Details

Trip Notes & Expectations

ACCOMMODATION

Our program fees are based on double-occupancy accommodation (see "Single Travelers" below if you do not have a travel companion and would be interested in a private room). Our accommodations are chosen to provide a safe, conveniently located place to sleep. While you may be pleasantly surprised, please don't expect luxury, as we prioritize keeping our programs affordable. Please be aware that properties we stay in with only two stories may not have elevators installed and climbing the stairs with your luggage will be necessary.

Single room accommodations in European hotels are often smaller, and may not be to the same service level as double-occupancy rooms. Krakow Hotel: Our accommodation in Krakow is a comfortable and modern guest house with single, double/twin, and triple rooms. All rooms have ensuite bathrooms. The location and the homely welcome are unbeatable!

AIR CONDITIONING

Some of the hotels we use on this trip do not have air conditioning. Our partner G Adventures adjusts hotels based on customer feedback and, according to them, the hotels they have chosen should be a comfortable temperature at night. If you have any hot nights where the room was uncomfortable, please let us know right away.

LUGGAGE

In Europe, it can be rare to find elevators in train stations, hotels, or other public places. We use public transport on this trip, which means you will need to carry your luggage from platform to platform, in and out of trains and buses, etc., and also possibly up several flights of stairs. You will also need to be able to stow your luggage safely on trains and buses. You should be able to comfortably walk for 10-30 minutes at a time with your luggage. It is essential, therefore, that you pack light and bring luggage that is compact and lightweight . The carrying of your luggage remains your responsibility at all times.

ACTIVITY LEVEL & PACE

This trip has a light activity level compared to many of our programs and is suitable for most fitness levels, however, the heat of the summer can make it quite exhausting. Please know in advance that you will see a lot, but this isn't a relaxing vacation. In the cities, you can split apart from the group to go at your own pace. Getting on and off trains and walking with luggage requires some physical effort. We recommend always carrying snacks with you. Meals can sometimes be far apart.

Walking Tours: The walking tours on this trip are often on cobblestone roads at steep grades and can last several hours in the heat of the summer. Feel free to opt-out of these walking tours if you wish, as they can be physically very taxing. In some cases, on the other side of the coin, they may move a bit too slow for you. If you have a map, a travel app, or a guidebook, feel free to go off on your own. GEEO wants you to have the experience you desire, and sometimes that means separating yourself from the group.

LOCAL GUIDES

In Europe, all guiding is based around local guides, all of whom are licensed to work only in a particular city. As such, our leaders are able to provide orientation walks that will show you the layout of each town and city, as well as the location of local services such as post offices and laundromats but, are unable to legally share historical facts and figures in public places. Your tour leader will be able to help you find a local guided tour in each location if you would like one. We use local guides at Gdańsk and Krakow where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting.

TRANSPORTATION

Intercity transport on this trip will be by local train. The train system in Poland is generally good, but traveling by public transport can involve delays and frustrations, and we ask you to keep this in mind.

FREE TIME

This program has some free time in each location, with few activities included as part of the tour. This allows participants to choose how to spend their time exploring each destination. Your group leader is available to help with plans.

PRE-BOOKING ACTIVITIES

Past participants have told us that they were unable to visit Schindler's factory in Krakow because the tickets were sold out . We recommend booking these in advance online. To visit Schindler's Factory you can purchase tickets here . Please use our WhatsApp group if you want to coordinate with others in your group to schedule visits to these sights together.

GROUP LEADER

All GEEO programs are led by a G Adventures Chief Experience Officer (CEO), whose role is to take the hassle out of travel and help you get the most from your trip. They’ll share information about the places you visit, suggest activities and restaurants, and introduce you to our local friends. While not traditional guides, CEOs have broad knowledge of the region’s history, culture, and daily life. On some excursions, local guides are used for deeper insight.

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PROGRAM DETAILS

Single Travelers

Traveling solo? You’re in good company—about half of our participants do the same. Shared room by default. The program fee covers one person in a twin room. We’ll pair you with a roommate of the same gender if you don’t have a travel companion. Want a private room? Most trips offer a “My Own Room” (single-supplement) upgrade. Check the price in the Extra Services section, then email travel@geeo.org to reserve it. You pay the single-supplement only if you request it.

Emergency Contacts

If you need urgent help during your trip, call the local G Adventures office first. If no one answers, leave a detailed message with your name and contact information so they can return your call as soon as possible. EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS: G Adventures Berlin office: +441858378000 If you are unable for any reason to contact the local office, please call the numbers listed below, which will connect you directly with the 24-hour Sales team, who will happily assist you. Toll-free, North America only: 1 888 800 4100 Calls from UK: 0344 272 0000 Calls from Germany: 0800 365 1000 Calls from Australia: 1300 796 618 Calls from New Zealand: 0800 333 307 Outside North America, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and the UK: +1 416 260 0999

Packing List

See our blog post of staff-recommended gear to help you pack for your upcoming travels. You must be able to carry your own luggage—up stairs, on and off of transport, and during 15 to 20 minute walks. Bring one small or medium backpack or rolling bag (22-30lb) and one daypack for daily items. Space is limited on transportation, so oversized bags cannot travel. As you prepare your packing list, we recommend checking average weather conditions for your destination on a site like Weather Spark for the time of year you will be traveling. *Laundry: Laundry facilities are offered by some of our hotels for a charge. You can also use a local laundromat, if necessary.

