Travel / Small Baltic coast places - where to stay ? [25]

Well don't keep us in suspense ! ;)

Travel / Clean, safe, comfortable hotels to stay in Warsaw? [12]

Harry,

The Polonia really does have an air of pedigree about it which is something that the business style 5 star hotels can never have.

It took me over a week of browsing the internet every day to find that price-I think I booked through cityhotelsdirect. I asked if I could request a room overlooking the Palace of Culture but the website said that isn't possible (although I knew it was possible from the last time I stayed there).

Three years ago I stayed at the Polonia for one night and treated myself to a meal at the hotel restaurant. The decor was very opulent and they even had a pretty harpist in the corner.

Travel / Trip to Gdansk from Liverpool [9]

Hey Scottie,

I'm flying to Gdansk a week on Wednesday and I'm really looking forward to it again !

Have you been to Hel before ? On the way there try and stop at Zamek Sobieski near Pusk for some warm apple pie and then walk down the steps to the shoreline.

If you can also make a detour try and stop by at Jastrzebia Gora (wrongly spelt) and visit either the Kredens restaurant for some fresh fish or the Heineken bar for a bewildering display of bottles. I would recommend the Strawberry Margarita ;)

Travel / Clean, safe, comfortable hotels to stay in Warsaw? [12]

Karina,

I have just come back from a 3 day break to Warsaw. I would thoroughly recommend the Polonia Palace which cost abour £ 70 per night.

It's a true 4 star hotel. In my opinion, the other 4/5 star hotels in Warsaw cater primarily to business men and this is reflected in the design of these hotels i.e. tall, glass sky scrapers. The Polonia Palace is totally different and very very classy.

I had a room overlooking the Palace of Culture and I soon discovered that it's also only a 7 minute walk to the Zloty Terrace shopping centre which is packed with coffee bars, restaurants and shops.

Room rates are significantly cheaper at the weekend but you MUST shop around on the internet. Find as many websites as you can and compare the prices as there are big differences in price. Some were quoting me £ 120 per night (and this was one of the biggest hotel websites online). Even the Polonia Palace's own website was charging £ 150 !!

Travel / Trip to Gdansk from Liverpool [9]

Hi Mycroft,

I fly from Liverpool to Gdansk several times a year. The flight is just under two hours.

A week is too long in my opinion although it depends what you want to see and do.

I always presume anyone going on a 3 day break to Gdansk will include Sopot and Gdynia in their trip.

I'd like to expand on a few points that Scottie made. Gdansk DOES get hot. Anytime from May to August it's possible to get temperatures upto 80 degrees and higher. That doesn't mean it's always like that but it's certainly not unusual.

Restuarants are not inferior to UK or US standards. Poles love good restaurants too but there's an enormous selection of places to eat in the Tri City to suit every budget and every palatte.

You ask if you can combine a city break with a seaside break. Gdansk/Sopot/Gdynia are all on the coast. That's the wonderful thing about Gdansk in that you can have a city break and a beach holiday at the same time.

The beaches are nicer round Sopot and Gdynia and even nicer on the Hel Peninsula which is a 45 mins drive away and is worth seeing anyway !

Another option is to spend a few days in a lakeside cabin in the Kaszuby Lakeland area near to Gdansk.

Check out or drop me an email.

Travel / Hiking/rambling maps and travel tips in Poland? [13]

Honest advice ?

Don't do it. Public transport is cheap in Poland and it's better to spend a few zloty then to be picked up by a psychotic murderer.

Then again, maybe I watch too many movies....

Travel / Cheap airlines are not THAT cheap anymore ! [30]


CentralWings earlier announced new flights from Manchester to Gdansk and then promptly cancelled the plan.

WizzAir "appears" to be in a stronger position. The flights are always full and they are ordering new planes on a regular basis.

However, I also am finding their service has deteriorated recently with a lot of late flights.

Travel / Czestochowa - what is it like? [30]

Hi Lucy,

Are you arriving on the 15th August in Czestochowa or before ?

On the 14th August the Warsaw pilgrims arrive and receive a special welcome on the Aleja. The army, navy and air force also arrive en route to Jasna Gora. Also in the few days in the run up to the 15th August groups of singing pilgrims start arriving in town and they all walk towards Jasna Gora in the middle of the Aleja....it's a wonderful feel good moment.

Most of the pilgrims stay near the monastery so the rest of town isn't that crowded.

If someone could give me an idiot's guide to inserting a photo in my post then I will include some photos for you of the pilgrims arriving.

Travel / Czestochowa - what is it like? [30]

I've been to the ghetto area and my god the place looked so sad. It still looked a very sad place.

Life / Are Polish women the fussiest shoppers in the world ?? [18]


Ouch ! All your good work undone Shawn. :)

Life / Are Polish women the fussiest shoppers in the world ?? [18]

You're only saying that because you wanna get in with the ladies !! :)

UK, Ireland / Do Polish immigrants wish to stay in UK - long term? [92]

I think many Poles will say they want to stay in the UK but I'm pretty sure most of them will go back to Poland at some point in the future.

