Author Topic: Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania Kevarim itinerary.  (Read 17624 times)

Offline zow

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Re: Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania Kevarim itinerary.
« Reply #20 on: January 21, 2017, 11:36:23 PM »
20 seater
Ah-ha! A Mercedes Benz Sprinter. Thanks.

Offline moisheyb

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Re: Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania Kevarim itinerary.
« Reply #21 on: January 22, 2017, 02:30:28 AM »
True, but driving back to airport, refueling & returning rental car, checking in at least 30 minutes before departure, ~one hour flight time from gate to gate, waiting to collect luggage, renting rental car, etc. is all very time consuming - time you could be driving instead.

Wow sounds like you've know eastern Europe COLD. Are you a travel agent and or how many times were you there??

Offline moisheyb

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Re: Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania Kevarim itinerary.
« Reply #22 on: January 22, 2017, 02:31:56 AM »
We will be having a driver with a sprinter at all times waiting for us.

Sounds like you have everything planned out really well. Who did you book the sprinter with?
How much is this trip costing in total?

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Re: Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania Kevarim itinerary.
« Reply #23 on: January 22, 2017, 07:28:21 AM »
Sounds like you have everything planned out really well. Who did you book the sprinter with?
How much is this trip costing in total?
we changed the itinerary a bit so everyone can be on the same flights. There was not enough award to warsaw.
Total is 75k united +$600 for hotel & drivers.

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Re: Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania Kevarim itinerary.
« Reply #24 on: January 22, 2017, 07:29:04 AM »
Wow sounds like you've know eastern Europe COLD. Are you a travel agent and or how many times were you there??
I am an agent as well. I spent hours and hours on this trip. We are finally booked.

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Re: Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania Kevarim itinerary.
« Reply #25 on: January 22, 2017, 07:30:18 AM »
Revised itinerary to be on the same flights. (award)
SUNDAY
5:40 PM JFK TO VIE (8HR 40 MIN) UNITED 30K POINTS SAVER AWARD
MONDAY
8:20AM ARRIVE IN VIENNA GO TO JEWISH CEMETERY
1:05PM VIE TO KRK (1 HR) UNITED 15K POINTS SAVER AWARD
2:05PM ARRIVE AT KRAKOW
DRIVE TO AUSCHWITZ (1 HOUR) (Oświęcimia 20, 32-603 Oświęcim) 3.5 HOUR GUIDED TOUR
DRIVE TO KRAKOW – THE SHUL OF REMA – (Szeroka 40, 30-001 Kraków, Poland) KEVARIM (BACH, TOSFOT Y”T)
SLEEP IN SHERATON GRAND KRAKOW
TUESDAY
DRIVE TO RYMANOW
DRIVE TO LEZAJSK (Ul. Targowa 6,  37-300 Lezajsk) NOAM ELIMELECH
3PM RZE TO WAW (55MIN) LOT AIR $24
4PM ARRIVE IN WARSAW
DRIVE TO JEWISH CEMETERY OF GUR (SEFAT EMET, CHIDUSHEI HARIM)
DRIVE TO JEWISH CEMETERY WARSAW (BES HALEVI, NETZIV)
SLEEP IN WARSAW – THE WESTIN WARSAW
WEDNSDAY
6AM WARSAW TO KIEV (1HR 30MIN) UKRAINE AIR $150
8:30AM ARRIVE IN KIEV
DRIVE TO UMAN – RABI NACHMAN (3 HOURS) (PUSHKINA STREET, UMAN)
DRIVE TO MEDZHIBOZH- BAAL SHEM TOV (3 HOURS) (Besht street in Medzhibozh)
DRIVE TO BERDICHEV-LEVI YITZCHAK OF BERDICHEV (2 HOURS)
DRIVE TO HOTEL (2HR 30MIN)
SLEEP – 11 MIRRORS
THURSDAY
6AM IEV TO MSQ (55MIN) BELAVIA $84
DRIVE TO RADUN BELARUS (1HR 45MIN) – CHOFETZ CHAIM
DRIVE TO VILNIUS (1HR) – VINA HAGAON, CHAYE ADOM, R CHAIM OZER & OTHERS (Sudervės Kelias 28)
2:20 PM VNO TO JFK STOPOVER IN FRANKFURT UNITED 30K POINTS SAVER AWARD
ARRIVE IN JFK 7:55PM

