The Sasquatch

Well, because of spending too much time in london and rome (which i def. do not regret) i am running outta money before i have gotten everywhere i planned. I am gonna be travelling close to, or maybe through, bratislava. I am wondering if it is still worth spending a day or two there? is it fairly cheap? any suggestions for hostels if it is worth it? also any suggestions in prague or cesky krumlov would help too. well, just though i would as what you guys thought and make my decision from there. gotta couple days yet.

bassgirl79

i spent a couple of days there and it was cool and very very cheap. I was at the backpackers hostel which was really nice and there is a bar in it. there isnt all that uch to do tho so prob 2 days is enough to see most of it.

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beergal

yeah i also stayed in this hostel and the bar is the cheapest place that i have been to in my life...the location wasnt bad either.

Bratislava is extremely cheap im sure you will have a great couple of days there

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xanthuos

Geeze, man...haven't you seen Eurotrip? lol

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The Sasquatch

yeah, miami vice is the only reason i'm goin there

but i just called daddy, hahahaha, and he's gonna front me a bit of cash to finish my trip so i just might get all the way to the baltics. Yay!!! Latvia here i come.

beergal

well Lithuania is just as cheap as Bratislava but a whole lot better! If you can get a flight to Vilnius definately go there airbaltic do some really good deals!

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The Sasquatch

i'll be going there by land me thinks. should have enough money now for poland after the czech republic. then hit the baltics with an aussie buddy. should be great. lookin forward to that hostel in riga, franks fun house or something, #1 last year on hostelworld, go shoot off some ak's, and yes, cheapness is key, that hostel is under 7 euro during the week. i really, really wanted to hit the baltics
esp. cause i haven't bought gifts for my family and i need to be somewhere really cheap cause my family is fuckin massive

beergal

i stayed in Franks...the shooting of the AK's though is quite expensive think it was something like 35lats (about 45 euros) for about half a day!
Franks is cool though...latvia is definately more expensive than Lithuania!

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The Sasquatch

aaawwww, disappointing, well then, lithuania it is. hahahaha.

mr-turisty

Bratislava was one of my favourite places from Eastern Europe. Taking a trip to devin castle from there by boat is well worth it. The backpackers hostel was cool, met some really cool people there and ended up staying 2 extra nights.

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The Sasquatch

soo, devin castle you say hmmm. how long does it take and how much is it if you remember? is it just outside of town or something? any info would be greatly appreciated as i think i might stop in for 2 nights now.

worldwidemike

Here's the link to bassgirl's page on her site about Bratislava:
bassgirl on bratislava

worldwidemike

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tumblezweedz

In Bratislava we stayed at the Spirit Hotel. It was like living in a Dr. Suess book. We had a huge flat at the top, because there are six of us, but they also have cheaper rooms and possibly dorms. Close to the train station (the nice lady at info will walk you half way there, if you're charming), but you have to walk back to the train station to catch the bus around town. We had two days there, I only spent one looking around 'cause I was sick as a dog the first one. Spent the day watching Olympic boxing, how pathetic is that! People were soooo nice there, we enjoyed it.

Now for Lithuania. It rocks. The last couple of days our entire family has been totally homesick for Vilnius (where we lived for two years), and we are now trying to sort out if my husband can take leave next month so we can go back. There are meals we need to eat, photos I need to take, people we need to see...

For cheap souvenirs, I've got two suggestions for you in Vilnius, but they're mostly for the women in your life. On Pilies gatve (Castle St.), there is a large souvenir/craft market every day (even on the coldest days of winter - try to imagine it when you're there), and while much of it is tacky and/or overpriced, you can get wooden-and-amber necklaces for 2 litai (about 80 cents) each. You can also try bargaining with the salespeople - if you're just buying one necklace, they probably won't cut you a deal, but if you want 10 or so, you could probably get a little off. Also, the amber that is sold there is legit - the locals buy there, and believe me, they don't tolerate fake amber! It's a point of national pride.

Near the market is a little shop which sells items made by the disabled. In Soviet times, the handicapped, who couldn't contribute fully as "workers" were considered "not of full worth" in society, and that attitude is sadly still pervasive. Shops like this one aim to give training and an opportunity to make a living to people who in the past were considered a burden on society. So personally, I like to shop there. It's right behind the market, on the same side as the Russian Orthodox church, either the second or third door on the little side street. There's a chocolate shop nearby, so that's a good landmark. (And the chocolates are awesome, too - the clerks speak English. Get the ones with chilis, they're amazing.) The souvenir shop has a sign in English explaining it's mission, so you'll know you're in the right place. They have lots of little things like linens, knit toys for kids, paintings, ceramics, clothing, etc, as well as some wooden items, flasks and what not, and the prices are generally a lot lower than those you find in the more traditional souvenir stores. As for quality, I have a woolen scarf and a purse which I use frequently, and they've held up beautifully over the years. Haven't had any complaints about stuff I've given as gifts, either.

Buy the Vilnius In Your Pocket when you roll into town, it's full of tips - we bought them every two months, even though we lived there.

And for a cheap meal or snack, stop into "Pieno Baras" on the right hand side as you face the Rotuse (the old town hall, now a tourist info centre, amongst other things). It's a milk bar, they sell baked goods, some hot dog like things (pronounced "deshreles") and the cheapest coffee and hot chocolate in the area. Good place to know about when $$$$ are short.

The Sasquatch

WOW!!!! thank you so much. it actually is the girls that i'm having trouble with. frickin sisters and sisters-in-law. guys are pretty easy, buy em a stupid tshirt and whatever. but girls,geez, they have such high expectations. the neices and nephews are pretty easy too. just for some reason i have no patience for souvenir/gift shopping on this trip. i thought i'd like it, ya know, trying to find meaningful things for myself to remember my trip by, and cool things for fam and friends, but i just cruise through the markets and shops and just don't really don't have any interest. but gotta go home with something or i will def. be disowned and thrown out on the street. its so great having such a wealth of knowledge to draw on while i'm travelling, and now that i've finally done some of my own, i can finally contribute some, if only a little. thanks again.

tumblezweedz

Oh, buy the girls amber. It has all kinds of mythology/significance (check out the little amber museum in Vilnius to get the skinny in English) and there's a wonderfully romantic story you can tell the girls about the goddess Jurate shedding tears for her lover that became amber...they'll love it. You can get the super cheap necklaces for little ones and nicer pendants for anyone special, all at the same spot. And they're small and light. For little kids, check out that shop I told you about, for stuffed toys and what not, or you can get wooden toys in the markets too. The Russian swinging chickens delight babies and toddlers (and grandmas, judging by my experience) - you'll see what I mean at that market. For little boys, you can get wooden swords (also at the market) for a couple of bucks, and they can pretend they're knights - my son is now five, and still plays with his for hours, lost in a Lord of the Rings dreamworld. He is Legolas.

If I were you, I'd just spend a morning at the market, get everything and free up the rest of your time for sightseeing. Consider it an errand, like going to the post office or grocery shopping, make a list and get it done all at once. If you happen across something "meaningful" for you during your wandering, so much the better - if not, the experiences and photos will fill the bill...