Messages: 125,411 - Threads: 23,305
posted
25-May-2003 17:06
by:
everbrite »
last reply
02-Nov-2009 22:51
by:
peterfox006 »
132
replies
,
155,278
views
START HERE for information about Central Europe including Albania, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia.
Inside you'll find the answers to most of the common questions of the region
Edited by: Irene_Adler
posted
22-Sep-2006 18:11
by:
AkilinaL »
last reply
17-Nov-2009 20:59
by:
novesta »
9
replies
,
16,915
views
START HERE for information about Russia, the TransSiberian train routes, Belarus and Ukraine -
New RU Sticky and New RU Train sticky
Belarus FAQs
Ukraine FAQs
This post links to specific informational threads or stickies. Please do not ask your questions on these threads. If you have questions, please find another thread and ask them there or start a new thread. However, please feel free to add information to these threads that you think will be useful to other travelers.
Thanks to Ruth (Everbrite), Gene (TravelsWise) and Louise (lo...
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posted
26-Nov-2009 11:54
by:
Rockland »
last reply
26-Nov-2009 11:54
by:
Rockland »
0
replies
,
9
views
location: Turkey
Hello,
I will be making my first time trip to Turkey in February.
I had originally planned on joining a 2 week tour with GAP Adventures but it has been cancelled due to lack of interest I guess. ( I know February isn't the best time to visit Turkey....)
I've been trying to find another group to join but have had no luck so now I am considering just doing the same general itinerary on my own.
At this point I don't have the time to spend hours and hours of time doing research as far as looking up bus schedules, hotels etc..I'd rather spend my time that I have right now reading up on the sites and history so I know what I'm seeing when I'm there. So my question is this: would this itinerary be fairly easy to follow for an english only speaking first time visitor?
Is getting around fairly easy?
Do I need a guide?
Here's an overview of the itinerary:
Day 1 Arrive Istanbul
Arrive...
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posted
26-Nov-2009 08:22
by:
tippicat »
last reply
26-Nov-2009 11:01
by:
tippicat »
2
replies
,
33
views
Hello!
I have 9 days off during late March - early April and am considering a trip to Estonia & Lithuania, to be split between the two cities of Tallinn & Vilnius. If I have the time, I'd also love to add on Trakai and the Hill of Crosses.
However, I know that the timing isn't all that great, since it will be the end of winter, and the weather will probably still be cold and the roads icy and slushy.
The guide books that I've read so far aren't all that promising about the weather, either, but I thought I'd check on here to see if it is as bad as the books say, or if I could still have a relatively good trip despite the weather?
The actual dates that I am looking at are March 27th to April 4th.
posted
26-Nov-2009 05:49
by:
librarian_on_fire »
last reply
26-Nov-2009 05:49
by:
librarian_on_fire »
0
replies
,
14
views
location: Russia
Hi,
The visa support team at visatorussia.com have informed me that at present the Russian consulate in Wellington, New Zealand are very strict at the moment for people wanting to visit Russia without pre-booking a hotel for their whole trip. My plans are to travel to the Russian Far East.
I have looked at hotels to stay at, but their rates for early 2010 have not been released yet.
Regards
Barry
posted
26-Nov-2009 05:00
by:
scott100678 »
last reply
26-Nov-2009 12:55
by:
Firehazard Jack »
5
replies
,
67
views
location: Russia
Hello fellow travelers!1
I am applying for a Russian tourist visa and was wondering if it was really neseccary to register my visa once inside Russia. Is there any who has
departed through SVO recently? Were you asked for any documents other than your passport?
Thanks to anyone who replies
posted
26-Nov-2009 03:32
by:
worldtraveller8 »
last reply
26-Nov-2009 03:32
by:
worldtraveller8 »
0
replies
,
26
views
location: Moldova
I went across the border from Odesa to Tiraspol this Monday.
I was hold up at the border for about haft hour. The two old ladies who shared the taxi with me didnot have to get out the car and went through.
