Poland help

melissa'smoney

hi ive done this trip and loved it, went mainly to go to Auschwitz, i have posted lots of info and step by step guides on Tripadvisor.com under zipy77 on the krakow board

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g274772-i961-k1352463-l8145759-Just_returned_from_Krakow_tips_and_infofor_Auschwitz_visit-Krakow_Southern_Poland.html

Briggsy.notts wrote: »

I am thinking of going to Poland in June this year for about a week and wondered if anyone had any suggestions on good accommodation and people to book tours through. Looking at staying in Krakow and want to do the salt mines and Auschwitz. Looking at booking it all separate as otherwise it's going to cost me about £600 to book a coach tour or something similar. Many thanks in advance for any help.

pboae

Krakow is one of the easiest place to visit independently. Even if you fly into Katowice rather than Krakow, it's easy to get the airport bus into Krakow proper (though it's not the most comfortable ride, given the choice I'd rather fly straight into KRK).

These are my favourite apartments, http://www.grodzka.net.pl/ I've recommended them on here many times. I've got no connection with them, other than being a very satisfied repeat customer. They have other tourist apartment blocks as well, Szczepanska is nice as well, but IMHO Grodzka is a little nicer.

They also have a travel agency (which is in the lobby of the Grodzka block) and will collect you from the airport and can arrange trips to the Salt Mines or Auschwitz. Both are easy to do on your own though, you don't need to take a tour, but if you go to the mines on your own check first what times the English tours are if you don't speak Polish.

There is a tour agency on every corner in Krakow though, and they all charge pretty much the same, so if you prefer to do it that way you'll have no difficulty arranging it.

It's a beautiful city, and even though the main centre is small, there is so much in the area that even in a week you'll not fit it all in.


EDIT: oh and if you want something a bit different, try the http://www.crazyguides.com/ tours, they are very silly, but fun, and take you to places a bit further off the main tourist routes.

omelette451

pboae wrote: »

Even if you fly into Katowice rather than Krakow, it's easy to get the airport bus into Krakow proper (though it's not the most comfortable ride, given the choice I'd rather fly straight into KRK).

Depends whether you get the bus or the train...

pboae

omelette451 wrote: »

Depends whether you get the bus or the train...

I know a couple of people who've been mugged at Katowice train station (not that Krakow is the nicest train station in the world either, but I don't actually know anyone who has had serious trouble there). I'd still take the train myself, but I wouldn't be comfortable recommending the route to other people. The shuttle buses are definitely more geared to tourists.

omelette451

pboae wrote: »

I know a couple of people who've been mugged at Katowice train station (not that Krakow is the nicest train station in the world either, but I don't actually know anyone who has had serious trouble there). I'd still take the train myself, but I wouldn't be comfortable recommending the route to other people. The shuttle buses are definitely more geared to tourists.

That's true, and by the time you've made it to Katowice and caught the train it's probably quicker to take the bus. It's funny though, I once spent several hours at night at Katowice station waiting for a train that left in the early hours of the morning and didn't see or hear of any trouble at all, but perhaps I was just lucky. In fact I seem to remember sitting in the ticket hall, so maybe that was why.

mystic_trev

I've been to Krackow twice and Zakopane once - Auschwitz Birkenau is best visited from Krackow, which is a nicer place to base yourself. You can book the Auchwitz tour from either your Hotel or the Tourist office in the main square. I've done it twice, once in the summer and once in Winter. It really is something everyone should experience - Mans inhumanity to man.

kje_2

Krakow is an awesome city. I flew to Krakow and then got the train into the city centre (6-7zl, I think). I didn't do Auchwitz but did visit the salt mine. There is a taxi/minibus that picks people up and the salt mine is on the drop off/pick up point. It stops at various places en-route to pick up the locals and costs next to nothing. The hotels do a deal where you can be picked up from the hotel but you're paying a premium for that service. Krakow has to be one of the most beautiful cities that I've been to. The only downside is there is some begging going on which I've not experienced in other Polish cities (must be a tourist thing with Krakow). Not aggressive but annoying, however, I never felt threatened there.

kje_2

The "InYourPocket" guides are well worth downloading (pdf) or buying at a hotel.

omelette451

kje wrote: »

The "InYourPocket" guides are well worth downloading (pdf) or buying at a hotel.

You mean you have to pay for it in Krakow? Everywhere I've found them they've been free!

kje_2

Complimentary in some hotels but 5zl in other places. Check their website.