Czech Rep. / Slovakia Honeymoon

Tom is right. No war damage in the Czech R. and Slovakia. You probably confused Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia. November is not the best month weatherwise and also a lot of sights are closed. Here are my suggestions for the C.R. also considering your short time and season there: Marianske Lazne, Karlovy Vary (treat yourself with spa procedures), Prague, Cesky Krumlov. Slovakia: Bratislava, Vysoke Tatry (High Tatras mountains), Levoca, Banska Stiavnica. In November it can be cold, rainy; snowy in the mountains.

I apologize if I offended with the question regarding environment and war. I agree, I may have been thinking of Yugoslavia, but I also read in a Lonely Planet guide that both countries have significant environmental damage from swift development and are just now tending to it. The Lonely Planet also said that since both countries had very high populations of Jewish ppl pre-WWII and a significant number were killed in the Holocaust and moved to Isreal that there are lots of abandoned, falling down temples. I think I was also thinking of any communist-like housing and industrial building as being somewhat depressing. I would absolutely love to hear otherwise though as we are very interested in visiting these countries. Thanks for the city recommendations!

"I'm afraid the scenery may be a bit depressing for a honeymoon in Slovakia/CR due to environmental and war damage." Huh? There hasn't been a war fought in this area since WWII, and of the post-communist countries, these are some of the most pristine... although Slovenia probably gets the top honor in that category.

Environment is much much better since communism collapsed some 19 years ago. In my recommended places you will see minimum of factories, communist housing projects (so called panelaks). In Bratislava you can see enormous one across Danube River called Petrzalka. Industrial depressing areas are concentrated in certain locations and even that is now much better than it used to be. You won't go there.

You didn't say what month you are going. I agree with Ilja's comments. Though I do the southern bohemia area & would go to Trebon for a less expensive spa treatment a either of the two spas there. I treated myself to a peat bath and message at Bertiny Spa last December for less than $30 and stayed at Penzion Pohadka (Fairytale Pension) for $18 per person a night including breakfast. Rates for peak season would be higher. Website: http://www.penzionpohadka.cz/en/index.php . If you do go Ilja's route & like beer, then you might want to check out the spa at Chodova Plana's Brewery on the way to Marianske Lazne or Karlovy Vary. They have a beer bath that's pretty good in their menu of spa items. And there's a pretty decent but a little pricey restaurant in the cave underneath the brewery that the Germans just love to come over to visit.

It seems you may not be alone in thinking the panelaks are depressing. Over the last few years the ones in Prague have been getting a face lift and painted bright, cheery colors. They were a thorn in the side for ex-president Havel who tried very hard to get rid of them but could not. Just an FYI, Prague is very beautiful any time of the year but very expensive. Bratislava as of right now is a much less expensive place to visit & a see now place, as that will change when Slovakia adopts the Euro.

Thanks for the suggestions. We're going the second week of November. I know that's not an ideal time, but its right after our wedding so we can't change it. We're only going to be there for a few days though b/c we'll be going to salzburg and vienna for a few days too. we're thinking of driving from vienna into slovakia and then to the czech republic, then back into germany.

Joy: You'll want to read what Rick says in one of his books, or contact your car rental company, to inquire whether they restrict you from taking your rental car from "western" Europe into "eastern" Europe. They will want to know your intentions in that regard and may levy extra charges, if they permit the car to be taken there at all.

Thanks for the heads up Kent. My parents ran into that issue a few years back when they drove from Germany to Poland. Since we've already booked the car that may me our decision maker!

Joy, you can always change or cancel the car reservation. It will save you a ton of money and hassles if you figure in rental fees, petrol, parking fees. The public transportation in these big cities are excellent & you would not need a car. In fact, I would not recommend driving in Vienna, Bratislava & Prague. "Safe" parking is expensive and traffic is very chaotic. Also, unless you are very familiar with driving around these countries & driving in unsettled weather with black ice over the mountain passes(compare conditions to Canada and northern US States at that time of the year), I would suggest taking the train or bus. In most cases its just as fast as driving a car, less stressful, and less expensive. The only time you would need a car rental, for convenience only, is for day trips into the country side surrounding these cities.

Car companies generally have some qualms about renters going to the former "Eastern" Europe; however, that restriction usually means that their most expensive cars and popular carthief targets are prohibited options. If you settle for a VW or the similar Skoda Fabia, you'll have no trouble. I'd rent from www.gemut.com, an American consolidator with a good reputation and low prices (see related threads on www.tripadvisor.com).

While weather is not the greatest in November, you'll find some lovely days, esp. if you stay out of the often-foggy Czech heartland (except for Prague, of course). I'd pick Southern Bohemia, the Tatra Mtns. in the north, and central Slovakia as good options. Czechoslovakia was not much damaged in either world war (well, Slovakia had a lengthy partisan opposition, but it's not as industrialized as the West, so the damage was quickly repaired). Favorite cities are Cesky Krumlov/Krumau, of course, Tabor, Prachatice, Trebon, Telc, and Brno. Also visit smaller towns like Holasovice (near C. Budejovice/Budweis) and Strakonice. In the Slovak lands the Vah Valley and the Spis (with its huge castles) as well as Kosice were memorable.

And yes, I would drive all over CZ - their roads were better than those in parts of Western Europe. Trains are cheaper, but you don't get to experience the land as well as picking your own routes.

Driving east of Zilinia in Slovakia is slow going. Be prepared for extra time. I just had a trip from Bratislava to Krakow through north-central Slovakia. Roads are narrow, twisty and slow going. If you go through Poland on the way back to Germany, be aware that it seems like the roadways are all under construction. Drive times are much longer than expected.

Have a great trip.

Hello Joy. Being in Europe for 10 days, I recommend going to only two countries. There are good places to go to in southern Germany in November. If your minds are set on going to Salzburg and Vienna, I recommend going to only Germany and Austria. I think you will not need to rent a car.

Both Austria and Germany have spas : places for relaxing in warm water, and getting a massage. I think that is a good experience during cold weather, and during a honeymoon.

If you will fly to and from Munich, and be in Europe ten nights, I suggest this travel plan : 3 nights in Munich, 2 nights in Vienna, 2 nights in Salzburg, 2 nights at a spa town in Austria, 1 night in Munich.
The day you travel in trains from Vienna to Salzburg : I recommend stop at the town Melk to visit the Abbey at Melk. It is big and opulent - like a palace, and it has a restaurant. And I liked the town Melk - it looks pleasant - the exterior walls of beautiful old buildings are pastel colors : light blue, and yellow. Melk has a Tourist Information office. The Melk train station is on a main railroad between Vienna and Salzburg. The train travel time between Melk and Salzburg is 2 hours.

Hi Joy. Bavaria is really gorgeous & Fussen is only about 2 hours SE of Munich so that may be a good stop if you haven't been there already with your backpacking adventures. Lotsa castles, etc. You could also look @ Baden Baden in the Black Forest. Great spas & prime honeymoon location. I bet Salzburg would be great that time of year too - & also only about 2 hrs from Munich. Happy travels!