Any advice on booking holiday myself rather than agent?

[Blakeatron]

We have a local independent travel agents who we have used previously, but to be honest weren’t impressed.
I went into talk to them about this holiday and just seemed like they couldn’t be bothered.

The basic outline : in February half term 25

Fly from Manchester to krakow
Krakow to zakopane transfer
5 nights hotel half board in zakopane
Transfer from zakopane to krakow
3 nights in hotel half board in krakow
Flights home

Happy booking the hotels, but how do I organise the transfers? The zakopane hotel I have spoken too don’t get involved in this side of things.
Flights should also be easy to book

[craig1912]

As you say flights and hotels are straightforward.

Have a look at the “Rome2Rio” app. Just done your first transfer and it gives bus, train, taxi journey times, costs and links to book the transfer.

Another app for public transport is Omio.

[omniflow]

Don't think of them as transfers, they're just part of the journey.

Google maps MIGHT have all the info you need, but it might not. Try locating one end of the journey in Google maps, select directions and then put the other end of the journey in as the start location.

[popeyewhite]

Google Krakow to zakopane transfer

Make choice

FFS

[Harpoon]

I can't remember the last time I even went in a travel agent or looked on their website for a holiday / trip.

As per the previous post, I would start with Google Maps to get an idea and then research further from there to cross-reference and check information.

For instance, asking Google Maps for directions from Krakow airport to Zakopane gives a rough plan of using the SKA1 airport train to get to Krakow central station (Kraków G?ówny). Then you can pick up a direct train to Zakopane which takes up to 2:30 depending on which service you get.

Looks like you can book tickets in advance online with Polish Railways or buy when you land. I'd say it's reasonably common for the automated ticket machines to offer a choice of languages so you can buy in English.

https://www.intercity.pl/en/

Edited by Harpoon on Tuesday 5th November 11:23

[nyt]

Google says that the two are directly connected by a railway

https://www.intercity.pl/en/ is selling tickets for about £16. Seems to take about 2.5 hours

Might be an option depending on luggage / family age / etc


hth

[Amateurish]

Airport train to Krakow station:

https://www.krakowairport.pl/en/train-en

Then train to Zakopane

https://www.intercity.pl/en/site/for-passengers/in...

[Amateurish]

Uber seems to offer this trip for 349 zloty (£67)

[98elise]

Harpoon said:

I can't remember the last time I even went in a travel agent or looked on their website for a holiday / trip.

Same here. I always book everything separately on line.

Edited by 98elise on Tuesday 5th November 13:18

[craig1912]

Or just get a flixbus direct from the airport for £8 which takes less time than the train.

[Vasco]

I haven't used an Agent for decades. Any trip is fairly simple to organise, particularly with the help of Google and a number of travel sites.

[chip*]

Check the destination airport website which usually list the transfer options e.g. train, bus, shuttle etc..to nearby City or towns.

Alternatively, you can look up TripAdvisor which has holiday sub-forum which with all the common questions covered for each destination. I know forum comments can be subjective, but you do get TA local experts responding who does provide helpful tips.

[TownIdiot]

I do this type of travel regularly and it's pretty straightforward

I'd advise buying an open ticket for trains/coaches after a flight.

If you are delayed you can have a leisurely beer/coffee and not stress about a lost connection and lost euros.

[Mont Blanc]

Never used a travel agency or anything similar for probably the last 20 years. There really is no need thanks to the internet.

As others have said, just use google maps to look at transfer distances and options, then just google transfers to and from those places, read a few reviews of the services and costs, and book one.