Offline chff

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Re: Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania Kevarim itinerary.
« Reply #26 on: January 22, 2017, 07:50:56 AM »
Starting February 9th, 2017 Belarus is giving free visa on arrival for up to 5 days if you are flying in to Minsk.
http://president.gov.by/en/news_en/view/belarus-introduces-five-day-visa-free-regime-for-citizens-of-80-states-15344/

Also note for Poland, US driver license holders are technically required to have an International Driver's Permit.
Visa Free if in you in & OUT of MSQ

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Re: Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania Kevarim itinerary.
« Reply #27 on: January 22, 2017, 07:55:50 AM »
Visa Free if in you in & OUT of MSQ
sure?

Offline chff

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Re: Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania Kevarim itinerary.
« Reply #28 on: January 22, 2017, 07:56:35 AM »
sure?
Told so by the consulate. When is your trip?

Offline chff

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Offline Deals Fan

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Re: Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania Kevarim itinerary.
« Reply #30 on: January 22, 2017, 07:58:46 AM »
Told so by the consulate. When is your trip?
summer time

Offline Saulius

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Re: Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania Kevarim itinerary.
« Reply #31 on: January 22, 2017, 08:28:13 AM »
Wow sounds like you've know eastern Europe COLD. Are you a travel agent and or how many times were you there??

I am a local (from Vilnius).

Offline shimino1

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Re: Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania Kevarim itinerary.
« Reply #32 on: January 22, 2017, 08:44:45 AM »
2:05PM ARRIVE AT KRAKOW
DRIVE TO AUSCHWITZ (1 HOUR) (Oświęcimia 20, 32-603 Oświęcim) 3.5 HOUR GUIDED TOUR
DRIVE TO KRAKOW – THE SHUL OF REMA – (Szeroka 40, 30-001 Kraków, Poland) KEVARIM (BACH, TOSFOT Y”T)
SLEEP IN SHERATON GRAND KRAKOW
TUESDAY
DRIVE TO RYMANOW
DRIVE TO LEZAJSK (Ul. Targowa 6,  37-300 Lezajsk) NOAM ELIMELECH
3PM RZE TO WAW (55MIN) LOT AIR $24
4PM ARRIVE IN WARSAW
DRIVE TO JEWISH CEMETERY OF GUR (SEFAT EMET, CHIDUSHEI HARIM)
DRIVE TO JEWISH CEMETERY WARSAW (BES HALEVI, NETZIV)
SLEEP IN WARSAW – THE WESTIN WARSAW
Will only comment on the Poland part since I was there a few times recently.
Your driving times look to be very aspirational! Many of the Polish roads are one lane in each direction and you can easily lose an hour/hour and a half due to an accident or just rush hour traffic.

If you have a group for Auschwitz, you have to be in touch with them in advance to get a guide! If you are less than 10 people (I think that is the number) you can join an existing guided tour but make sure they have one in English for the time you want to go and book tickets in advance or else it may fill up.

Assuming you arrive at Auschwitz 3:15-3:30 PM, it will still take you time to get in, get past security (airport style), pick up your tickets and get the group to start moving. (I would say 25-40 minutes for everything).
Don't forget that Auschwitz is a regular museum and closes at some point so make sure to find out what time they are open until.

If you are going to Auschwitz, you should also go to Birkenau (Auschwitz 2) which is a 5 minute drive from Auschwitz 1. Birkenau is a lot more authentic than Auschwitz and feels a lot less like a museum. Many people would tell you that if you can only do one, do Birkenau instead of Auschwitz. Birkenau does not offer guided tours as far as I know but it is well worthwhile to bring your own guide for that part.

You should figure 2:30-3:00 for Birkenau. If you do both Auschwitz and Birkanau, figure about 5:00-7:00 hours total. Birkenau also closes at some point so figure that one out as well.

One way or another, I don't know if the RAMA shul and cemetery will be open by the time you get to Krakow so check to make sure.
As others said, there are 3-4 more shuls worth seeing ounce you go all the way to Krakow such as the Issac shul, the Kupa shul and the Temple shul (orthodox despite the name) which is STUNNING!!!
You can get a 2:30-3:00 hour guided tour of all the shuls and of the old Jewish city of Krakow.

