Eastern Europe

Best and worst sights, experiences and destinations:

Best: The 3-hr. canoe trip in Krumlov
Why: We like activities outdoors like biking, hiking, canoeing, etc.

Worst: The Metro experience mentioned above.
Why: You need to ask?

Judy Mondy in Odessa, TX USA 09/26/2008

Best: Krakow
Why: This city was just so nice to be in- clean and full of friendly people.

Worst: Prague Castle
Why: I would recommend to everyone NOT to pay for admission- St. Vitus Cathedral is nice, but that is a separate admission- 250Kc for the short tour was about 200Kc too much :)

Tracy in Austin, Te USA 09/15/2008

Best: Szechenyi Baths
Why: The baths were completely relaxing! It made a great end to a busy day running around Budapest. It's nice that the baths are open 'til 22:00 (at least in summertime).

Peter Vatne in Nashua, NH USA 09/12/2008

Worst: House of Terror in Budapest/ Lobo Shuttle to Cesky Krumlov
Why: $9 to read handouts in English?! Good intentions but not english speaking tourist friendly. Not worthy of 2 bullets. History Musuem near Kalvin Ter much Better. Lobo shuttle quoted 1100 CZK which converts into about 46.4 Euro. They wanted me to pay 52 Euro to get on the shuttle. We ended up agreeing that I would go to ATM when I arrived in Cesky Krumlov. Return trip offered at discount of 1000 CZK. At the Infocentrum, Lobo shuttle to WestBanhof offerred for 860. Unscrupulous. Go with Sebastian or some other shuttle servcie.

Kim Smith in Chicago, IL USA 09/03/2008

Best: Krakow
Why: Lovely old city in great condition. I agree with RS that it is the next Prague, but without the crowds and associated prices.

David Murray in Avon, IN USA 08/23/2008

Worst: Museum of Communism, Prague...the worst if you don't enjoy seeing the U.S. denigrated...
Why: I visited this museum last week and found it somewhat interesting, although a bit ho-hum. Before exiting, I was looking through the posters for sale in the small gift-shop, which hype the museum's exhbits on the former communist regimes of the Soviet bloc. Here are two of the posters you can spend your money on (I'm quoting from memory): "Paranoia, Propaganda and Military Invasions...No, Not George W.'s America. The Museum of Communism." Another read, "Go Back to the Days When the Voice of America was the Voice of Freedom."

I called over the middle-aged woman who was working the counter. After asking if she spoke English, to which she said yes, I pointed to one of the posters and politely said, "I like your museum, but I don't like to see my country insulted." She looked unsure of what I meant, so I smiled, pointed to George W.s name and said, "This is my president." She just giggled stupidly...I don't think she really understood what I was saying.

I don't like to see my country or my president denigrated abroad, especially in a museum that probably makes a lot of money from American visitors. I would feel the same way if it were Bill Clinton, whom I didn't like, being put down, as I felt when it was George W. Bush, whom I generally support.

The most ironic thing was to see this in a museum celebrating the fall of communism. The same shallow and ignorant comments that are often made about Bush, and America under Bush, as on these posters, were also made about Reagan and Reagan's America when he was assertively opposing the communists: Oh, he's a warmonger, he's so inflexible, he's not that bright, he's not a sophisticate, and, most importantly, the Europeans don't like him. Today, Reagan is given a lot of the credit for the collapse of communism. And in a museum celebrating that collapse, the same ugly things that were said about him appear on posters referencing our current president, and our country today.

Gee, I didn't know America's voice had stopped being the voice of freedom. Thanks for clueing me in, leftist European airheads...and don't hesitate to call us the next time we have to bail your continent out of a hell that your more sophisticated leaders have created for you...as we do periodically, including during the time when the communists had their boots on your throat.

Whether you're a Republican, Democrat, or neither, if you're an American with the slightest trace of national pride, skip the Museum of Communism in Prague.

I'm glad I saw those posters before I dropped a bunch of money on t-shirts and refrigerator magnets in the gift shop!

(I also posted this feedback in the "Prague & the Czech Republic" section.)

George Mole' in Bronx, NY USA 08/18/2008

Best: Loved the Szechenyi Baths, Budapest
Why: After 2 weeks of non-stop sightseeing, it was a joy to relax on my last day in Europe and just soak up the hot water. And the bubbly "medium hot" pool was fun to bob around in.