It doesn't take long to realise that the grass isn't always greener.

Food / No Curry in Tri-city area...damnit. [8]

Sorry to hear about your bad experience with Taj Mahal.

I have rented a holiday apartment directly above the restaurant and am glad now I wasn't tempted to dine there as well.

Real Estate / What is normal expectation for furniture from Polish renters? [10]

For those of you who are renting apartments out how easy are you finding it ?

I raised a new thread on here some months ago as several people have dissuaded me from renting any property in Poland as the social laws protecting the tenants can make it very difficult to evict them if they default on payment.

Real Estate / Crazy House crazy times Sopot [9]

Crazy House ? Is that the Crooked House on Monte Cassino ?

If so then it's a great concept but poor delivery as it was like a ghost town inside. Reminded me of the Pompidou Centre in Paris. Loads of people like to view it from the outside but there's not much inside to keep them interested

Travel / AGROTOURISM FARMS [10]

Hi Bob,

Agrotourism is well catered for in Poland. Exactly which part of the country are you looking at ?

Travel / Weekend breaks outside the 3 cities [7]

Great photos Vangarsey-it looks beautiful !

What is the driving time from Gdansk airport ?

Life / Germans and Poles - Fiction or Myth? [127]

I used to frequent another online forum themed around Poland and the anti-Polish sentiment that came from several German posters was sickening at times !

Travel / Czestochowa - what is it like? [30]


Why do you think this is ?? I have travelled all over Poland and Czestochowa girls win hands down !

I think it's God's sense of humour. He populates the holiest town in the country with girls that make your mouth water.

Maybe we should check out the night clubs in Vatican City ? :)

Travel / Czestochowa - what is it like? [30]

Combine a trip to Czestochowa with a visit to Olsztyn castle

Travel / How much on average in GBP or PLN Taxi from Katowice to Krakow [25]

telefoniktka

I use Wizz air a lot because of the convenience of flying from Liverpool Airport. If you're from the north west then you might want to know that Easy Jet also fly direct to Krakow.

Travel / Weekend breaks outside the 3 cities [7]

Agree with Scottie. The Kazuby lakelands are within driving distance also. I stayed at a lakeside cabin last May. Very relaxing but also a lot of places to see around the area.

Travel / Czestochowa - what is it like? [30]

Take what Michal says with a pinch of salt. Read his previous posts and everything he says about seems to be negative. Sometimes he may be right but remember the boy who cried wolf ?

I visit Czestochowa every year to visit my friends. I'm not sure I'd call it a vibrant city but it's definitely not a dump either. It has quite a small town feel to it but the centre of the town is wonderful with a good selection of bars and stores.

It depends what you are looking for. It's not a metropolis or a cultural centre but I have a lot of affection for Czestochowa.

There are a number of Communist blocks around the city but some of these have been spruced up and have added new facilities. My friends live near the Real supermarket and the housing block community there has had a lot of money invested in it. Surrounding the blocks the town has created a lovely park with walkways, outdoor gym equipment, volleyball court (with sand), outdoor football table and loads more. I wouldn't mind living there myself !!

Michal's friend may not like Czestochowa but the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. Ask anyone if they love the town where they live now and many will also criticise it.

I also find Czestochowa to inexplicably have the prettiest women in Poland.

Don't ignore everything Michal has to say but accept that some posters have certain characters and opinions that manifest themselves throughout their posts.

Travel / Visiting Gdansk / Sopot for first time [27]

I've never used any of the stag weekend organisers so I can't recommend any particular ones.

I don't blame you for trying to keep costs down as with most holiday packages you can do the same thing yourself for less money.

Decide where you want to stay. Sopot has the best nightlife and Gdansk has the best tourist sights.

Use websites such as booking.com or hotels in poland etc to source the names of hotels in the areas you want to stay. Google that hotel and then contact them directly (most of them speak English).

Also consider holiday apartments. A large apartment could sleep upto 6-8 people and you don't have the worry of being locked out at night. With a bit of research you should be able to find apartments close to each other.

Take a trip to Hel Peninsula.

Have fun but also be respectful to the people you meet and the places you stay. Gdansklife.com and ilovepoland.co.uk both have lists of the best bars to visit in the Tri City area.

There's an indoor go karting centre in Gdansk and other activities that you could easily organise yourself. Aqua Park in Sopot is only a short drive from Gdansk also.

Travel / hotels Gdansk [14]

booking.com/country/pl.html?aid=312513

TotalStay.com is also a good website

Travel / Visiting Gdansk / Sopot for first time [27]

Flyingmonkey,

Have you not thought about contacting some of the Stag Weekend tour operators in Poland ? They specifically cater for large groups with stag friendly hotels and a range of optional activities and excursions.

Many even provide a nightclub guide who will get you into the best places in town.

Travel / How much on average in GBP or PLN Taxi from Katowice to Krakow [25]

Sounds like you are flying with Wizz Air.

If so then definitely book a shuttle transfer via their website. It's the best hassle free option.

Wizz air ensure there is always a bus available whenever their flights land.