Poland, Slovakia and Czech Republic Trip

Courtesy of the American Spouses of Brunssum Travel Information Guide

Time of year: April 3-10, 2004 -- Only had one day of rain, otherwise we hit beautiful weather. (It was nice also going during Easter break as there wasn't a shortage of Easter decorations and traditions around each area.)

Itinerary: Stayed the first night in Alsfeld at a (really out of the way) B&B, then went on to Boleslawiec and hit the many pottery places, then drove onto Krakow via the highway which leaves a lot to be desired. After Krakow, we went up to Zakopane and then through Slovakia onward to Olomouc and finally Prague. (Happy to have a rental car on the Polish roads. Wouldn't want to put our own car through such abuse.)

The route we took was from Aachen: A4/E314, A4/E40 at Koln change to A3/E35/E40, then A4/E40, A45/E40/E41, at Geissen (you can gas up before 6 p.m. at the military base) change to B49/E40/E44, B429/E40, A480/E40, A5/A7/E40, A7/E40, A4/E40, A4/E40/E55, A4/E40, cross border into Poland and stay on 4 road. Stay on 4 road/E40, A4/E36/E40, A4/E40, 4 road/E40, here you'll hit roadwork, 4 road/88 road/E40, 4 road, 4 road/79 road, 79 road, A4, 79 road, 4 road/E40/E462. From Krakow, take A4, exit towards Budapest and Zakopane, 7 road/E77, 47 road. From Zakopane, we took 4 road/E40/E77, 7 road/E77, 52 road, 1 road/E462/E75, E462, 48 road/E462, 47 road/E442/E462, 35 road/E442/E462, D35/E442/E462, exit Olomouc on 35 road/E442/E462. From Olomouc, we went via Brno to Prague, 46 road/E462, A46/46 road/E462, D1/E462, D1/E462/E50, D1/E50/E65, D1/E465/E50/E65, D1/E50/E65, D1/E50/E59/E65, D1/E50/E55/E59/E65, and E50/E55/E59/E65. Then we went to Heidelberg for a night from Prague.

Boleslawiec

Stayed at: Protea Hotel -- http://www.protea.com.pl

Activities: We hit the many pottery places.

Krakow

Stayed at: An apartment right by the Cloth Hall

Activities:

• Wieliczka salt mines (http://www.poland-embassy.si/eng/poland/wieliczka.htm),
• Auschwitz Camp (we took our kids and it was suitable for them as well; very well done; http://www.krakow-info.com/auschwit.htm)
• The city tour of the old Jewish area. Plenty of area to walk and see--very nice city center. http://www.krakow-info.com/index.htm, http://www.visit.pl/index.php, http://www.warsawshotel.com/lastminute_k.asp

Zakopane

Stayed at: A military hotel in Zakopane -- check with the Polish delegation for reservations

Activities: We went up on the gondola to the top of the mountain for a great view. There was just enough snow to make it absolutely beautiful up there. Great skiing area, which makes the area very scenic and rustic.

• http://goeasteurope.about.com/od/polanddestinations/a/zakopane.htm

Olomouc (former capital of Czechoslovakia)

Stayed at: Hotel Pracharna -- http://www.hotel-pracharna.cz/

Activities: There are a lot of historic buildings with great architecture to see, as well as lots of fountains and statues. Enjoyed our walk, even for half a day!

• http://www.olomouc-tourism.cz/index.asp?lng=en&makt=1&cat=zinfo
• http://www.hotel-pracharna.cz/english/

Prague

Stayed at: Szczepanski Apartments

Activities: The history and beauty of the city is worth walking around to see and explore. We walked for three days and didn't see everything, although we tried!

• http://www.warsawshotel.com/prague-hotel.htm

• http://www.prague.cz/

Children:

"Our kids enjoyed the salt mines, Auschwitz (we gave them a history lesson before we went there), Zakopane (running around in the snow--dress warm!), and the horse-carriage rides. They also enjoyed getting to pick out a pottery item and a souvenir from each place. I also gave them each a disposable camera to take pictures of all the places we went and to see it from their perspective--it kept them focused on the next place to go as well, instead of how tired their feet were from all the walking."

Restaurant tips/recommendations:

Mostly watched for places where other families were seated and that they had a kids' menu, of course, watching the prices as well. Most meals were very affordable--stay away from any American chain restaurant as they're VERY EXPENSIVE compared to local places to eat. Polish food was great!