Worst: Szechenyi Baths
Why: The lack of English or even another European language on the signage was frustrating. Two young girls who directed me to the changing rooms said they were the only ones who spoke English in the entire complex. I walked around for quite a while before I found the locker room, and had no clue how to use the locker--fortunately, a woman who spoke a little English showed me how.

Hilde in Old Bridge, NJ USA 08/10/2008

Best: Szechenyi Baths & Great Hall Market, Budapest
Why: Wonderful and vibrant institutions with many more locals than tourists. They were real, colorul, fun places to spend time. I think they gave the tone of the city.

Jim Martin in Ashland, OR USA 07/26/2008

Best: Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic
Why: Yes, it is touristy. But it is such a well preserved walled village. and there were fewer tourist than in Prague.

Worst: Absolute Walking Tours, Budapest
Why: Guide was quite bored with the tour and more interested in his girlfriend who accompnaied us. He got us through as quickly and with the least discussion as he could.

Christine in Devon, PA USA 07/12/2008

Best: Peter Polczman as a guide in Budapest
Why: As part of our trip to central Europe these past two weeks, we hired a guide in Budapest, Hungary, Peter Polczman (mobile #0620-926-0557, from the US call 011-36-20-9260-557, Email: polczman@freestart.hu OR peter.polczman@guideclub.net). While it is possible to see the sights of Budapest on your own, a day's overview with Peter gives you a great jump start on what Budapest has to offer. After that start, you can always go around on your own and get more in depth and see additional sights and also have a better idea how the city is laid out and how you can get around it on your own. Peter tailors his itinerary based on your needs, interests, and capacity. We don't usually use a guide in our travels but one, such as friendly and knowledgeable Peter, in an intense place like Budapest is money well spent.

Shonn in HdG, MD USA 06/29/2008

Best: Legenda cruise
Why: We chose to celebrate our last evening in Budapest with a cruise on the Danube. We chose the Legenda company from the recommendation in your book and we were not disapointed. Shortly after we boarded we were welcomed by a group of young ladies that spoke a large variety of languages and welcomed people in their language, causing a group from Finland to cheer loudly! Champagne was served and as the ship began down the Danube, the lights of the city came on, making the evening a beautiful site. Another round of drinks was served by the very pleasant staff during the second part of the trip. The recorded dialoge was a good addition to the trip. This was one of the best cruise experiences I have had.

Mary Ann Christensen in Walkerton, IN USA 06/26/2008

Best: musical experiences in prague
Why: we were in prague during their music festival in may. 3 different venues, symphony in the municipal house, opera in the estates theatre and ballet in the national theatre, all amazing and I am NOT a person who is into this type of thing. However, to see world class music in timeless venues was inspiring. I recommend splurging if possible and visit these venues in the manner they were intended.

Worst: personal guide thru Sarka Kacabova
Why: We were given her father Milan. He spoke poor english, and primarily could not move. He would stop and talk forever. Our first day lasted 6 hours and we only saw half of what I expected. The second day was better because we told him he had to be done by noon. He was nice and friendly but for a private guide not well polished and not to the point. Also, he would dwell on details which were not very interesting. However, we highly recommend the group walking tour absolute walk in Budapest thru the Absolute Walking Tours. The guide was great and we got a good taste of the city in 3 and a half hours

mike in tempe, az USA 06/22/2008

Best: Szechenyi Baths in Budapest
Why: Taking the waters was the ultimate local experience. With Rick's help, paying and getting in was very easy. Not only was swirling around the circle a hoot, the fountain in the hot pool erased all my back and neck pain from backpacking! This is an experience not to be missed.

Tim in Bay City, TX USA 06/15/2008

Best: Szechenyi Baths in Budapest
Why: Unforgettable experience running in my bathing suit in 20 degree F from dressing room to pool of steam and in and out of two more pools before finding one warm enough to stay. It was crowded with people playing chess outside and lots more inside including the world's best sauna (running back in 20 degrees was comfortable!). We were there week between Xmas and New Years. Also huge ice skating rink near the pool with crowds dancing to music another great experience. Hungarians were out in very cold weather having fun!

Gail in Albany, OR USA 01/27/2008

Best: Budapest - Szechenyi Baths
Why: Get over your trepidations, follow Rick's explanation and have a great time. Unlike any local experience we have ever had.

