Poland, Slovakia, Hungary with Exodus Travel

“Heart of Central Europe” from Exodus Travel (based in London; in the U.S., book through Adventure Center, 1311 63rd St., Ste. 200, Emeryville, CA 94608; phone 800/228-8747, e-mail exodus@adventurecenter.com or visit www.exodus.co.uk) featured lots of variety, lots of walking, beautiful scenery, caves and a few city driving tours. We always had clean rooms, centrally located hotels and hot showers.

We stayed in Kraków (two nights) and Zakopane, POLAND; Levoca, SLOVAKIA, and Eger (two nights) and Budapest, HUNGARY. Our guide knew the most about Poland but was very resourceful in Budapest.

With air from London, our trip, July 9-17, ’05, cost £702 (near $1,251) plus £25 ($45) for a tour to Auschwitz and £20 ($36) to tour the Wieliczka Salt Mines. The “local payment” was £60 (this is collected on some Exodus tours to buy local currency for the trip leader to pay some of the tour expenses). (Note: in 2006, this itinerary is included as the first part of Exodus’ 14-day “Highlights of Central Europe” tour, priced from $1,490, land, plus a local payment of £100.)

— CARRIE GILLESPIE, Kew, Richmond, U.K.