Travelling Eastern Europe

We would like to travel Eastern Europe. Usually when we travel, we travel on
our own, rent a car, etc. and go. A German friend has advised not to travel
on our own in Eastern Europe due to poor road conditions, poor signage, etc.
I somehow have the notion that Eastern Europe is probably a safer area to
travel in than Western Europe. I don't relish traveling with a tour group,
but would do so to experience the E.E. culture, food, art, etc. Any advice
from experienced E.E. travelers? Thank you. Joe in Austin.

This time last year we spent 5 weeks driving a small camper van through
Slovakia, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, and the Czech republic. We
did a similar trip 3 years before that. Now I know that Europeans call
those countries Central Europe so maybe you are referring to countries
further east. In any case, We had NO trouble, roads were good in some
places poor in others. Just like here in Canada. And we were mostly on the
small rural roads to avoid traffic. Signage is always a challenge, even is
the US and Canada for someone who does not speak the language or recognize
city names that are spelt with local spellings. But if you have a good map
and/or a GPS with maps of those countries (make sure any GPS you get has the
countries you want) then you will be fine.

As to safety, we never felt it was any more or less of an issue in any of
the places we were in, West or East. What we found was a lower standard of
living, less variety of things to purchase, mostly lower prices than in
Western Europe. Except for touristy places and Croatia. And the people
were helpful and interesting. Not much english but we never really had any
problems with that.

We were travelling with another couple in a separate van so we had none of
the tour group issues to deal with. In any large city or sight, we hired
local guides or joined local tours to get the most out of where we were. We
had some amazing experiences with some local people we met up with just by
being friendly and interested in them. Most noteably, I remember singing
along drunkenly with a Hungarian winemaker in his wine cave outside of the
campsite in Eger Hungary. We just walked into his cave and he made us
welcome. And drunk.

So go for it. driving is no worse or better than North America.

Gord


"singlemalt" <jolo823@myway.com> wrote in message
news:13q94pcobmn7ha7@corp.supernews.com...
> We would like to travel Eastern Europe. Usually when we travel, we travel
> on our own, rent a car, etc. and go. A German friend has advised not to
> travel on our own in Eastern Europe due to poor road conditions, poor
> signage, etc. I somehow have the notion that Eastern Europe is probably a
> safer area to travel in than Western Europe. I don't relish traveling with
> a tour group, but would do so to experience the E.E. culture, food, art,
> etc. Any advice from experienced E.E. travelers? Thank you. Joe in Austin.
>

"Gord Pope" <gordpope@shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:nV0pj.37552$ow.14029@pd7urf1no...
> This time last year we spent 5 weeks driving a small camper van through
> Slovakia, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, and the Czech republic. We
> did a similar trip 3 years before that. Now I know that Europeans call
> those countries Central Europe so maybe you are referring to countries
> further east. In any case, We had NO trouble, roads were good in some
> places poor in others. Just like here in Canada. And we were mostly on
> the small rural roads to avoid traffic. Signage is always a challenge,
> even is the US and Canada for someone who does not speak the language or
> recognize city names that are spelt with local spellings. But if you have
> a good map and/or a GPS with maps of those countries (make sure any GPS
> you get has the countries you want) then you will be fine.
>
> As to safety, we never felt it was any more or less of an issue in any of
> the places we were in, West or East. What we found was a lower standard
> of living, less variety of things to purchase, mostly lower prices than in
> Western Europe. Except for touristy places and Croatia. And the people
> were helpful and interesting. Not much english but we never really had
> any problems with that.
>
> We were travelling with another couple in a separate van so we had none of
> the tour group issues to deal with. In any large city or sight, we hired
> local guides or joined local tours to get the most out of where we were.
> We had some amazing experiences with some local people we met up with just
> by being friendly and interested in them. Most noteably, I remember
> singing along drunkenly with a Hungarian winemaker in his wine cave
> outside of the campsite in Eger Hungary. We just walked into his cave and
> he made us welcome. And drunk.
>
> So go for it. driving is no worse or better than North America.
>
> Gord
>
> Thanks, I stand corrected. "Cenral Europe" is the place I apparently want
> to go. >

On Sat, 02 Feb 2008 18:56:10 +0100, Keith Anderson <keefy@> wrote:


>>So go for it. driving is no worse or better than North America.
>>
>>Gord
>
>What a great, positive reply!
>Thank you!

