Off to E Europe

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Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 12:18 pm

I fancy flying halfway around the world and going to Bucharest, Hungary, Slovakia and Czech republic before heading to more familiar ground in W Europe. Any suggestions for E Europe?
(It's gotta be cheaper than I am!) Smile

Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 12:20 pm

inbetween East and West would be Switzerland, its a nice place even in the summer, good bankers as well Wink

Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 12:21 pm

Reaper wrote:

inbetween East and West would be Switzerland ...

Huh??

Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 12:22 pm

^^^ I don�t get it....in what way is Switzerland inbetween East and Western europe? It is neither geographically, politically and most of all: it isn�t cheap by ANY standard... Shocked

Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 12:22 pm

Austria and/or Poland

Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 12:24 pm

*sniff* thank you for putting austria into eastern europe....we are central europe... Shocked

greetings from Austria Wink

Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 12:24 pm

yep my geography needs desperate help....well it has been neutral it's entire life...by that why it could be centre...sorry just trying to salvage my horrible geography

considering my ancestors come from Switzerland I should know were it is..though I'm in Australia

Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 12:26 pm

Poland is probably 'the road less travelled' from a tourist point of view, but the language is a bugger! Laughing

Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 12:30 pm

/\
Brdcrmb

Why the sniff? What's wrong with E Europe? Austria borders Slovenia, Hungary and Czech Republic - all proper East Europe countries.

And anyway Austria is one of the most beatiful countries I have seen.

*** BANNED *** Joined: 02 Jan 2006 Posts: 2021

Bulgaria is the place to go, any one of the Black Sea resorts will do but i recommend Albena. (Just don,t take the wife Wink

)

Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 12:38 pm

Some of the ex-Soviet era countries are becoming popular tourist destinations.
Latvia and Lithuania are two that spring to mind and they are particularly friendly on the wallet.

Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 12:40 pm

If you really want to go budged go in a youth HOSTEL but be carefull with the suss looking youth HOSTEL's Shocked

Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 12:48 pm

Poland is lovely. Warsaw is probably your best bet as it's less touristy the Krakow and therefore a bit cheaper.

Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 12:54 pm

Quote:

Why the sniff?

The *sniff* was because we have never been part of the warsaw pact or behind the iron curtain Wink

That�s nothing against these countries, it�s just that we have been a "western country" back then Wink

We might be a little over-sensitive about that though Wink

Quote:

And anyway Austria is one of the most beatiful countries I have seen.

I am glad you enjoyed it here Smile

Wannabe Baiter Joined: 03 May 2007 Posts: 94

Prague is excellent, if you go to the Czech Republic you should definitely go to Prague. They have a beautiful old center and the night life is great as well.
When I was there two years ago I really enjoyed it.

I have also been to Minsk in Belarus which was quite nice, and I liked Lviv in Ukraine a lot as well. If you should really end up in Minsk try going to a soccer game. I saw Belarus vs. Scotland and the atmosphere was absolutely amazing, it just blow me away.

I hear Krak�w, Poland is very nice too but I have only been there once to change trains and have not really seen a lot but it made a nice impression nonetheless.

I'm sure there are beautiful places in the other countries as well but I can talk about what I already visited, hope it helps.
BS

Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 4:21 pm

I was in Bratislava a few weeks ago - can wholeheartedly recommend it!

Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 4:49 pm

If you like cocktails, I can recommend the Book Club (hope that is the right name) in Prague. My brother lives in Prague and I find it very useful to have a person to show me around who speaks the language. I love Prague, but the language barrier can be challenging, since I found that the older generation does not always speak English. In that one bar, you can get some very good, and cheap cocktails, the music is not too loud to have a conversation and the staff speaks fluent English and is very friendly.

Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 9:05 pm

Thanks for the tips. I'm flying to the UK to see my ailing parent and have a friend in Prague to see as well. As my SO comes from Moldova I thought I'd see a bit of Romania (dunno, it made more sense when I first planned it) and head to Prague from the East. Gives me a chance to tick a few more countries off (45 so far).

I really am a cheap arse - I'd rather take a night train or hitch than pay for a hostel (and God forbid a hotel). Hell, I'd sleep in a doorway to save a few bob, so I must admit to wondering where Switzerland came in on the cheap East European countries description Very Happy

Plus, been there, done that - beautiful country. I swear they get up and mow the damned mountains every day.

I plan coming to Moldova from the Russian side in a year's time, so will see Ukraine and Poland (and Georgia - looks nice) and then go to Turkey via Bulgaria. This trip is just a dash through Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Cz before bolting to Paris.

I've heard Cluj in E Rom is nice. I'll definitely check out the Book Club in Prague. Any more details on the location? I could also go to Borat's 'home' which is Glod, 20 miles north of Bucharest. When I told my SO she laughed and said it translates as 'mud' or 'dirt'. But then she also said beware of the gypsies. Doesn't mind me going through Transylvania though..

Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 10:08 pm

GordonBennett wrote:

... I thought I'd see a bit of Romania ...

Take some hay along to feed the engine for your rental "car." Wink

Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 5:10 am

You can get a bus from London to Prague - 17 hours, so that takes care of one nights accommodation Wink

Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 7:55 am

Quote:

London to Prague - 17 hours

That's pretty damned quick! How much for Prague to London?

Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 7:55 am

Gordon: When in Prague, make sure to stick with your friend and have him show you around. The city center is ridiculously overpriced, since the tourists do not know local prices.

I am not from Prague but I have some knowledge of it, since I visit the city every month or so, so if you need some tips on what to see there, PM me.

Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 1:03 pm

I am in Hungary so if you pass through be sure to say Hi Wink

Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 1:45 pm

I'll put my travels up on the web somewhere - bound to have some hijinks. Thanks to raymondluxuryyacht for some brilliant tips on Prague. Very Happy

Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 6:18 pm

Found a linky for that bar: http://prague.tv/prague/nightlife/cocktail-bars/tynska-bar-and-books
well, ALMOST got the title correctly Laughing