Looking for help on holidaying in Poland

la531983

TheShape said:

eskbanker said:

One option would be to fly to, and stay in, Krakow, and visit Auschwitz/Birkenau - guided group tours are available, including transfers to/from the city, about an hour away.

If I'm travelling to Poland and doing anything related to WW2, this would be my choice.  No WW2 related place more famous/infamous than Auschwitz/Birkenau.

When I visited Krakow I did a day tour that included both Auschwitz/Birkenau and a visit to The Salt Mines. Two places well worth visiting and a day tour is an efficient way to visit both.  When I did such a trip, a driver picked us up from our hotel.  There were only four people in our vehicle (plus the driver).  There will almost certainly be tours where the transport is by a larger vehicle such as a mini-bus or coach but you'd probably then have a designated meeting point rather than direct hotle pick-up/drop-off.  At Auchwitz they passed us over to the tour guide at the site and did the same at the Salt Mine.  We had a lunch stop near the Salt Mine.  We we taken back to our hotel at the end of the day.

Both tours at the actual sites were in large groups where you would be relatively anonymous.  

As for booking, you might use skyscanner to start your search.  Select airports near you as the departure point and Krakow, for example, as the destination. When you've got an idea of which airline is flying there, I would recommend going throught the airlines website to book.  Do carefully check the luggage allowance/rules.

If you can get an early flight out and/or a late return flight the daytrip can be done on your full-day (Day 2) and some other sites in Krakow on Day 1 or Day 3.  Be sure to check what is open/opening times for the days you are there.

Just to add to this, its very easy to get to where the salt mine is from a train from the train station, which is underneath a huge shopping mall. Helpful that our hotel was nearby.  Tickets bought from a machine actually on the train!

The airport is also on the same suburban train line that goes from the airport to the salt mine (via Krakow central)

B0bbyEwing

Thanks very much for the responses. Certainly given me things to look in to.

While I'm asking questions - what's the English like over there? Obviously I don't speak any Polish.

daveyjp

In major cities not an issue.  Most of your dealings will be with people in hospitality - transport, hotels, restaurants, bars, shops - and those staff are used to dealing with customers from all over the world.  Google lens is handy for translating on the fly.

badger09

Another strong recommendation for a Jet2 City Break, particularly for inexperienced travellers. 

When looking for sightseeing tours, guided walks etc I use Get Your Guide  which pulls together a wide variety of options at various budgets. Great cancellation policy & I’ve used them many times and always been impressed with value & their very clear communications. 

Indout96

If your intention is to learn more about WWII then Gdansk would be my recommendation. Its very easy to get to and small enough to walk everywhere if you stay near old town.
The WWII museum is the best I have ever seen and will take you all day, we spend 7 hours and did not complete everything but at the time the food / drinks were outside the main area, it has now moved inside. You can walk to it in about 20 mins from the old town area. 
Museum of the Second World War
Don't be fooled by the size in the pictures, most of it is underground (there are free lockers for coats bags ect in the entrance.
This is a walk around yourself museum but with audio guide and most text items in English.

If you do go to Krakow then please visit Schindlers factory museum which we thought was more thought provoking that Auschwitz again you can walk to this from the old town areas of Krokow in about 30 /40 mins but its not easy to find so I recommend a taxi there and walk back.
Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory - Museum of Krakow
You do go around with a guide on this but it is in a group of about 12 and very informative but incredibly sad.

Poland is the most wonderful country so I am sure you will enjoy wherever you decide.

Baled

Most big cities have the free walking tours - you just pay a donation of your choice to the tour guide at the end. There's always a big group with those.

That option however wouldn't be available at Auschwitz. I didn't go to Auschwitz but I did do the Salt mines. I am used to a lot of walking but that alone was a LOT of walking. 

Krakow is a fantastic destination all round. If you do you go there I would recommend trying to add another night. Depending on the time of year you go sometimes it really doesn't cost that much more.

Another vote for Jet2 city breaks.