The border securities aked me how much money I had. I told them I did not have money. They took me to a small office on the side of the road. They searched my camera bag and did not find any thing. And asked me to empty all my pockets. I just show them my wallet instead. I only have 40 Hrv (about $5US). I ignored them to empty all my pockets. One guard asked me if I was an journalist because I had my notepack with me. Two guards talked to each other in Rus. I thought they tried to scare me but I didnot understand Russian language. Fanally, one guard asked me if I understand Rusian and then told me to go back to Ukraine. When I went out the office, the taxi driver used hand si...
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posted
26-Nov-2009 01:00
by:
Thrillhouse85 »
last reply
26-Nov-2009 05:03
by:
Francois »
2
replies
,
40
views
I've been accepted to an internship program and Turkey and am very excited, but am unsure of where to go; I've been given a few options, but know very little about the cities, and thusfar Wikipedia has only really given objective info. The cities are Ankara, Kocaeli, and Izmir.
Really I'd just like to hear what the cities are like and which is nicest/what's interesting in each. Even if you haven't been to all, it'd be great to get some info on those you do know. I've heard Ankara is a bit boring (sort of like Ottawa or Canberra or DC), while all I know about Izmir is that it's a port city on the coast. Is it nice? "Port city" can mean a lot of things, as I found out in Europe. I have no info about Kocaeli whatsoever.
Cheers.
posted
26-Nov-2009 00:07
by:
tonilebowski »
last reply
26-Nov-2009 00:07
by:
tonilebowski »
0
replies
,
19
views
location: Hungary
We reserve a place in downtown, for a good price by a french company called cote-est.
posted
25-Nov-2009 22:06
by:
MrsMonkey »
last reply
26-Nov-2009 11:53
by:
BurakI »
6
replies
,
74
views
location: Turkey
I'm going to Istanbul again in December - yay!
Does anyone know where I can download and print a street map of Istanbul please? I'm only going for a few days so I'm too tight to buy one and all the ones I've found so far aren't suitable for printing or don't give street names (I'm going to be hunting out a couple of very specific cafes you see)
Anyone got any overriding opinions on the best kebab in the city? I've been before but am veggie - this time boyf is coming too and he adores a good kebab.
Can anyone give me the average price for a few basic items please (a beer, a coffee, budget-mid range two-course meal etc). I remember it being quite expensive last time and now the GBP is worth so little, I'd like to know how much I should save for a 4-day trip (B&B and flight are already covered)
Thanks very much
posted
25-Nov-2009 21:03
by:
LisaSoe »
last reply
26-Nov-2009 00:26
by:
Jeroen »
1
replies
,
95
views
location: Albania
Hi all,
on 28th of march we`ll be off for Albania. I know it`s a bit off-season, I can also imagine not being able to go to Teth or other remote areas if there`s still much snow, but has anybody else travelled in early spring ? In some books it sounded as "don`t even try to go to small villages, they are only accesible from may on" or so. Is it really like that ? Should we stick only to the cities and coast ? Being middle-european, I would imagine weather conditions inland are the same as home, warmer at the coast...
Another question: does anybody know if there are furgeons or buses directly from Tirana or Elbasan to Ohrid in Makedonia ?
Thanks for any answers.
Lisa
posted
25-Nov-2009 18:38
by:
airamerica »
last reply
26-Nov-2009 03:46
by:
loveistanbul »
1
replies
,
35
views
location: Turkey
Hello everybody
We intend to do a short expedition in Turkey, in June 2010
Now we are in the ghatering information stage.
Thi sis the route:
Day 1 Craiova – Istanbul 720 km
Day 2 Istanbul
Day 3 Istanbul
Day 4 Istanbul
Day 5 Istanbul – Safranbolu 412 km
Day 6 Safranbolu
Day 7 Safranbolu – Amsya 485 km
Safranbolu – Bogozkale 306 km
Bogozkale – Amasya 179 km
Day 8 Amsya – Goreme 311 km
Day 9 Goreme
Day 10 Goreme
Day 11 Goreme – Pamukkale 650 km
Day 12 Pamukkale – Selciuk (Efes) 200 km
Day 13 Selciuk – Canakkale 400 km
Day 14 Canakkale – Gelibolu 100 km
Day 15 Gelibolu – Craiova 737 km
We estimate a budget for 2 pers and 1 Land Rover at 2000 euros.
