language, as most people speak at least a little bit of English, but if you learn a few words and phrases (hello, thank you, excuse me, etc.) it will be appreciated.
This board is filled with a wealth of information. If you are up to doing it yourself, just post your questions on here and you will be inundated with great responses. And use the search feature to find tons and tons of information on Italy.
Good luck!
Tracy
This board is filled with a wealth of information. If you are up to doing it yourself, just post your questions on here and you will be inundated with great responses. And use the search feature to find tons and tons of information on Italy.
Good luck!
Tracy
Jul 6th, 2007, 06:24 AM
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Eastern Europe? Do you mean places like Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic?
Trafalgar tours has two wonderful tours...one called Bohemian Highlights, the other called Capitals of New Europe. The itineraries are pretty much the same...Bohemian Highlights is a first class tour and the hotels are somewhat better, Capitals of New Europe is what they call a costsaver tour...the hotels are a bit of a step down but more than acceptable.
Both tours start in Frankfurt and go to Berlin then Warsaw then Krakow then Budapest then Vienna then Prague and finish off in Frankfurt. The nice thing is that all stops are for 2 nights! Driving conditions in Eastern Europe are not quite up to snuff with Western Europe just yet and one thing about doing it yourself...the driver must concentrate on the road and misses out on a lot while if there's any sort of diversion you can be in trouble.
I did Bohemian Highlights and it was a fascinating tour. Hotels were in central areas of each of the cities, deluxe and first class in all cases. We saw quite a bit and because of the 2 night stays did not feel hurried at all...in almost every case there was plenty of time for our own exploring and shopping and whatever.
I can't recommend these tours any more highly. You can find information about the 2 tours at www.trafalgartours.com
And don't listen to the nay sayers here many of whom don't have a clue as to what happens on a tour. A tour, especially of this area which is not quite yet up to the same standards as Western Europe what with the rise in petrol prices and other things, might be the best way to see this part of the world.
Trafalgar tours has two wonderful tours...one called Bohemian Highlights, the other called Capitals of New Europe. The itineraries are pretty much the same...Bohemian Highlights is a first class tour and the hotels are somewhat better, Capitals of New Europe is what they call a costsaver tour...the hotels are a bit of a step down but more than acceptable.
Both tours start in Frankfurt and go to Berlin then Warsaw then Krakow then Budapest then Vienna then Prague and finish off in Frankfurt. The nice thing is that all stops are for 2 nights! Driving conditions in Eastern Europe are not quite up to snuff with Western Europe just yet and one thing about doing it yourself...the driver must concentrate on the road and misses out on a lot while if there's any sort of diversion you can be in trouble.
I did Bohemian Highlights and it was a fascinating tour. Hotels were in central areas of each of the cities, deluxe and first class in all cases. We saw quite a bit and because of the 2 night stays did not feel hurried at all...in almost every case there was plenty of time for our own exploring and shopping and whatever.
I can't recommend these tours any more highly. You can find information about the 2 tours at www.trafalgartours.com
And don't listen to the nay sayers here many of whom don't have a clue as to what happens on a tour. A tour, especially of this area which is not quite yet up to the same standards as Western Europe what with the rise in petrol prices and other things, might be the best way to see this part of the world.
Jul 6th, 2007, 06:45 AM
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Yikes...sorry about my answer above referring to Italy! I guess I have Italy on the brain, I guess. I still stand by my words though. I have traveled through parts of central and eastern Europe and have never had any problems.
Tracy
Tracy
Jul 6th, 2007, 07:40 AM
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Judy:
Yes, of course you can do it on your own... most Fodorites do. This is not to negate a good tour, but at least to give you another option.
I began traveling Eastern and Central Europe in the late 70's when travel to Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, and the then Czechoslovakia, USSR and Yugoslavia, was not a "day at the beach", as they say.
Petrol and anything but the most basic foods were not easy to come by in certain of the more remote regions. I was doing a good bit of research interviews for two books, only knowing some basic words and phrases of the local languages in each of those countries, although I knew enough of the once common (but now scarce)language in most of those countries to help me get by more comfortably.
It wasn't easy then...but as the years went by, more and more English speakers were readily available...on my most recent trip in Nov.'05 we found English speakers everywhere in Romania and Bulgaria.
All of my journeys were by self-drive auto, except the USSR (no rental cars for foreigners then), and the latest visit, when I escorted 16 of my readers by bus and a guide).
Will it be only two people, or more? How many days are you planning? What is your approximate budget? What are your interests? We'd have to know this in order to help.
By the way, these days people are referring to the Cz. Rep. as Central, rather than Eastern Europe. More of a moot-ish point, I'd say.
Whatever you decide, there are several folks here who will be of help to you. I'll stand by and also be ready to assist in any way I can. I have hundreds of pre-digital photos I have scanned and will scan whenever you're interested...as well as a broad series of digitals from the '05 visit.
Stu T.
Los Angeles
Yes, of course you can do it on your own... most Fodorites do. This is not to negate a good tour, but at least to give you another option.
I began traveling Eastern and Central Europe in the late 70's when travel to Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, and the then Czechoslovakia, USSR and Yugoslavia, was not a "day at the beach", as they say.
Petrol and anything but the most basic foods were not easy to come by in certain of the more remote regions. I was doing a good bit of research interviews for two books, only knowing some basic words and phrases of the local languages in each of those countries, although I knew enough of the once common (but now scarce)language in most of those countries to help me get by more comfortably.
It wasn't easy then...but as the years went by, more and more English speakers were readily available...on my most recent trip in Nov.'05 we found English speakers everywhere in Romania and Bulgaria.
All of my journeys were by self-drive auto, except the USSR (no rental cars for foreigners then), and the latest visit, when I escorted 16 of my readers by bus and a guide).
Will it be only two people, or more? How many days are you planning? What is your approximate budget? What are your interests? We'd have to know this in order to help.
By the way, these days people are referring to the Cz. Rep. as Central, rather than Eastern Europe. More of a moot-ish point, I'd say.
Whatever you decide, there are several folks here who will be of help to you. I'll stand by and also be ready to assist in any way I can. I have hundreds of pre-digital photos I have scanned and will scan whenever you're interested...as well as a broad series of digitals from the '05 visit.
Stu T.
Los Angeles
Jul 6th, 2007, 10:00 AM
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It depends on if you mean ester europe (Russia, the Ukraine) or Central Europe (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland etc).
The latter have very good tourist infrastructures, english is widely spoken and yuo should have no more difficulty traveling by yourselves than in western europe.
If you truly mean estern europe you may want to consider a tour - depending on your itinerary. If just St Pet and Moscow - that is easily doable on your own (we've done it twice with no problems) - if you want to so several other areas a tour may provide organizational benefits.
The latter have very good tourist infrastructures, english is widely spoken and yuo should have no more difficulty traveling by yourselves than in western europe.
If you truly mean estern europe you may want to consider a tour - depending on your itinerary. If just St Pet and Moscow - that is easily doable on your own (we've done it twice with no problems) - if you want to so several other areas a tour may provide organizational benefits.
Jul 6th, 2007, 01:33 PM
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Dear Tower....I'd love to see your pictures and also receive any other information on your travels in Central [email protected] Thanks!
