Southern Poland | Poland - Lonely Planet Forum

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Mon, 19 Jan 2009 21:15:44 +0000

Hi, I am contemplating a one week trip to Poland and thought I should focus on the southern part visiting Krakow, Czestochowa (sp?), Wadowice. I do not drive "stick shift" (manual transmission) so I assume finding an automatic may be very difficult. My questions are:
1. Is one week too much time for a trip just visiting this region for someone without a car to move around and explore small towns? Or would I have too much time and perhaps should try to do Warsaw too?
2. Any other specific towns in that general region that I should check out?
3. Is public transportation (train/bus) between the places mentioned above reasonably easy to figure out once there to move between these towns?
4. Is there any possibility of hiring a car to drive us around? How best to identify someone reliable for this and how much may be reasonable to pay?
5. Any recommendations on places to stay in those towns? Not looking for ritzy, nice but not run down either. Bed-and-breakfast type in whatever shape that may exist in the region is good.
6. Finally, I speak English, French and Spanish fluently but no Polish... Will I be able to get around on my own well enough?

I apologize for "20 questions" in advance and equally thank you in advance
Raul

ONLINE

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 06:03:36 +0000

If you like nature, Zakopane offers some beautiful walking in spectaucular mountain scenery, and is a cute town as well. And in the region is also Auschwitz. I haven't been to Czestochowa or Wadowice, so can't say anything about them, but in general I think you would find enough in the region to keep you interested for a week.

In touristy places like Krakow, Auschwitz, and Zakopane, you'll be fine with english (the french and spanish won't help, german would), but in small towns you'll be struggling, but you'll get by with pointing and hand gestures and good will.

Public transport in Poland is pretty good and reasonably easy even without Polish.

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ONLINE

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 07:47:07 +0000

I wouldn't bother with the car - mostly because the driving here is CRAZY and if you go anywhere near a town, add parking to that. Public transport is cheap, straightforward and efficient, and will get you everywhere you want to go.
If you want to hire a car, just look up the major companies' sites - they will give you the relevant rates, and whether automatics are available.
I definitely don't think a week is too much - there is a lot to see and do and a week is not very long! Krakow alone (with Wieliczka salt mines and Auschwitz could easily take up a week. as #1 says, Zakopane is a beautiful little place with lots of moutain walks that is also worth visiting. Wroclaw is also worth a trip, although a little further west. But Krakow and Czestochowa will be plenty.
You'll be fine getting around without Polish, plenty of people won't speak English but you can get by.

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