Latest posts for the topic "Noobie looking for advice on where to go from Krakow"

Noobie looking for advice on where to go from Krakow

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:27:46 GMT

Hey guys,

I'm pretty new to skiing as I've only been to the Andes (2 days) and Canada (3 days), but have decided to give Europe a bash.

I've booked a flight to Krakow in Poland and will be hiring a car with a friend to head off somewhere for 4 days of skiing. We were thinking of going to Zakapone as its pretty close and we are trying to do it all on a tight budget. I was however reading that there are some very good resorts in Slovakia within 3 or 4 hours drive from Krakow, so I'm now in 2 minds! The things that are most important to us are (in order):

- Price (skiing and accomodation)
- Picturesque, nice town/resort with lots of character
- decent slopes for intermediate/beginner

Any of you guys have any experience of this area and would be kind enough to help out?

Thanks!

Re:Noobie looking for advice on where to go from Krakow

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:53:07 GMT

First piece of advice, if you want to ski in Europe, cancel your flight to Krakow. If you cant, go and see Auschwitz instead, its incredible, and then book a flight to Geneva of Innsbruck and we can start offering you advice.

Re:Noobie looking for advice on where to go from Krakow

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:04:47 GMT

Tony_H wrote:First piece of advice, if you want to ski in Europe, cancel your flight to Krakow. If you cant, go and see Auschwitz instead, its incredible, and then book a flight to Geneva of Innsbruck and we can start offering you advice.

So in other words Zakopane and Slovakia aren't worth the time of day as far as skiing is concerned!? Even though the trip has to be done on a budget?

Re:Noobie looking for advice on where to go from Krakow

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:03:48 GMT

From the lack of replies I presume no one has been skiing in Eastern Europe!?

Re:Noobie looking for advice on where to go from Krakow

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:08:38 GMT

Scripple,
I have been ski-ing in Bulgaria, as have quite a few people here, but you are not talking about Bulgaria :?:

Which country do you live in yourself?

Ally

Re:Noobie looking for advice on where to go from Krakow

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:18:19 GMT

Scripple wrote:

Tony_H wrote:First piece of advice, if you want to ski in Europe, cancel your flight to Krakow. If you cant, go and see Auschwitz instead, its incredible, and then book a flight to Geneva of Innsbruck and we can start offering you advice.

So in other words Zakopane and Slovakia aren't worth the time of day as far as skiing is concerned!? Even though the trip has to be done on a budget?

If you want skiing on a budget, there are plenty of places across the Alps you can do this. Austria, Switzerland, Italy. Depends on whether you want the holiday cost to be budget, food and drink to be budget, or your skiing to be budget.

What sort of budget did you have in mind?
And when are you going?

Re:Noobie looking for advice on where to go from Krakow

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:20:22 GMT

Send a private message to 'chaletslovakia', he/she!? has provided good information on Eastern Europe in the past and will be able to help you out.

Re:Noobie looking for advice on where to go from Krakow

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:23:13 GMT

Tony_H wrote:

If you want skiing on a budget, there are plenty of places across the Alps you can do this. Austria, Switzerland, Italy. Depends on whether you want the holiday cost to be budget, food and drink to be budget, or your skiing to be budget.

What sort of budget did you have in mind?
And when are you going?

Well we are trying to do 5 days for less than GBP400 pp!!

With Zakopane the costs were looking like:
Flights GBP50
Car hire + fuel GBP50
Accomodation GBP100
Ski hire and passes GBP100
Booze + food = GBP100

Leaving 31 Jan

Re:Noobie looking for advice on where to go from Krakow

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:34:55 GMT

Looks reasonable. But is there enough there for 4 days skiing?

Re:Noobie looking for advice on where to go from Krakow

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:38:40 GMT

I would imagine there will be plenty to do for 4 days, the same run can be fun twice (or twenty times). Mileage isn't everything (to me... anymore).

Re:Noobie looking for advice on where to go from Krakow

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:39:28 GMT

As we have the car we have the option to hit Slovakia for a day :D

Re:Noobie looking for advice on where to go from Krakow

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:39:52 GMT

Pablo Escobar wrote:I would imagine there will be plenty to do for 4 days, the same run can be fun twice (or twenty times). Mileage isn't everything (to me... anymore).

Ever thought about Niederau...... :wink:

Re:Noobie looking for advice on where to go from Krakow

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:40:05 GMT

Scripple wrote:As we have the car we have the option to hit Slovakia for a day :D

I agree Pablo and thanks for your recommendation.

Re:Noobie looking for advice on where to go from Krakow

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:40:19 GMT

Scripple wrote:As we have the car we have the option to hit Slovakia for a day :D

Seriously, I'd give chaletslovakia an email or a PM and he will be able to answer more specific questions you may have.

Re:Noobie looking for advice on where to go from Krakow

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:42:11 GMT

Scripple wrote:

Scripple wrote:As we have the car we have the option to hit Slovakia for a day :D

I agree Pablo and thanks for your recommendation.

I see its 6 hours drive so its a possibility, although would need to be much better than Zak given the extra distance. I would imagine its a lot more expensive than Zak as well :(

Re:Noobie looking for advice on where to go from Krakow

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:42:52 GMT

sorry that was in response to the Niederau comment

Re:Noobie looking for advice on where to go from Krakow

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:48:55 GMT

Scripple wrote:sorry that was in response to the Niederau comment

....which was aimed at Pablo!!!

Re:Noobie looking for advice on where to go from Krakow

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:58:03 GMT

If you want to go skiing in Poland go to Szczyrk.
It is a small mountain village about an hours drive from Krakow. The village is a superb place to stay (I went there with my polish friends 4 years ago). The snow depth in the village was about 1m and if you got up early in the morning you couldnt walk outside. Price was unbelievably good. I didnt ski but it was very good. It will be full of locals but it was very friendly and a great place. Much better than Zakopane which is 10 times more expensive.

Re:Noobie looking for advice on where to go from Krakow

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:07:46 GMT

Stewart Dowling wrote:If you want to go skiing in Poland go to Szczyrk.
It is a small mountain village about an hours drive from Krakow. The village is a superb place to stay (I went there with my polish friends 4 years ago). The snow depth in the village was about 1m and if you got up early in the morning you couldnt walk outside. Price was unbelievably good. I didnt ski but it was very good. It will be full of locals but it was very friendly and a great place. Much better than Zakopane which is 10 times more expensive.

Thanks for the info. Will do some digging!

Re:Noobie looking for advice on where to go from Krakow

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:17:41 GMT

the High Tatra resorts of Tatranska Lomnica, Stary Smokovec and Strbske Pleso are about a 2 hr drive from Zakopane (just the other side of the Tatras). They would be worth a day trip. Don't know Polish prices. I know last year they chopped their rates to entice Polish skiers to not go to (the better) resorts in Slovakia....
Jasna is an hour further and far more extensive....