Solo female traveller in Poland (safety, what to watch out for)

Hi there,
I'm from Melbourne (Filipina) and I'm thinking of going to Poland - Krakow in August.

Must admit I'm very nervous since I don't speak the language and it's my first time to travel alone. My plans there simply involve travelling and working as an English teacher (from what I've read it seem to be one of the very few jobs foreigner with little knowledge of the polish language can take).

Although, I made a general plan, I'm stuck with fine tuning the details of how I'm going to set myself up there.
I would love to hear from anybody who can give me advices on:

- Things I should watch out for when renting rooms, i.e. documents I need to provide, dodgy contracts, etc.

- Safety, I'm 26yo lady; I know a few polish who advice me that crime against women is high there. I choose not to believe that because they're here and not there to see it for themselves.

Sorry for the long post.

Really? Maybe if they know she's a foreigner and think she has a lot of money.

I spend a lot of time in Poland, more often than not on my own, and I am fine. Just keep your wits about you like you would anywhere in the world.

Hey! I'm from melbourne too and currently living in Krakow. Also know a few other australians living here.
I think Krakow is a pretty safe city. I haven't really heard of anything nasty happening to anyone. Have noticed some signs here and there saying to beware of pick pockets. Being filipino though, you will probably get more attention from strangers simply because there aren't many asian people here. So in this way you will stand out as a foreigner.

I was lucky to find a place within days of arriving here. Although I'm renting an apartment to myself. I'm assuming you are looking for share accomodation, which I don't think you will have a problem with. Krakow has a large student population, most of which will probably be on holidays when you arrive in august, so it may be a good time to find yourself somewhere. Best thing to do would be to check into some cheap backpackers guesthouse and give yourself a week to look around at share accomodation.

Hi there,

It's funny to find you in this forum. I am a Filipino too from New York and I am planning to teach English in Poland as well.

The difference is I have a boyfriend from Warsaw so it makes it easier for me. Do you have a job offer already? I will be there hopefully very soon.

email me