We looking for trvel tios, sites to see, olaces to go on thsis route
Who can help us?
posted
25-Nov-2009 14:16
by:
tsargrendel »
last reply
26-Nov-2009 02:49
by:
Paanwallah »
5
replies
,
90
views
location: Russia
Hey, I'm thinking about flying to Moscow from JFk on Aeroflot in late March and I have a few questions. I've been hearing some pretty bad things about Aeroflot and I'm wondering if there's anything to these reviews, as most of them are at least a year or so old. So has anyone flow this route recently? How is Aeroflot? Thanks
posted
25-Nov-2009 12:51
by:
alote »
last reply
26-Nov-2009 07:45
by:
zuyeuk »
3
replies
,
81
views
location: Russia
I am a single female traveller planning the Moscow Beijing route in January 2010
Can anyone tell me of their experiences on the Trans siberian during this period? I know that volumes of western travellers are lower at this time of year and I am nervous of not meeting any other travellers (I dont speak Russian!)
If anyone has any personal experiences of travelling during this period I would be most grateful
posted
25-Nov-2009 11:36
by:
mongfolio »
last reply
26-Nov-2009 06:44
by:
alan1972 »
5
replies
,
95
views
OK guys, It's time to start planning summer 2010 and I just want your advice as my guidebook isnt helping me that much and cant really find anything on the web..
I'm used to travelling on my own (Did Kyiv - Istanbul last year but down the east)
Here is my proposed route, im thinking mostly bus travel as I found this to be much cheaper than trains this year and as ever I am on a super tight budget.
Im more bothered about if its actually possible to travel between these destinations directly, not about accom or anything....
So, here goes... (In this order)
TURKEY:
Istanbul
GREECE;
Thessaloniki
MACEDONIA:
Skopje
***Possibly transit through Albania without stopping, unless you reccomend it...)
MONTENEGRO:
Bar
Budva
Kotor
CROATIA:
Dubrovnik
BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA:
Mostar
Sarajevo
SERBIA:
Belgrade
HUNGARY:
Budapest
UKRAINE:
Lviv
Kyiv
T...
more »
posted
25-Nov-2009 11:15
by:
thmsstllnwrk »
last reply
26-Nov-2009 06:18
by:
ktack »
5
replies
,
102
views
I will be going on a trip from Turkey to Ukraine in March/April 2010. I completely lack experience with that area.
What is the best (most exciting / most beautiful / most impressive...) way to Odessa, Ukraine, from Istanbul, Turkey?
Due to a time limit of approximately two weeks, most likely either the Istanbul-Veliko Tarnovo-Bucuresti-Galati -Odessa route or the one via Istanbul-Burgas-Varna-Constanta -Galati-Odessa are the only ones possible.
Does anyone have travelled one of them, maybe partially?
What's the better choice for travelling in that area? Taking trains or busses? How much are busses from Istanbul to Bulgaria?
Thanks!
Thomas
posted
25-Nov-2009 09:05
by:
finn_nl »
last reply
26-Nov-2009 04:49
by:
everbrite »
9
replies
,
169
views
location: Poland
Hi everyone,
I wanted to run something by you that I've been thinking about for a while. In January I will be going on a college society trip to Kraków for a few days.. I'm looking forward to it hugely; new country, beautiful city etc, but obviously most people who are going will want to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau. And I'm torn. From a historical perspective I would find it incredibly interesting. As a Dutchman I've grown up with a lot of WW2 history all around me, heard the stories from my grandparents, seen an endless amount of films, documentaries and had many a history class on the topic.
But to be honest, at the moment I'm beginning to feel like Auschwitz has become a tourist attraction, a 'must do when in Poland' thing. I want to do the thing that will do most respect to the victims but I think I'd be sickened if there are people there treating it like yet another tourist at...
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