Passports and Visas

Travelers are responsible for securing all required travel documents and meeting the entry requirements for every country on their itinerary, including applicable transit/layover countries. 

• → Read GEEO's Guidance for Europe (detailed instructions with official links and resources)

PASSPORT  All travelers must have a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your trip dates with enough blank pages for stamps. Need to apply or renew? Start here. ENTRY/VISA REQUIREMENTS  Visa rules change frequently—always verify the latest requirements on the U.S. State Department Country Information Pages. Non-U.S. passport holders should verify requirements with your country's official government resources. Use the tool below to see entry requirements for your specific itinerary.  Entry information below is provided by Sherpa, a third-party service and trusted G Adventures partner. You must search each of your destination countries separately; “Add connection” solely searches transit visa requirements. Additional fees apply if you choose to purchase any services through Sherpa.

Money Exchange

Currency: The local currency on this trip is the Polish Złoty (PLN). For current exchange rates, visit www.xe.com. Credit/Debit Cards: Credit cards (especially Visa and Mastercard) are accepted at many hotels, shops, and restaurants, but not everywhere. Some vendors may also charge an international transaction fee, so check with your bank before you travel. Cash: For small purchases, tipping, or places that don’t take cards, we recommend using ATMs to withdraw local currency while traveling. If you bring U.S. dollars to exchange, the bills must be new, unmarked, and in excellent condition—damaged or older notes are often rejected. Emergency Funds: Bring at least $200 USD (or the equivalent in local currency) in cash for emergencies in case of ATM or card issues. Always carry more rather than less to avoid feeling short of funds while traveling. See the Estimated Trip Costs section at the bottom of this page for budgeting guidance. For more advice, see our post, Smart Travel Finances: Your Guide to Money, ATMs, Fees, and Safety Abroad

Tipping

Tipping is optional but appreciated and goes a long way for the people who look after you on the trip. If you are happy with the service, use these ballpark amounts and adjust as you see fit: - Service providers/Waiters: 4-8 PLN for snacks or 10% of the bill. - Local guides and drivers: 12-20 PLN per person per day. - G Adventures tour leader (CEO): 85-125 PLN per person per week. (We suggest pooling contributions in an envelope and presenting it as a group) Tipping Kitty: On some trips, your CEO may suggest a “tipping kitty” where everyone contributes at the start of the tour, and the CEO uses that pooled amount to tip service providers for the group as a whole (not including your CEO). If your CEO doesn’t mention it and you’d like to use a kitty, we recommend asking about it early in the trip. Your CEO will advise the suggested amount and preferred currency for the kitty.

Flights

Wait for official trip confirmation via email from GEEO before booking your flights. Prices tend to be lowest 90–120 days out, but that window varies by route and year. Neither GEEO nor G Adventures bear responsibility for any flights purchased before the trip is confirmed. This program begins in Warsaw and ends in Krakow. Please double-check our itinerary for the date by which you must arrive in Warsaw, which usually means departing the U.S. one day prior. You may want to arrive in Europe one or more days early in case you have flight disruptions. You can arrive at any time you choose, but try to make it in time for our 6:00 p.m. Welcome Meeting on Day 1. You can depart from Krakow at any time on the final day of the trip, or stay later to see more of the city.

Plugs and Converters

Poland uses Type C plugs and the voltage is 220-240V. To use your electronics safely, you’ll need to consider: 1. Adapter (plug shape) Adapts your U.S. plug to fit another type of socket. See our recommended all-in-one travel adapter in our Gear Recommendations post. 2. Converter / transformer (voltage) Steps the outlet voltage down to 120V for U.S. appliances that can’t handle higher voltage. How to know which you need: Look at the fine print on the plug or power brick. An “Input 100-240 V” means the device is dual-voltage and works worldwide with only an adapter—phones, laptops, and most camera chargers fall into this category. If the label shows “Input 120 V” (hair dryers, curling irons, some shavers), it could be damaged on high voltage. Pack both an adapter and a travel voltage converter. Converters are inexpensive and sold online or in the travel aisle of many stores.

Weather

July is generally considered the warmest month in Poland, characterized by pleasant daytime temperatures in the 70s and nights in the 50s. However, it can also be the wettest and most humid month of the year.

Advice From Past Participants

"ATMs worked very well for me, and I essentially did not need to bring cash. I would bring very little next time. Using a credit card for meals worked out in most places." "Don't feel as if you need to stick with the group the entire time once you arrive in the cities. Explore at our own pace!" "Too many people in the group did not read the portion that stated we were supposed to be able to carry our own luggage and would be walking with the luggage from train stations to hotels. It was frustrating to listen to complaints about having to do things that were clearly stated as requirements." "Be prepared for noise levels at night. This is Europe. In general, they go out later at night and stay out later than we do in the U.S. There will be noise – especially if you stay closer to the city/town center or square."