Worst: Prague - Black Light Theatre - Aspects of Alice
Why: Shame on Rick for even suggesting that anyone pay an exhoribent amount of CASH for the most unprofessional, amateur, uncreative piece of performance art we have ever seen. For the same price we had box seats at the ballet and front row balcony seats at the opera - both first class. We purchased both of these tickets directly from the performance venue as the clerk at Via Musica was extremely rude and unhelpful. Its a good place to go to find information about what's going on but she told us that these performances were sold out and then we ended up with excellent tickets and thrilling performances.

Sondra in Portland, OR USA 11/06/2007

Best: Auschwitz/Birkenau
Why: There is something very compelling about visiting the concentration camps and these were on the top of our list to visit. We hired a private guide who took us through both camps, provided lots of information and history, plus he added that little extra background due to his father having fought in the Polish underground, in the Warsaw Uprising and being a prisoner of war - his background gave us a very different perspective of the events leading up to the war, during and after it was over. It is difficult to state this was a great day due to the horrific acts performed against the human race, but it was more than we expected in many ways and we feel very good to have taken the tour. Our guide also stopped at a polish cafe for an authentic polish lunch and took us to Schindler's Factory before dropping us back at our apartment. Guide: Jacek Jordan, contact: martachm@op.pl Al and Mary Hermansen

Allan Hermansen in Delano, MN USA 10/25/2007

Best: Gabriella of privatetoursbudapest.com
Why: She spent a lot of time and was very helpful in exploring Budapest which is a very large city, explaining her own experiences growing up during the communist era gave a lot of insight into life. She was extremely helpful, even in confirming our restaurant reservations.

Martin in New York, NY USA 10/23/2007

Best: Walking tour guides-Budapest
Why: We had two wonderful walking tours of Budapest. Thank you so much for the recommendation. Our guide arranged by Andrea was excellent and a fantastic part of our trip.

Worst: Budapest Metro system!
Why: You REALLY need to go into more depth to explain the pitfalls of this corrupt system. The system is, without question, designed to take advantage of tourists. Unless you have a Budapest Card, there is a 100% probability that you will be victimized. It is impossible to actually purchase the correct ticket to go to a destination. The whole system is rigged so that the controllers can hold you hostage and fine you.

Ticket sellers will only sell you a ticket good for one metro link WITH NO CONNECTIONS. Every time you need to transfer to another train after entering the metro, you must purchase a new ticket. No one tells you this and of course all the controllers and ticket sellers know this.

We were held hostage literally and forced to pay 20 Euros per person by really nasty controllers, after having purchased tickets, showing the map to the ticket seller and asking for the appropriate tickets and validating them.

The bottom line is that you really need to warn visitors that you really only have two options for public transportation in Budapest. The Budapest Card validated for travel time until you actually LEAVE the metro. They will fine you even if you are on the trains and your card expires, ie there is no such thing as a safe transfer once you enter the system! Or, less expensive, a 24 hour unlimited ticket purchased at the metro which is a lot cheaper than a Budapest Card.

One other important item regards taxis. Tourists should take the Zone cab right outside the exit terminal. Fixed, posted prices and fair. As you pointed out it is important to call. Good advice, except that most tourist will feel that they are ok if they have the hotel call them a cab. This is not correct!

You also need to call your own cab to go to the airport! It cost me 4,600 HUF to get to the hotel, 6,500 HUF to get from the hotel to the airport. Zone Cab is the best alternative by far. Check it out and let traveler's know about these pitfalls. They can leave a bad taste in the overall impression of a truly beautiful city!

[Editor's Note: Our 2007 edition of Eastern Europe discusses four different types of Budapest Metro tickets on page 415. This info was on page 392 of our 2006 edition. In both editions, we also warn about the ubiquitous ticket inspectors and how they seem to target tourists.]

Ralph Turkel in Stockholm, Sweden 10/10/2007

Best: Buy the 3-day pass for transportation in Budapest.
Why: It's cheap and extremely convenient. Most sights require transportation to reach and ticket checkers were everywhere. In Berlin we forget to stamp our tickets once while heading to the train station on the U2 subway; we were very fortunate not to get caught and have to pay a fine.

Rod Young in Bowie, MD USA 09/28/2007

Best: Krakow and Budapest
Why: Rick, we planned 2/3 of our trip (of course, add Prague!) based on your recommendations - and we loved the results. Budapest was well worth the visit, as was Krakow (Cracovia). They are different, with Budapest sprawling and Krakow more contained. But both have so much to offer, and are still new enough as 'attractions' to remain relatively inexpensive. We spent 4 days in each, which was about right. Visit now; if they adapt like Prague it will cost much more in 5 years.

