Going to Poland

A few things from the internet to consider before driving in Poland: http://polandpoland.com/driving_poland.html http://www.e-poland.org/driving_in_poland.php

No tolls. Good roads. Easy driving. Piece of cake.

I drove there last year and had no problems and do not recall thinking they were crazy drivers. Signage was good...we did have our GPS but could have easily found our way without it. I drove from Prague to Krakow and do not remembeer if there were toll roads on our route, but if there were they were not substantial (compared to France).

Thanks I'll look into them.

Well I looked at the two posts from Betty and they are quite discouraging. If anyone else can look at these web sites and let me know if there is a semblence of truth to them. Thank you.

Well... I looked at those sites and talked to the 3 other people who were with me for a week of driving in Poland and we had zero problems. I thought maybe I forgot them as I tend not to focus on any issues we had, but on our great trip. Granted, I do drive everywhere in the US as well as Europe and have had my share of crazy drivers, (mostly motorcycles in Italy, passing on curves in Italy, white knuckle drives on mountain passes, etc.) I am chicken to drive in Rome, downtown London and downtown Paris, but only because I don't want people honking at me because I am lost. Seriously, if I read all the scare stories out there before my first trip to Europe I would have stayed home. Some people are afraid to drive in LA, Chicago or New York City... but my experience in Poland did not even come close to that. People really do like to exaggerate their issues as to make the story better of how they drove in Poland and survived it:)) But now that you are looking for issues you just may find them..just like when people try to search out rudeness in France:))

Thanks Terry, you make some very good points. That's why I tend to stay off WebMD because I think I've got every symptom they mention. Again, thank you.

William... did you know that every 29 minutes in Texas someone is injured or killed by a drunk driver? Also, laws on cell phones and texting are still way behind other states as it is still legal in most cases ... thank heavens school bus drivers in Texas are not allowed to text :)))
There are scare stories everywhere, but I drove in Texas and had no problems.

Okay, I've looked at them and have observations and questions: Observations: One Poland trip I picked up the car in Germany and there were no issues You can find a dirt road anywhere In close two two months total and maybe three thousand miles, nothing was stolen If you use google maps and street view the photographed roads, you can scoot along to an intersection and look down the lesser roads Questions: Why does someone post links rather than stating personal experience? Exactly which roads have the hookers near the woods (a milemarker would be helpful)?

Thanks Ed. We drove in Germany many times and had no problems. Rest stops and Gas stations were plentyful. How are they in Poland?

Not as plentiful, but not a problem. Maybe fifty miles apart along the freeway (less, just off). Every village has a station, some crossroads do. This from impression only, I never thought about it.

Since I wouldn't know how to start a nice ride and sputter around in Seat Puntos and Fiat 5000s, the question does not compute ....... spfthsss.......nt cmpte ........ spfthsss.......does......... spfthsss.......not....... spfthsss......ompute....... spfthsss......read error drive F......... spfthsss......operation terminated.

RESET: Got it! For the same reason my credit cards won't cover the rental of 'nice rides' anywhere else in the world?

Thanks for all your help. We've decided to take the plunge and drive. One more thing I'd like to ask, does anyone have any suggestions on hotels in Krakow. We want to stay near the city center where we can walk to different venues. Thanks

William... we stayed at the Globtrotter per recommendation here, and it was fine. Right in town and they had parking a few blocks away. It was definitely rather plain and a bit dreary but it was pretty cheap, and the location was great. No breakfast, but was okay as we just went to a cafe.