May in Warsaw

Weather
There is usually a pretty good weather in Poland between May and October. In May temperature varies from 10°- 23^oC (50^o-73.4^oF) but you can expect some rain so don’t forget your umbrella.

Warsaw Airport
Warsaw airport is about 10 km from the city center. There is a post office, a bank, exchange offices, cash machines, a restaurant, a fast-food and a coffee bar, souvenir shops and rent -a car: Avis, Hertz etc. You can find the tourist information office at the arrival hall. The majority of international airline representatives’ offices are located there. The domestic airport is next door to the international terminal. You can reach the city center and the Old Town by bus number 175. 

Customs
The following items may be imported free of customs duty by persons 18 years and older:
250 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco; 3 liters of alcoholic beverages.
Bringing any goods that could destroy the natural environment, pornographic materials and drugs is prohibited.

Currency
You can check the current rate in Internet
Poland's national currency is zloty (PLN) 1 zloty = 100 grosz (grosh).
Banknotes: 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 zloty
Coins: 1, 2, 5 zloty,
Small coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 grosh.
Foreign currency can be exchanged at the airport, hotels, banks and exchange offices. ATMs are widespread.  

Credit cards
Most of credit cards are accepted in a majority of the hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, petrol stations and larger shops. In case of loss of credit cards such as Diners Club, EuroCard, JCB, MasterCard, PolCard and Visa call: PolCard:  301 41 55/ 346 30 11 or a 24-hour hot-line in Warsaw: (022) 827 45 13/ 827 30 40.
American Express cardholders should call: (022) 625 40 30

How to get to the Novotel Airport Hotel?
The hotel is not far from the airport just about 8 minutes by bus. You can buy a bus ticket in a kiosk located in the arrival hall very near the exit. The fare is 2.40 zloty but don’t forget to buy another one if you have a big luggage with you. A bus stop is just in front of arrival hall Take a bus no 175 or 188 and get off at the fifth bus stop. The hotel is on the opposite side and to get there you should cross the street via a small bridge. Of course you can take a taxi but you will pay much more. A taxi stop is also in front of the arrival hall but it is recommended to take corporation taxi only not the “private “ one. The help desk is inside the arrival hall.

Public transport
Buses and trams are relatively cheap. Most of the lines operate between 0500 and 2300. You can buy the tickets in kiosks, ticket machines or directly from a driver. They are valid for bus, tram and an underground (metro) Fares as follows:

a one trip ticket:  2,40 zloty
24h ticket: 7,20 zloty
3-day ticket: 12,00 zloty
one week ticket - 24,00 zloty
Warsaw's underground (metro) operates between 0500 and 2315. The trains run every 8 minutes (during peak hours every 5 minutes).   Rush hours are usually between 1500 and 1800.

Telephones
International calls: dial “00” followed by relevant country code and phone number
If somebody wants to call you in Warsaw: ”48” (country code) followed by “22” (city code)
Domestic calls: within city area – dial the direct number, outside – dial “0” followed by relevant city code and phone number.

Electricity
The electric current is 230 Volts AC//50 Hertz.

Internet connection
According to the Novotel Airport hotel information there is a free high-speed Internet access in every room.

Enjoy polish cuisine
Begin your meal with a pike in aspic, marinated fish in sour cream, salted and rolled herring fillets with pickles and onions etc. You should taste polish soups such as Barszcz (barstch)- beetroot soup excellent with sour cream or Rosol - beef or chicken broth. Do not forget to try the local specialities: Bigos, made with sauerkraut, fresh cabbage, onions and a variety of meat, Pierogi – boiled dough pockets filled with meat, cheese or fruits, Zrazy - mushroom-stuffed beefsteak rolls in sour cream served with boiled Kasza (kasha). Polish kitchen serves variety of fish such as carp in sweet-and-sour jellied sauce, poached pike with horseradish in cream and particularly popular herring. Polish sausages: Kabanos - a long, thin and highly spiced or Mysliwska (hunter’s) made with pork and game is delicious.

Drinks
There are many brands of mineral water: Mazowszanka Naleczowianka, Kryniczanka, Czantoria etc.
Be aware that polish beer Zywiec, Okocim, Varka, Tyskie is pretty strong.
Polish vodka Wyborowa, Zubrowka (bison grass), Tarniowka (sloe plum), Sliwowica (prune) and Pieprzowka (with ground white pepper) is also worth recommending. 

In restaurants tips are not included in the receipt that’s why there is a custom to add ~10% of the sum.

Warsaw at a glance

More details: http://www.e-warsaw.pl/index.php
City map: http://um.warszawa.pl/mapa/

Have a good time in Warsaw

Polish Airline Dispatchers Association POLALDA