Ken Lindsay in Granger, IN USA 08/17/2007

Best: Baroque Theatre, Chesky Krumlov
Why: I had never seen anything like this type of theatre, so preserved. I felt like I had been transported back in time. I would give it 3 stars instead the 2 in the book.

Nancy Williams in Avon, , CT USA 08/05/2007

Worst: St. Vitus and the Castle.
Why: We were in Prague four nights and three full days. The church is closed on Sundays. We bought a castle ticket on Sat. The church was posted closed until noon, but did not open until 2:00 pm. By that time the line was very long and it was raining hard. The line remained too long to visit all Sat.

Linda Bailey in Santa Rosa, CA USA 07/08/2007

Best: Opera and baths in Budapest
Why: We paid 4 dollars for decent seats in the beautiful opera house in Budapest. The opera we saw (Don Pasquale) had english subtitles and was really funny. It was a great evening!

You can't miss the baths. After a few hours relaxing in the baths, we felt like we were walking on clouds.

Worst: Levoca in Slovakia
Why: Slovakian Spis area is amazingly beautiful! We rented a car and drove from Poland to Hungary, through small roads in Spis. All the little towns on the way were really nice. Levoca wasn't bad but it was by no means the best town in Spis. For people travelling by train it's the most accessible so it may make sense to stop there, but if you have a car, spend more time in the countryside and less time in Levoca.

Beatriz Costa in Seattle, WA USA 06/29/2007

Best: Budapest, Prague
Why: Both beautiful cities, easy to get around, interesting architecture, great opera.

Worst: Sventendre, Hungary
Why: not much to see; touristy; must transfer from suburban train to bus which is very confusing due to construction.

Mary Ann Rose in Westminster, CO USA 06/28/2007

Best: Guest House Lida in Prague and Suzann's in Fussen, Germany
Why: The staff at Guest House Lida in Prague and Suzann's in Fussen, Germany, all made us feel that we were part of the family.

In Prague we were treated to a one-on-one with the owners who had coffee and cookies ready when we arrived. The walked us through the subway system and provided subway tickets for use. We were warmly welcomed into their home.

The same can be said for Suzann and her family. We have been visiting Suzann's since 1998. This visit we had dinner in her home. The dinner featured fresh picked white asparagus. I am a nurse here in Texas and I had been helping Suzann with reviewing standards of care regarding her husband and herself. She has always gone out of her way to make everyone fell like they were part of the family. We continue to write every few months.

Rick and his staff has always provided great information so that his readers could develop long-lasting friendships. Thank you for a great trip and we are already working on the next trip thanks to your great information.

Worst: added resturant costs in Prague
Why: One resturant suggested by the staff of Guest House Lida in Prague added a fee for bottles of ketsup and mustard they placed on the table. We did not ask for these items and we were not told of the fee. Needless to say we did not leave a tip. Everyone should audit their sales receipts.

Kirby L Nichols in College Station, TX USA 06/19/2007

Best: Prague transportation info
Why: We were able to get from the Train Station (Holesovice) to our Hotel (Hotel Slavia) using your book and public transportation. We each purchased the 7 day Metro/Tram tickets and were able to get around Prague very nicely using your book

W. L. Walters in Newark, De USA 06/13/2007

Best: Plitvice Lakes , Dubrovnik Walls, Budapest
Why: The lakes are gorgeous. I wish I had more than 3 hours to walk around there.

Dubrovnik's walls are amazing, capital-'A' although parts are a bit heady for poor me with vertigo.

I spent a week in Budapest, and wished I had spent twice as much time there. Despite frustrating monolingualism of bath-house and metro-staff, it's a wonderful, wonderful city. Easy to get around, plenty to do, lots of good food in great variety and cheap.

Worst: Trogir
Why: Waste of time really. I would spend no more than one day in Split/Trogir combined. Please note that due to roadworks connecting the two, it can take over an hour to travel 20km. Plitvice is a better destination, hands down.

Mike Williams in http://mikenbondi.blogspot.com, Australia 04/18/2007

Best: Auschwitz, Jewish Area in Krakow (Kazimierz), Schindler's Factory (Krakow)
Why: What can I say about Auschwitz that someone else hasn't said? It was very moving and is a must see.

The Jewish quarter, and particularly the old Jewish Cemetery in Kazimierz was really interesting and had a more authentic (less touristy) feel than the Jewish quarter in Prague.

