mbelanger
2 Dec 2009
Travel / Rail Travel in Poland - getting to Zakopane from Krakow Airport [14]
I took a bus to Krakow from Zakopane in early May,2008.It was slowed down by road construction (which is probably finished so the roads wil be much improved) and it was a nice trip. Only complaint: the bus driver was surly and didn't help put suitcases in the outer compartment as I was expecting(I'm female and 65). As a matter of fact I had to open the door and it was heavy! On the smaller minibuses they were more helpful though of course your luggage rides with you in the bus and at times you need to apologize for crowding other passengers who didn't seem to mind. I do not speak Polish but had phrases from a book which helped greatly! People were very helpful when asked" Proszę ,Pan/Panie." I was alone and had a great adventure--spent about 6 days in Krakov staying at the cheapest available single rooms I could get and had no BAD experiences there or in Zakopane. Trains can be hellish: loud ,stopping a lot ,not in the best condition or even dirty. People can be noisy but no smoking is allowed. I may have been on a crappy rail line coming from Prague to Krakow but back from Krakow to Warsaw was a bit more comfortable and people were very friendly. Everywhere young people speak good English(Thank God!) and were so kind and helpful! It is an amazing place and I only saw that small southern area. I plan to go back. By the way I found family! My grandparents left in the very early 1900's so I was overjoyed.
I took a bus to Krakow from Zakopane in early May,2008.It was slowed down by road construction (which is probably finished so the roads wil be much improved) and it was a nice trip. Only complaint: the bus driver was surly and didn't help put suitcases in the outer compartment as I was expecting(I'm female and 65). As a matter of fact I had to open the door and it was heavy! On the smaller minibuses they were more helpful though of course your luggage rides with you in the bus and at times you need to apologize for crowding other passengers who didn't seem to mind. I do not speak Polish but had phrases from a book which helped greatly! People were very helpful when asked" Proszę ,Pan/Panie." I was alone and had a great adventure--spent about 6 days in Krakov staying at the cheapest available single rooms I could get and had no BAD experiences there or in Zakopane. Trains can be hellish: loud ,stopping a lot ,not in the best condition or even dirty. People can be noisy but no smoking is allowed. I may have been on a crappy rail line coming from Prague to Krakow but back from Krakow to Warsaw was a bit more comfortable and people were very friendly. Everywhere young people speak good English(Thank God!) and were so kind and helpful! It is an amazing place and I only saw that small southern area. I plan to go back. By the way I found family! My grandparents left in the very early 1900's so I was overjoyed.