When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, the iron curtain slowly lifted to give the world its first unobstructed view of Eastern Europe since World War II. What they saw was a region numbed by economic disaster, iron-fisted suppression of the individual, and the neglect of the aesthetic. Almost 2 decades later Eastern Europe's fortunes have changed dramatically, but most North Americans still picture the region east of Berlin and the Adriatic in grim, forbidding Cold War terms and eliminate it from their lists of desirable vacation destinations. Western Europeans, however, have always viewed Eastern European countries as places to explore and relax, and as soon as they were free to travel there without much restriction, they returned in droves to Croatia's Adriatic resorts, the Czech Republic's majestic churches, Hungary's intriguing spa towns, Slovenia's picturesque Alpine villages, Romania's Carpathian mountains, Russia's historic cities, and Poland's bustling markets. North Americans' long-held preconceptions of Eastern Europe are gradually dissipating and more and more English-speaking folks are riding the tourism wave that is sweeping the region. Eastern Europe has finally emerged as a trendy travel frontier where friendly people, stunning natural beauty, compelling history, and relatively low prices are drawing a crowd of savvy travelers. If you go, you'll find an "open" sign on these formerly restricted destinations and you'll wonder why it took you so long to get there.
Destination Eastern Europe: Predeparture Checklist
Is your passport valid for at least 3 months after the end of your trip?
Did you check to see if any travel advisories have been issued by the U.S. State Department (http://travel.state.gov) regarding your destination?
Do you have the address and phone number of your country's embassy or consulate with you?
Did you notify your credit card issuers that you would be using your credit cards outside your home country? Did you tell them where you will be traveling and for how long?
Do you have your credit card/ATM PINs? If you have a 5- or 6-digit PIN, did you obtain a 4-digit number from your bank?
If you purchased traveler's checks, have you recorded the check numbers, and stored the documentation separately from the checks?
Did you bring your ID cards that could entitle you to discounts, such as AAA and AARP cards, student IDs, and so on?
Did you leave a copy of your itinerary with someone at home?
Did you make sure your favorite attraction is open? Call ahead for opening and closing times.