We followed Rick's instructions to get to Schindler's factory and found it without difficulty. It was locked up and so we decided we would take a picture and leave. At that point, a door opened, a man came out and asked if we were there to see Schindler's factory. When we said "yes", he asked if we would like to go in. We replied "yes" again and he unlocked the gate, let us in, and told us there was a room up the stairs with a brief presentation about Schindler and the Jews of Krakow. Very interesting.

David Carter in Stillwater, OK USA 04/18/2007

Best: Budapest - Raday Utca; Also Ljubljana; Skocjan Caves
Why: Raday Utca-Wonderful atmosphere and out of the tourist crowds...and good food! Ljubljana - what a wonderful little city. I loved the atmosphere! Skocjan Caves - the walking was intense, but totally worth it. The underground river was amazing!

Worst: Well, "worst" is a strong way of putting it, but...
Why: I'd give Ljubljana Castle only one star rather than two. Nice view but otherwise, not terribly impressive.

Carolyn S. in Seattle, WA USA 12/12/2006

Best: Slovenia - all of it
Why: We spent 10 days traveling Slovenia, and despite a few minor disappointments, we thoroughly enjoyed the country and its people. My entire trip report with photos can be viewed at www.sweetbrowndog.com/slovenia1.html

Worst: Savica Falls (Slap Savica) near Bohinj, Slovenia
Why: For those of us relying on public transportation, this was very difficult to reach. Also, you can only view the falls by standing in an enclosed platform that resembles a prison cell.

Scott B. in St. Petersburg, FL USA 11/17/2006

Best: Zakopane and Auschwitz (Poland)
Why: Zakopane is a great ski and hiking town in southern Poland, with excellent shopping, eating and roaming. Many tourists, few American. Found a great flea market at the end of town that went on for blocks. Prices were very reasonable.

If Auschwitz was required for all to see war, might not always be the answer. I truly was saddened but don't regret the day.

Worst: Train and Bus Travel
Why: The trains and buses don't exactly run on schedule. I found first class travel on trains was well worth the next cost in Poland.

Mike Worosz in Griffith, IN USA 11/14/2006

Best: Krakow, Poland
Why: Schindler Factory - the book says it's not open, but when I got there they were shuffling dozens of tourists through, and there was even a short film to watch with scenes from the movie. But the guy at the entrance kept telling us "Of course, this is not open to tourists." Didn't charge us, didn't have to bribe a guard - a very interesting place to see. I thought all I'd see would be a sign on the wall, but there was much more - however unofficial it was!

Klezmer in Kazimierz - I found it a bit of a challenge to find klezmer music. I definitely recommend reservations if you can. I ended up one restaurant (not a Rick recommendation) that seemed almost angry that I wanted to have dinner there and pay for the klezmer concert - which was disappointingly short. BUT - I happened on more klezmer music at Hotel Ester (same side of street as Klezmer-Hois, but at the other end of the block) which was fabulous! And didn't require dinner reservations, you could just sit in the sidewalk cafe with a glass of wine and listen.

Crazy Mike's Communist Tour - I was all set for crude language based on the book's description but Bart, our guide was great! Riding around in a Trabant is fun!

Carolyn S. in Seattle, WA USA 11/10/2006

Best: Go to Auschwitz I & II
Why: As non-Jews, as humans, we needed to honor the dead. We had to know for ourselves. It is a profoundly moving experience, not to be avoided.

Anita Slevin in Park City, UT USA 11/01/2006

Best: Szechenyi Baths
Why: The best way to relax after days of walking in the city. Just don't make the same mistake we did, bring Florins in cash to pay. They don't take Euros and there are no bank machines nearby.

Elaine Canada 10/12/2006

Best: Prague, Krakow, Budapest (and Vienna)
Why: Rick's right. This is the time to go there. The prices are very low and the food is so good as well as the sights Rick recommends. Further, Rick has economical, convenient and comfortable places to stay. It's easy to get around and is the place to go to stretch the dollar. We were able to be economical in Vienna also, because we ate less grandly (out of grocery stores) and stayed at one of Rick's recommended places. Vienna is jam packed with so much to do.

Worst: Sleeper Trains
Why: Trains in the east (from Prague to Krakow and Krakow to Budapest) are old and not comfortable for sleeping. The cars jostle and stop often so it's difficult to sleep. We had a sleeper but slept little. Border guards woke us at 3 AM on the first trip and at 3 AM and 6Am on the second trip. I would take a day train and sleep in a real bed next time. Maybe trains further west are smoother and more comfortable, but where we were, they have a long way to go to be responsive to consumers regarding comfort and interruptions.

