Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we visit Eastern Europe! Although there are differing opinions on what constitutes Eastern Europe, I consider Eastern Europe to be the countries of the former Warsaw pact. Regardless, it’s a great region with countries like Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia and many more. As you know, here at Wolters World, we like to prepare travelers with the good, and the bad, of visiting a new travel destination. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate on an Eastern Europe trip.
Love #1: Local Pride
When you visit the countries of Eastern Europe, you will notice that everyone is proud of where they are from. They are proud of their country, the region, and their city. Many of them will have an impressive knowledge of local history and will gladly share it with visitors.
Hate #1: Eastern Europe Accommodation
While Eastern Europe is generally very affordable, when it comes to choosing accommodation, you’re going to want to spring for a more expensive option. They don’t have good mid-range hotel options in Eastern Europe like they do in Germany or Austria. In many cities, there aren’t a lot of options between a hostel and a Four Seasons. If you can afford to splurge on your Eastern Europe vacation, pay for the nicer accommodation.
Love #2: Natural Beauty
The natural beauty of Eastern Europe is impressive and diverse. It’s a very mountainous, and therefore scenic, region with outdoor adventures to be had in Romania, Poland, Slovakia and elsewhere. Then there are the mountain lakes and of course beaches, and the islands of Estonia. If you love to be outdoors, Eastern Europe is the perfect destination for you.
Hate #2: Train Connections
With so many places to see in Eastern Europe, it’s frustrating that there aren’t more fast train connections. If you’ve traveled a lot in Western Europe, you know how easy it is to get around, but Eastern Europe does not have the fast trains, so it can take a long time to travel between cities. There are also fewer trains, so you have to be more careful about planning out your Eastern Europe itinerary.
Five Things You Will Love & Hate About Train Travel in Europe
Love #3: Hidden Gems
It seems like everyone goes to Paris, London, Rome or Amsterdam. How many people do you know who visit Bratislava? These aren’t the destinations you see in movies or advertisements and as a result, they aren’t crawling with American tourists…yet. There are tons of hidden gems throughout Eastern Europe that will really make you feel like you’ve discovered something unique and off the beaten path. Having so many options can make finalizing your Eastern Europe itinerary a difficult task!
Hate #3: Service in Eastern Europe
The service in Eastern Europe is not great. Sometimes it seems that they try, but you don’t get attentive service or even professional service in most places. Sometimes it even feels like they don’t want your money and that they are doing you a favor by serving you.
Love #4: Communist History
These countries were under Communist rule for about 50 years, and you can still see the remnants of that. It’s a very different look from the rest of Europe, and that’s part of what makes Eastern Europe unique. In Bratislava, there’s a beautiful 9th-century castle overlooking the “UFO” modernist bridge and a huge Communist block of buildings. It’s a very sharp contrast, which you’ll see all over Eastern Europe.
Hate #4: Public Restrooms
Finding and using a public restroom in Eastern Europe is not a pleasant experience. First of all, they are hard to find and once you do find one, they are often pretty disgusting. I always keep a few coins on hand so I can buy a coffee somewhere and use their restroom rather than dealing with the public restrooms in Eastern Europe.
Love #5: Eastern Europe Cuisine
You can eat really well for really cheap in Eastern Europe. The food is very hearty and filling with lots of pork and potatoes. It’s really tasty comfort food and it’s very affordable. Although accommodation in Eastern Europe is expensive, eating out is not expensive.
Hate #5: Tourist Rip-Offs
The most common way you will be ripped off in Eastern Europe is by taxi drivers. If you don’t speak the local language, it’s very easy for them to rip you off. The best way to avoid being ripped off by a taxi is to have your hotel book something for you ahead of time.
How to Avoid Travel Scams & Rip-Offs
Eastern Europe is a really interesting and diverse destination with many neat things to see and do. The “hates” are really just things to have a heads up on rather than a reason to avoid Eastern Europe travel. Want more tips for planning a European vacation? Check out these other blog posts: