Off Track in Eastern Europe

The sweet "wow!" moments of travel in Eastern Europe often coming from heading off the beaten tourist trail.

I'm a travel addict, and have been lucky enough to spend at least two months of the year traveling for the last few. This means I often can travel at a reasonably slow place, with time for side trips and unexpected discoveries. And I love it. Finding places like Abruka Island in Estonia rarely happen by following a guidebook or sitting on a tourist bus.

I often use a guidebook, but cautiously, and with a good ear out to listen to advice from locals. Not everyone wants to or has the possibility to travel this way. Independent travel, following a guidebook's advice perhaps, is all well and good for some, but others prefer to let someone else do all the work and just e ready to get on and off the bus at each attraction. Or it might be a combination that suits you, depending on the time and budget available. Have your say in this week's poll, or leave a comment here.