It is also worth going to the Plaszow concentration camp (the one featured in Schindler's lists) and davening at Sara Scnirar's kever which is in the camp.

I really think you should add a day to your trip to get all the Krakow stuff done.

What are you doing for Kosher food?

Offline shimino1

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Re: Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania Kevarim itinerary.
« Reply #33 on: January 22, 2017, 08:48:54 AM »
I am a local (from Vilnius).
You live there now?
We need to make a Vilnius DO!

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Re: Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania Kevarim itinerary.
« Reply #34 on: January 22, 2017, 01:25:22 PM »
Will only comment on the Poland part since I was there a few times recently.
Your driving times look to be very aspirational! Many of the Polish roads are one lane in each direction and you can easily lose an hour/hour and a half due to an accident or just rush hour traffic.

If you have a group for Auschwitz, you have to be in touch with them in advance to get a guide! If you are less than 10 people (I think that is the number) you can join an existing guided tour but make sure they have one in English for the time you want to go and book tickets in advance or else it may fill up.

Assuming you arrive at Auschwitz 3:15-3:30 PM, it will still take you time to get in, get past security (airport style), pick up your tickets and get the group to start moving. (I would say 25-40 minutes for everything).
Don't forget that Auschwitz is a regular museum and closes at some point so make sure to find out what time they are open until.

If you are going to Auschwitz, you should also go to Birkenau (Auschwitz 2) which is a 5 minute drive from Auschwitz 1. Birkenau is a lot more authentic than Auschwitz and feels a lot less like a museum. Many people would tell you that if you can only do one, do Birkenau instead of Auschwitz. Birkenau does not offer guided tours as far as I know but it is well worthwhile to bring your own guide for that part.

You should figure 2:30-3:00 for Birkenau. If you do both Auschwitz and Birkanau, figure about 5:00-7:00 hours total. Birkenau also closes at some point so figure that one out as well.

One way or another, I don't know if the RAMA shul and cemetery will be open by the time you get to Krakow so check to make sure.
As others said, there are 3-4 more shuls worth seeing ounce you go all the way to Krakow such as the Issac shul, the Kupa shul and the Temple shul (orthodox despite the name) which is STUNNING!!!
You can get a 2:30-3:00 hour guided tour of all the shuls and of the old Jewish city of Krakow.

It is also worth going to the Plaszow concentration camp (the one featured in Schindler's lists) and davening at Sara Scnirar's kever which is in the camp.

I really think you should add a day to your trip to get all the Krakow stuff done.

What are you doing for Kosher food?
Thanks for the info!!
Do you know any tour guide that is good for Birkenau?

Offline E-MAN

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Re: Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania Kevarim itinerary.
« Reply #35 on: January 22, 2017, 01:32:01 PM »
What's total cost cash + points all in (incl food, sprinter, guides etc.)?

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Re: Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania Kevarim itinerary.
« Reply #36 on: January 22, 2017, 01:35:50 PM »
What's total cost cash + points all in (incl food, sprinter, guides etc.)?
75k united and $750

Offline ad120

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Re: Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania Kevarim itinerary.
« Reply #37 on: January 22, 2017, 01:54:07 PM »
Below is what i planned. Let me know if this sounds ok. (very intense)

SUNDAY

4:35PM WARSAW TO RZESZOW (55MIN)
5:30PM ARRIVE AT RZESZOW
DRIVE TO LEZAJSK (30 MIN) NOAM ELIMELECH
DRIVE TO KRAKOW (2 HOURS) SLEEP IN SHERATON GRAND KRAKOW
Lancut is right near Lezajsk. That is where the Ropshitzer Ruv is.

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Re: Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania Kevarim itinerary.
« Reply #38 on: January 22, 2017, 01:57:03 PM »
Lancut is right near Lezajsk. That is where the Ropshitzer Ruv is.
Thanks will add.

Offline shimino1

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Re: Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania Kevarim itinerary.
« Reply #39 on: January 22, 2017, 05:03:47 PM »
What are you doing for kosher food?