Colleen Naughton in Minneapolis, MN USA 10/08/2006

Best: Szechenyi Baths, Budapest
Why: If you're going to Budapest, pack your swimsuit & your flip-flops. The Szechenyi Baths are a don't-miss experience.

Tom Duffy in Northbrook, IL USA 09/23/2006

Best: Plitvice National Park, Crotia
Why: An incredible natural wonder with minimal development so that you can easily and comfortably find your way around the trail system but not have signs, fences, and other manmade objects in the way. We wish that US parks were as pristine as this one. For some reason, the visitors respect nature here and there is no trash, no loud behavior and everyone enjoys this unique place.

Jane Wallace in Walnut Creek, CA USA 09/08/2006

Best: Walking the Walls of Dubrovnik
Why: The views were simply fantastic and the walking / exercise was fun. Was important to go in the direction suggested by the arrows. It was a little hot in July but enjoyable as we did the walk in the late afternoon.

Worst: Image Theater, Black Light Theater, Prague
Why: This must be something that some people like and others just do not. Of the four of us who attended, two thought it was OK and two awful.

Gary Newton in Newport Beach, CA USA 08/23/2006

Best: Auschwitz-Birkenau
Why: Auschwitz-Birkenau is a visit that I will never forget. The historical information is this book provides a good background and as I visited the camp, I was able to recall Rick's descriptions and facts.

Valerie in Rocklin, CA USA 08/17/2006

Best: Lake Bled and area surrounding it.
Why: It's so scenic, easily reachable by public transport. We were able to swim, boat, take walking trips to Vintgar Gorge, up mountains, and take a day trip to Lake Bohinj.

Worst: The disco scene in Ljubljana
Why: See above, way too loud to expect any one in Hostel to sleep.

Lori Guderyon in Madison, WI USA 08/14/2006

Best: Cesky Krumlov Castle
Why: The English tour and room decorations were very detailed. It was a nice change from many of the plundered castles/chateaus we've visited.

Caroline Rausch in Tucson, AZ USA 07/23/2006

Best: Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
Why: It was absolutely magical, the highlight of my entire trip. Also fabulous was walking the walls in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Worst: Szentendre, Hungary
Why: Just another touristy town.

Kyla Gurganus in Ypsilanti, MI USA 07/16/2006

Best: Lida at Magic Praha.
Why: We landed at Prague Airport without accommodations for the night. (Our flight had been overbooked and we had to wait another day.) We could not figure out the phones at the Prague Airport and when we finally did we could not reserve a room by telephone. We tried the message board phones, but discovered that the prices had been raised by 40% or 50%. I know I must have woken Lida up. She asked us to give her ten minutes and call her back. She found us an apartment for the night; the landlady met us at the door and it was clean and comfortable. Lida was so gracious. What a wonderful experience our first night in Prague. The landlady could not speak English, but it didn't matter; her kindness is and warmth are universal. Thank you for suggesting Lida.

Marlene Ruff in El Dorado Hills, CA USA 07/12/2006

Best: Jarden Tours in Krakow
Why: Booked through the Jarden Bookshop mentioned in the book. The 8 passenger van was driven by a guide named Leszek. One of the passengers in the van was a gentleman that had excaped Krakow in 1943 with his sister on a fake Irish passport. It was a very emotional experience for him. After we left Auschwitz, the guide, Leszek, offered to take us to Schindler's factory. Some of us accepted, although the elderly gentlemen from Krakow and his wife decided not to go. We enjoyed this very much although the restoration in incomplete. We then drove by the remaining section of the old ghetto wall. Leszek did not expect any more compensation for the side trip but we tipped him well for the great service he provided. This was one of our best days, despite the horrible past of the areas visited, in large part because of the guide.

Dan Koebel in Seattle, WA USA 07/08/2006

Best: Krakow Guide: Marta Chmielowska e-mail martahm@op.pl
Why: Perfect English and even better disposition!!What a darling girl (in the true Polish spirit)! She and her husband driver in a very clean van were our guide and driver for 10 hours!! Went to Auschwitz, Berkanau, and Chestochowa all in one teriffic day. Hotel pick up and drop off. Thank you Rick!!

maryAnn Bray in Alton, Il USA 06/24/2006

Best: Black Light Theatre, Prague
Why: Enjoyed the origional Jiri Srnec production at the Reduta Theatre. Very well done

Terri Eggeman in valrico, FL USA 06/20/2006

Best: Szecenyi Baths, Budapest
Why: What a blast - and not nearly as complicated as we thought it would be.

