Reviewed 07 Jul 2009 by Helen Spooner
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
I loved the Czech Republic in particular and also walking in the Tatra mountians. I will be telling everyone that if they want to ski they should try Slovakia as a skiing destination. Cesky Krumlov and Prague are the most fascinating cities and I will definitely be returning to visit them again.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Read Michael Palin’s New Europe book before you go as it gives a brilliant insight into some of the history and culture of the whole area, not just the 5 countries we visited. Anyone who has the time would greatly benefit by reading up on any of the history of any of the places we visited.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
We definitely spent our money in local businesses and used local transport etc.... As we were in big cities most of the time our impact on the local environment was certainly minimal.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent - will recommend it to others.
Reviewed 23 Sep 2008 by fenella williams
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Most memorable had to be the visit to Auschwitz . Every time we moved to a new location, there was the excitement of the unknown.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Check the weather: when I went temperatures varied from 30deg. down to 5 deg.C. so packing was a challenge. Take an umbrella anyway!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes, we were certainly putting cash into the local economy.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Well thought out - good mix of free time and planned activities. V.good trip notes and information - really useful for planning what to see and how to get there. Covered an amazing amount of ground - it would have been nice to have had more time in some places; I'll just have to go again!
Reviewed 09 Jun 2008 by Anthony Leeds
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
For me personally the walking in the high Tatra mountains was the highlight followed by the Adrspach rocky town area. But the whole experience was seeing the countries of the former eastern bloc and finding them to be so beautiful; the whole package was great.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Read the itinerary to make sure that you understand that you will be doing quite a lot of travelling by train, many hours in fact, but also the best way to see the country. I stood up by choice for many hours just looking out of the open windows, (yes lovely old rolling stock carriages).
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Without doubt the local people very much benefited from the way that the holiday was organised, also with minimal impact on the environment.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Just great, will be looking for another experience like this one.
Reviewed 04 Oct 2006 by Nicole Muir
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
I was advised to take a trip with this company by friends who travelled to Vietnam with them. I am extremely glad I took their advice and will travel with them again. I expected to be 'roughing' it a bit in terms of accommodation especially, however the accommodation was excellent and the local transport links that were organised by the tour leader were great. The most memorable parts of the trip were spending time in Krakow, hiking in the Tatra's and visiting Auschwitz - something I will never forget.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
No need to take a sleeping bag as the accommodation was far from 'roughing it'. The hotels/pensions were of a really high standard even for a bit of a germ-a-phobe like me!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
I thought we were able to contribute to the local economy especially in the Tatra's and Teplice.
4. Any other comments?
A fantastic trip and I will definitely be booking another trip in the near future.
Reviewed 22 Apr 2006 by Joan Prior
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
I most enjoyed the visit to Cesky Krumlov - a great little place to stop and visit. Our hotel was quite remarkable, the mead outstanding, and the beer cheap! Although snow was the last thing I wanted to see, waking up to see snow falling on the rooftops and covering the trees was quite magical.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Pack light and/or use a pack which is easy to carry and to store. On the public trains and buses, there isn't a lot of room, so small / slim is good; heavy / bulky is bad. Plus there is quite a bit of walking to get to train and bus stops and/or to hotels, so your bag has to be suitable for that. (Wheelees are okay, but a good back pack is the best.)
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes, because we used small, locally owned facilities and public transport.
4. Any other comments?
*** Very enjoyable - I have highly recommended it to friends, and enjoyed this one so much I am booking another with this operator.
