Luxury Central and Eastern Europe

Situated in the heart of Europe, Poland boasts great plains, beautiful lakes, a dense forest, impressive mountains and a lovely coast. The cities are monumental, often rebuilt completely after the many battles and wars that have plagued this unique country.

WEB SITE: http://www.polandtour.org

CAPITAL: Warsaw

MAJOR CITIES: Warsaw

POPULATION: 38.6 million

RELIGION: Roman Catholic, other minor religions

LANGUAGES: Polish, some Russian and German

CURRENCY: Zloty (ZX)

ELECTRICITY: 220V, 50 Hz

CLIMATE:

Poland has warm summers, crisp, sunny springs and falls and cold winters. Snow covers the mountainous area in the south of Poland from December through April. Rain falls throughout the year.

AVERAGE TEMPERATURE:

January: -6 o to 0.5o C (21o to 33oF)

July: 13o to 24o C (55o to 75oF)

TIME ZONE: GMT plus 1 hour

WHAT TO WEAR: Pack lightweight clothing with a few warm layers in the warmer months. Warm layers and a heavy coat are recommended during winter. Bring rain gear year-round.

NATIONAL HOLIDAYS & EVENTS: Old Kraków Music Festival (August); Warsaw Jazz Showcase (October); The Polish Film Festival in Gdynia (November); Independence Day (November 11).

OTHER FACTS: Warsaw, the capital, was completely destroyed during the Second World War, but the Old Town has been completely rebuilt. 98% of Poles are Polish-born. The world's tallest structure was once the Warsaw radio mast. It fell down in 1991.

OTHER THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND: Medical care is not up to Western standards, especially in rural areas.

ATM & BANK INFO: U.S. traveller's cheques work best. In major cities ATMs are available and major credit cards are accepted, although there may be some trouble with international transactions for both. Banking hours are 8:00am-4:00pm Monday through Friday and 9:00am-1:00pm on Saturday in main cities. In smaller towns, banking hours are more limited.

LOCAL TIPPING: In less expensive restaurants most people round up the bill, while in more expensive establishments it's customary to tip 10% for good service.

HIGHLIGHTS: Must-see sights include the 14th century Cathedral of St. John; Jasna Gora, the monastery near Czestochowa, which withstood the repeated onslaught of overwhelming forces during the religious wars of the 17th century; Auschwitz Concentration Camp, a chilling reminder of the Holocaust; and the spectacular Wawel Royal Castle.

PLEASE NOTE: While all care has been taken to provide accurate information, we suggest you contact applicable tourist boards and destination offices for clarification and further information.