Worst: Statue Park, Budapest
Why: Fun for 10 minutes or so, but I felt ripped off. Visiting Socialist Structures was the ultimate capitalist tourist trap. I was going to buy a Statue Park T-Shirt with Lenin, Engels, Rackosi, and Marx looking like the South Park characters - but for $24, I decided against it.

Alan Sheptin in Goldens Bridge, NY USA 06/15/2006

Best: Auschwitz, Auschwitz-birkenau, Krakow
Why: Krakow was a beautiful city! I highly recommend a visit, even if you see little of the historical sights. Main Market Square, especially at night was fabulous. I wish we had had more time for Krakow, but we were on a short schedule! We also went to Auschwitz I and II which were overwhelming. You need to allow plenty of time to see both sites. I would recommend a minimum of 3 hours for each camp and that just barely let us see everything. There were things we didn't get to see. Signs are in multiple languages which makes seeing it on your own easy. Auschwitz I is the main museum center with MANY exhibits, although it got to be very overwhelming (one torture exhibit after another). Auschwitz II (Birkenau) is more of an "as is" place with the actual places intact. This place was haunting and overwhelmingly large. You couldn't see the end of the camp. We have pictures of standing at one end and the other end is barely able to be seen in the picture. BRING COMFORTABLE SHOES AND PLAN ON LOTS OF WALKING!

Worst: Train travel. bus travel, predatory taxi drivers
Why: We took the overnight train from Berlin to Krakow. It was an adventure. Finding the correct train was tricky because we couldn't find anyone who spoke English at 10pm in Berlin at the train station. We finally located someone who pointed us to the correct train. We met our porter, who was very nice, but spoke no English. The sleeper cars are tiny! The closet was even smaller! And sleeper car is an inaccurate term! We slept little! However, there may be many who are used to the noise of train cars being attached and detached...the noise of the train itself...jerky movement...and so on. Other than that the accomodations were clean. Also, I thought we were going to freeze. It got very cold in our train car overnight. In the morning our porter brought us hot tea and croissants so that helped. At the train station (Krakow-Glowny)the next morning, we discovered the taxi drivers who swarmed you with trip offers. Also the Train station was very dirty, there were homeless people actively begging even in the restaurants/shops of the station. They would also just go to the bathroom in the street. Yuck! After escaping them, we discovered we didn't know where to go. We couldn't figure out why there was no one on the street only to discover there was an underground tunnel from the train station to the park. Once there, we found an information booth (labeled with an orange, lowercase i) which gave us a map and directed us to our hotel. Even though it was only 9 am, Hotel Saski checked us in. We felt much better after a hot shower. After that, we took the public bus to Auschwitz. yes, the bus was cheap but it took close to 2 hours because it was a public bus and had MANY stops. Also, if you were unlucky enough to be last on the bus, you got to stand for potentially the whole 2 hours. For a few more zlotys,we felt the train from Krakow to Auschwitz was better deal and it was faster, only about one hour.

Jeannie Fiser in Cincinnati, OH USA 06/12/2006

Best: Budapest's Szechenyi Baths
Why: The true Budapest experience! And not all that difficult to enter - most of the staff speak some English and they're very helpful. And guys, if you stand over the jets on the bottom of the pool you'll quickly understand why the locals wear those Speedo-type suits: baggies = instant wedgie.

Worst: No Sleeper Car on the Night Train from Budapest to Krakow
Why: But fortunately our 8-person compartment emptied out about two hours into the 11 hour trip. I shudder to think what it would have been like if we hadn't had it to ourselves. Don't cheap out, spring for the sleeper.

Roger M in Portland, OR USA 06/09/2006

Worst: Hotel Grodek, Krakow, Poland
Why: Beware - we cancelled our reservation to the Grodek hotel (arranged by the Maltanski hotel when they could not accommodate us) one month in advance of the reservation date and they refused to give us a refund.