On the other hand I found driving in California far better than in the
Netherlands and the UK.
--

Martin

singlemalt wrote:
> We would like to travel Eastern Europe. Usually when we travel, we
> travel on our own, rent a car, etc. and go. A German friend has
> advised not to travel on our own in Eastern Europe due to poor road
> conditions, poor signage, etc. I somehow have the notion that Eastern
> Europe is probably a safer area to travel in than Western Europe. I
> don't relish traveling with a tour group, but would do so to
> experience the E.E. culture, food, art, etc. Any advice from
> experienced E.E. travelers? Thank you. Joe in Austin.

My son works in Czech an Slovak republics ( has aflat in Prague and a
villa in the mountains in Slovakia ) and drives about 60.000 kms a year
shuttling between the two countries, with cat spirngs to Serbia Montenegro
and Macedonia through Hungary

The only country where he does not want to drive is Montenegro
the others have very nice toll roads or motorways.

Pls do not forget
Poland Czech republic
Slovak republic
Hungary
Slovenia ( using Euro)

now are part of the Schengen Area
that means that there are no borders anymore among these countries
Toll roads in CZ SK and H are normally paid with a sticker. Maybe if you
ask the renting agency will give you a car with a yearly sticker
It is not very expensive though
Traffic in the main towns is exactly as bad as in all capital towns
Most of the capitals are closed to traffic. with very nice pedestrian areas
Public transports are very efficient and cheap.
Young people normally speak english. Old people normally speak german.
People are normally very polite friendly and smiling
you might consider visiting Ucraina too.
Normally tourists do not need a visa anymore

Food in all the Central Europe countries is very cheap.
Hotels normally are cheap as there are more hotel rooms than necessary
a price of 70 eur for a 4 stars hotel is normal ( Of course. you will have
to book in advance with web agencies. walk in prices are more expensive )

ATM and exchange offices are everywhere.

On Sat, 2 Feb 2008 10:02:16 -0600, "singlemalt" <jolo823@myway.com>
wrote:

>A German friend has advised not to travel
>on our own in Eastern Europe due to poor road conditions, poor signage, etc.

Roads tend to be a bit bumpier, and made with just a little less
consideration for safety, but on the whole they're ok.
Signposting is as good as Italy which isn't saying much.

Martin wrote:

> OK. I'll say it again driving in California is far better and less aggressive
> than in parts of Europe.

Okay, I'll say it now: driving in parts of the SF Bay Area and
metropolitan Los Angeles isn't appreciably different than driving in
some parts of Europe - edpecially the Netherlands' Randstad region.

>>[...] In North
>>America, I find people stick to the fast lane and wont move over when you
>>come up behind them. You dont want to do that in Europe.
>
>
> People do exactly the same in the Netherlands, UK and Germany amongst other
> places in Europe.

The people I see doing this in Germany rarely are sporting German number
plates.

>>In North America,
>>we tend to park in legal parking places. In Europe, they tend to park
>>wherever their car fits.
>
> Again an over generalisation.

So, just like that comparision of driving in California vs "parts of
Europe" bit above. I've encountered aggressive driving in California,
much as I have in parts of Europe. The real problem is the self-
centered attitude of all too many drivers, and no one place has a
monopoly on that. See the term "MFFY," as well-known a phenomenon in
the USA as it is elsewhere.
--
dgs

On Tue, 05 Feb 2008 08:29:30 -0800, dgs <dgs1300@> wrote:

>Martin wrote:
>
>> OK. I'll say it again driving in California is far better and less aggressive
>> than in parts of Europe.
>
>Okay, I'll say it now: driving in parts of the SF Bay Area and
>metropolitan Los Angeles isn't appreciably different than driving in
>some parts of Europe - edpecially the Netherlands' Randstad region.
>
>>>[...] In North
>>>America, I find people stick to the fast lane and wont move over when you
>>>come up behind them. You dont want to do that in Europe.
>>
>>
>> People do exactly the same in the Netherlands, UK and Germany amongst other
>> places in Europe.
>
>The people I see doing this in Germany rarely are sporting German number
>plates.

Time for an eye test?
--

Martin

I wish to thank everyone for their very thorough and kind responses. J.

singlemalt wrote:
> I wish to thank everyone for their very thorough and kind responses.
> J.

For sure Police will not be as aggressive and as hard in the USA
Normally there must always be two policemen in Europe when they stop
somebody
German policemen and Austrian policemen will be normally very polite.