How to Travel Cheaply in Poland

Fortunately for most of us, traveling in Poland can be relatively inexpensive. The United States dollar is worth nearly 3 Polish zlotys, which means that you can almost triple your travel money when you visit. Aside from the obvious currency advantage, there are a few other ways to stay within your budget.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Look for hostels. If you don't mind sacrificing a little of your privacy, these dormitory-style rooms with common kitchen and bath areas are conveniently located near city centers. As an added bonus, the staff is generally fluent in English and German.
2. Stay in a Gospoda. If you're traveling in the countryside, there are many of these tiny inns located all over Poland and most don't even require a reservation. Simply look for signs containing the phrase, "Wolny Pokoj," which means "Open Rooms," as their rates are known to be significantly cheaper than at larger hotels.
3. Choose restaurants ending in "bar." Poland has plenty of spaghetti and milk bars which offer cheap, tasty food. These tend to be self-service casual establishments, where you place your order from a menu of various salads, pastas and Polish dishes and are called when it's ready.
4. Use public transportation. Most of the Polish population relies on this so their city-wide coverage is very extensive. In the countryside or from city-to-city, you may need to travel by train or bus but the rates are usually much cheaper than renting a car.
5. Avoid tourist traps. Traditional Polish culture is evident everywhere you look and, in most cases; you don't need to spend money in order to get an authentic experience. In the cities, head straight for the old town, or "Stary Miasto," where you can find bits of history and culture everywhere you look.

Tips & Warnings

• Using your bargaining skills can sometimes pay off whether you are shopping for a room or souvenirs. Be sure to make a fair offer in order to avoid insulting the other person, the seller.