Kirk Greiner in Edmonds, WA USA 06/09/2006

Worst: Pansion Jagerhorn, Zagreab
Why: Had reservation for May 15, 2006. Was a hot day in Zagreb, in the mid '80s. No one at reception desk. Woman from the bar at the restaurant gave us room key. The rooms were in the attic with skylight window. The airconditioning was not working in the 2 rooms we tried and it was easily 95 in the rooms. The asst. mgr, Mr. Tomislav Hrup, with whom I had e-mailed for the reservation was nowhere to be found. We decided not to stay and went over to the Hotel Dubrovnik, where we had tried to book online a month previously and it had been full. Luckily, they had a room for us and in minutes, we were in a lovely airconditioned room. For unclear reasons, we were given a 10% discount on check-out, making it only slightly more expensive than the Pansion Jagerhorn, plus the breakfast buffet was fabulous. Please reconsider having Pansion Jagerhorn in the next edition.

Amy MacNaughton in Edmonds, WA USA 06/08/2006

Best:
Why: Everything we did/saw/ate that Rick recommended was a hit. We were not disappointed.

Jane Stump in Orlando, fl USA 05/30/2006

Best: Venice, and everything in Slovenia
Why: Beautiful sites, and fun, friendly people.

Marlene Eaton in Greenhills, OH USA 04/23/2006

Best: Szechenyi Baths - Budapest
Why: What a blast! The current pool is a lot of fun. The system really and truly is not as confusing as it is made out to be. Many speak some form of English. This is a must do when in Budapest.

Alan Sheptin in Goldens Bridge, NY USA 04/19/2006

Best: Terror House, Budapest
Why: An outstanding museum showing, very graphically I might add, how modern history has affected Budapest. While many of the exhibits were not in English, you really came away with how horrible life must have been for the Hungarians under Nazi and Soviet subjugation.

Alan Sheptin in Goldens Bridge, NY United States 04/19/2006

Worst: Budapest guides
Why: Be careful. We contacted and contracted (by email) with Balazs Gabor for a tour. He sent someone else who didn't speak English and had an itinery set without our input. We didn't learn much but drove quickly past many sites.

Kim Garrett USA 04/04/2006

Worst: Trying to enter Slovenia WITHOUT a Passport
Why: Yes, it's obvious! We SHOULD HAVE had our passports with us, but somehow we forgot them in our carryon bags from our previous day's flight. I think we were lulled into thinking Slovenia in now a part of the European Union, so we'd just drive across its open border -- like we did the Italian/Austrian border. I know Rick preaches to use a money belt, with your passport inside. Even MORE emphasis should be put on the simple requirement to ALWAYS carry that passport. We learned the hard way, and I'm still heartbroken that we drove almost 3 hours (from Venice) and were NOT allowed to enter and see Slovenia.

Allen in Indianapolis, IN USA 03/28/2006

Best: Szechenyi Baths
Why: So much fun! There were so many bodies of water to try, and countless opportunities to people watch. Lots of fun when you were sprayed by an unexpected water jet! We loved the eddy pool and the jacuzzi tub in the center. We went in winter and it was lots of fun to run from pool to pool.

Worst: Gellert Baths
Why: Not worst, but overrated. Dark and a little depressing, and the sex segregation isn't as much fun.

Zoe Trieff in Austin, TX USA 03/16/2006

Worst: Villa San Dubrovnik
Why: Without visiting it we decided not to. their email was curt and we were not sure if we had a reservation or not. They also told us to take a bus or taxi from the airport after advertising that they woud pickup at any time of the day or night on their website. I think your recommendation has gone to their head.

Carol O'Keefe in Rockaway, NJ USA 03/09/2006

Best: Dont miss the Broque Castle Theater! Cesky Krumlov
Why: It was so unique. Your eyes really played tricks on you. It was facinating to see how the extreme depth perception was accomplished as well as the quick changing of scenery. No wonder there are only two left in the world.

Jill Van Langeveld in Salt Lake City, UT USA 02/13/2006

Best: Hiring a guide in Prague, Cesky Krumlov, Lake Bled, Slovenia, Plitvice Lakes, Hvar by VW bug, Korcula, Dubrovnik and Mostar, Bosnia Herzegovina
Why: Each destination was beautiful in its own and different way. Plitvice Lakes was a wonder. A must see for everyone! The Soca River Valley and the Julian Alps were beautiful.

Worst: Sunbathing on concrete in Piran on coast of Slovenia
Why: It was amazing to see many many tourists on towels on concrete along the Adriatic Coast. The rocks on the Dalmatian island beaches were not much better.

Daryl Hartnett in Colorado Springs, CO USA 01/26/2006