WPB wrote:
Hello, all: I've put up a couple of postings and everyone's been very
generous with their valuable advice for my upcoming trip. Next month
I leave for Vienna and then three weeks later return home from Sofia.
No plans at all yet for the points in between.

A number of people in this newsgroup gave me very good suggested
itineraries. They tended to go from Vienna to Sofia via an eastern
route (Hungary: Budapest and Eger) and Serbia.

But I got some guide books from the library on Slovenia, Croatia and
Bosnia--the western route. So many beautiful places to see.
Dubrovnik and Sarajevo look wonderful. I could focus on these
countries, then travel quickly through Serbia to end up in Bulgaria
(for five or six days there)

So my question is: would people recommend one route over the other?
Western vs. eastern? Of course, that depends on my tastes which leans
toward old city centers, markets, Roman ruins and beautiful scenery
(as opposed to shopping, nightlife and beaches).

Also, would the train and bus transportation be more reliable on
either the western route or the eastern route? I'm assuming the
hotel and restaurant prices would be pretty much the same all over
the region.

So once again many thanks in advance for any advice. Whichever route
would almost certainly be wonderful, but it's my first vacation in
years and I'd like to have as much information as possible so I can
make the best choices.

Thanks again!

David in Toronto

of all the towns that you want to see.. I would say Sarajevo is the one you
should not miss
It was the town of the 4 religions living together.. with the biggest mosque
in Europe ( of Course. the Blue mosque in Istanbul is bigger.. )
then I would say :
Budapest is the second best for monuments.
Beograd and Subotica boast something noteworthy ( Beograd has a Turkish part
and Subotica has an old castle )
Eger is a small town famous for its wine. a castle and a minaret..
Mostar boasts its famous bridge
Dubrovnik is the old venetian town of Ragusa.. so its historical centre
recalls to yr memory venetian palaces. this part of Croatia has been Italy
till the end of the second world war.
Of course I did not mention Vienna. I have been there for the 20th time a
few months ago. and three days were not enough. Again. I recommen Hotel
Prinz Eugen and the Vienna Card. that enables you to travel on all public
services free of charge for three days. (Plus rebates to Museums, Airport
shuttle.. and so on )
you will need at least 2 days in Budapest.
maybe half a day in Szentendre.. a few kms from Budapest.
I recommend the old Abbey of Melk about 60 kms from Vienna.
You can take the train from Vienna and then a boat from Melk to Vienna on
the Danube. Mayerling might be another curiosity.
Again. you can take a boat from Vienna to Bratislava Budapest.
wherever you might sleep. it cannot cost more than 100 eur per night for a
double room.. Vienna Budapest and Beograd being the most expensive.
Food will be the cheap part of the trip.. You cannot spend more than 15 eur
for a good meal in Vienna Budapest and so on.. unless they cheat you
if you want my opinion. Start from Vienna. There are the usual London buses
that will take you almost everywhere for half day trips. In the night you
might go to Prater or take a shuttle train to Bratislava.. where you can
enjoy Slovak kitchen and a good bier.
To tell you the truth I do not like Budapest too much. but it is worth a
couple of days.
One day in Eger
One day in Subotica
One day in Beograd
One day or two in Sarajevo including Mostar
I have been to Sofia only in transit to Thessaloniki or Istanbul.. so I
cannot say anything

If you like ancient monuments.. the other way through Slovenia Croatia and
Bosnia cannot be that interesting.
but you might well study guide books and Internet