Mmm Leffe! *drools*

About your route... you seem to be doing a lot in Germany and then into Poland (I guess because you're visiting Auschwitz) but not to Warsaw, any reason?

Personally from Luxembourg, go via Strasbourg to Zurich, cross over into Austria, visit the Mauthausen Concentration Camp (not as far into Central Europe as Auschwitz but has a really good vistors centre) and then head back into Germany via Munich.

The mountain drives through Switzerland and Austria are so scenic and breathtaking you'll be mad to skip them if you're driving in that part of the world.

Just my 2 cents, I don't particularly think there's much to see and do in Western Poland and like others have said, driving in Poland isn't exactly great...

Yes Arsy, the Alps are the best thing about Europe other than the beer and the women. They are something everyone has to see at least once. But... I have already seen the Alps.   I spent some time in Austria and in the Italian Alps as well. I like to see something different each time I go. And yes, my trip is pivoting around Germany, because I speak some German, and because i really enjoyed myself last time I went. plus my friend really wants to go back to Germany, so it is a bit of a compromise.  We went to Budapest last time, and it was during a heat wave, and once we had already had a lot of things go wrong on the trip, so it was not a fun time. I was sort of hoping to get a mulligan on Eastern Europe. I mean, i am not about to go trouncing into Belarus or Moldova or other countries that never recovered from communism. but I do have a fascination for that area.   I think Bratislava and Wroclaw are tame enough to see some of eastern Europe without going to the really bad parts of it. haha.   And i am not doing Krakow mostly because time and money are both a factor. I would like to spend more time in the Slovakian Carpathians, and in Krakow, and in northern Germany. but i don't want to over-extend myself and break the bank or feel too rushed either. it is holiday after all

i do plan to see Strasbourg area though, as you suggested. We may drop through Switzerland, although it is a bit out of the way, it will be something we play by ear.

My only major concern is driving in Poland. We're not going to go off the main routes in Poland as a precaution. as of right now we will be taking the S1 and the A4 for the majority of our travel needs in Poland. I looked on google satellite images and it's a divided highway, so at least i will not have to worry about any morons slamming into me head on while overtaking.

Ok so here is my itinerary. Pretty much a done deal. Flights/Car/Hotels booked for 2 ppl, at a mere $1450 per person for two weeks!

Aug 15th flying JFK to BRU.
Aug 16th we land and take a train from Brussels airport to Aachen, rent our car, and drive it down to Luxembourg.
Aug 17th. We drive to Munich by way of Strasbourg
Aug 18th Munich
Aug 19th Munich
Aug 20th Munich
Aug 21st Munich
Aug 22nd Drive to Bratislava
Aug 23rd Bratislava
Aug 24th Drive to Auschwitz, then drive to Wroclaw
Aug 25th Wroclaw
Aug 26th Drive to my friend's place near Kassel
Aug 27th Stay with my friend
Aug 28th Stay with my friend
Aug 29th Drive to Aachen, drop of rental car, take train back to Belgium
Aug 30th Fly from BRU back to JFK

X(

You don't like icecream?

> EmoHotPocket wrote:
2) We are renting a car and driving the entire route, including Poland. I have heard horror stories about driving in Poland, especially if our car has German plates... (which it will)   How bad are secondary roads and how bad is the driving at night time? I am worried about people overtaking when there is oncoming traffic, people weaving, people driving drunk, corrupt cops, people breaking into our car. How realistic of a scenario is this? Also, how bad is the western part of the country? I am hoping the really crappy areas are near the Ukraine and etc. and that the part near Wroclaw and Auschwitz doesn't suck...?

Been chatting to a mate from work who lives in Warsaw for some inside knowledge for you:

Dawid says:
i haven't heard about german plates, there is a lot of germans and everyone is happy
roads would be good or bad and there is no rule is it secondary or main road, lately all roads are becoming much better than before
driving at night - it depends from your preferences, I like to drive because there is little chance to meet another driver on road and you can drive faster  but you must be alert to animals, lately I met two female deers
people driving drunk - there is two types of people - one is when drunk guy is driving better than your friend sober  second one you can see from really far how they drive and overtake then as soon as possible nothing special
I think that he will be more scared by trucks from russia and so on they like drive really mad

Baz says:
do you get many drunk drivers?

Dawid says:
not so common, sometimes it happens but not often lately a lot of people lost driving licence because of driving drunk
stuff like this http://antyradary.phi.pl/mapa_fotoradarow/ is useful - speed cameras

on weekends and holidays there is more cops but when drive on working days you would not meet any whole day
you must be alert ofo civil cars with police and speed camera inside, they are the most unpleasant and no bribing

corrupt cops means just that you will be able to bribe when you would be catched overspeeding not selling drugs in center of city

breaking into car ... no idea what are statictics but if you will leave car in crowded visible place no one will try break into it
and auschwitz is boring  he should come to eastern poland. wroclaw - nice old city not been there

Baz says:
western poland is generally quite safe though?

Dawid says:
generaly speakign poland is safe if you don't play with hooligans or other similiar

So there you go!! Avoid the Russians, cops are corrupt and don't hang around with hooligans - you'll be fine!

Im ZoZ, not Primo X(

"I will give you one slap across the face you stop by my house."

well you're not American

what would you use to slap him with

similar how? X(