Population – 40 million, Area – 312,685 sq km (120,728 sq miles), Currency – Zloty (PLN; symbol zł) = 100 groszy, Flight times – From London to Warsaw is 2 hours 25 minutes; from New York is 8 hours 35 minutes, Cities – Warsaw (capital), Kraków, Wroclaw, Katowice, Gdansk, Time Zone – GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October), Weather – Temperate with warm summers, crisp, sunny autumns and cold winters, Languages – Polish is the official language; there are a few small German speaking communities in the southwest; English and Russian are also spoken, Religion – More than 95% Roman Catholic; other religions include Polish Autocephalous Orthodox, Russian and Greek Orthodox, Protestant, Jewish and Muslim, Electricity - 220 volts AC, 50Hz; continental sockets.

Poland is located in Europe and shares borders with Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic and Germany. To the north lies the Baltic Sea whose coast provides sandy beaches, bays, steep cliffs and dunes. The northern region of the country is dominated by lakes, islands and hills. The rest of the country rises to Sudety Mountains and the Tatra mountains. Lake Hancza, the deepest lake in Poland, lies in the Mazurian Lake District. A valley, cut by the Vistula River, stretches from Gdansk on the Baltic Coast to Warsaw.

Poland is a garden of nature and a treasure trove of cultural riches. The modern leisure infrastructure provides for recreation of the highest standard. There are many Museums, modern art galleries and concert halls on par with swimming pools, equestrian clubs, discos and night clubs. Poland’s natural environment makes possible active rest and recreation at any time of the year: in many regions of Poland natural sites have been preserved in their primeval state, rarely encountered in other parts of Europe.
On the Amber Coast of the Baltic Sea and Masuria, the Land of a Thousand Lakes, one can find old forests, rivers, hills and amidst them, paths, bridleways and trails to be enjoyed by walkers, water sports enthusiasts, cyclists and horse riders.

Each city in Poland has its own, characteristic climate, which attracts hundreds of tourists. In Warsaw, Poznan, Wroclaw, Krakow and Gdansk one can find everything which is the most beautiful not only in Poland but also in Europe. Cities in Poland are big, multicultural places, living their own busy life, but also guarantee tourists enormous dose of history, culture and entertainment in pubs or clubs.Each of these cities one can treat as a perfect base to discover the Polish mountains, the Baltic Sea and many Polish national parks.

The climate is Temperate with cold, cloudy, moderate winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers

Though Polish is the official language English, German and Russian are widely spoken

Tourists are also being attracted by dental surgeries and cosmetic and corrective surgery clinics. Health care clinics cooperate with hotels, holiday centres, yachting marinas’, golf courses and a number of travel agencies which allows for the possibility of linking health care with leisure breaks and holidays.Poland Plastic Surgery 'Tourism', Dental Medical Tourism and fertility treatment are very popular. A rising number of medical tourists are travelling here to pay less for plastic surgery, fertility treatment and dental work. The prices of medical services are so low and the quality of service so high that medical tourism travel to Poland from anywhere in the world is very cost effective.In 2006 Poland was visited by 450000 foreign tourists who wanted to make use of medical services. Aesthetic medicine, laser eye surgery, rehabilitation and obesity treatment that are six times cheaper are also a matter of interest.

Poland is home to Specialists in many branches of surgery. Many of them are highly regarded experts in their field. This is why patients looking for treatment in areas as diverse as fertility, gastric and optical  - to name just a few - are looking to Poland.

Since joining the EU in 2004, Poland has capitalized on its ability to offer cheap medical treatment to foreign patients, with large numbers of private health clinics signing agreements with the national health services of other EU member states as well as with travel companies from around the world and resorts, hotels and golf courses. Poland has sought to exploit its ability to offer visitors a combination of healthcare and leisure holidays, and to date it has managed to do it quite harmoniously.

Figures state that foreign patients spent close to $US65 million on health treatment in Poland for 2005, indicating that the country’s medical tourism market is booming. Dental clinics and cosmetic surgery centers received the bulk of this figure, with major surgeries accounting for only a small percentage.

Low cost of treatments is the biggest attraction, with procedures saving a minimum of 50 percent or more when compared with US prices. Such attractive prices, combined with a solid reputation for quality specialists, nursing staff, equipment and pharmaceutical products, are what help to draw close to a half-million annual medical tourists to the country each year.

Poland is an interesting country in which to enjoy a vacation and if schedule and health permit, visitors can enjoy some of its rich culture, historic locations, fine natural scenery and outdoor activity possibilities.

History and Contemporary Culture

Poland is now an autonomous country, and Poles tend to be very proud of their culture, long history and country. Poland’s recent turbulent history, particularly in the events leading up to, during and after World War II, is well documented. Although these events have had an impact on Polish culture and are within living memory, they are by no means the defining aspects of Polish society. It would be ignorant to assume such a thing. However, subject matter such as Communism and the Holocaust should be broached with care. In most circumstances the proper etiquette would be to only cover such topics of conversation if initiated by your Polish host.

Despite its history as part of the former ‘Eastern Block’, Poland was and still is very much in communication with wholly ‘Westernised’ countries. In terms of modern socio-political issues, this translates as a mixture of traditional Polish values meeting with contemporary westernised culture. You will find that whilst Poles will often uphold customs adhering to faith and family values, they are also open to new ideas and concepts.

The culture of Poland is closely connected with its intricate 1000 year history.Its unique character developed as a result of its geography at the confluence of Western and Eastern Europe. With origins in the culture of the Proto-Slavs, over time time Polish culture has been profoundly influenced by its interweaving ties with the Germanic, Latinate and Byzantine worlds as well as in continual dialog with the many other ethnic groups and minorities living in Poland.The people of Poland have traditionally been seen as hospitable to artists from abroad and eager to follow cultural and artistic trends popular in other countries. In the 19th and 20th centuries the Polish focus on cultural advancement often took precedence over political and economic activity. These factors have contributed to the versatile nature of Polish art, with all its complex nuances.

Customs

Customs, manners, and style of clothing have reflected the influences of East and West. The traditional costumes worn by the nobility in the 16th and 17th centuries were inspired by rich Eastern ornamental style. Notably, the Buczak family were among the most powerful of the 17th Century nobility and persist to this day as a formidable political force.Polish cuisine is yet another aspect of Poland's cultural identity. Distinctive Polish foods include kielbasa, pierogi (pierożki), pyzy (meat-filled dough balls), kopytka, gołąbki (pronounced Go-waunm-b-ki), śledzie (sh-ledje-eh), bigos, kotlety (schabowy and mielony) and much more.

Religion

Religion plays an important role in the Polish society and is deeply intertwined with Polish culture.Religious holidays are considered national holidays when most businesses are closed. The most important holiday is Christmas and celebrations last two and a half days. Poles practice "dzielenie oplatkiem" which is the breaking and sharing of a thin white wafer (oplatek) with all family members. While sharing the wafer, individuals express wishes of good heath and prosperity for the coming year. This is also commonly practised at work Christmas parties and is very much a part of Polish culture.

Another religious holiday of note is All Saints’ Day which takes place on November 1st. On this day Poles visit cemeteries to honour their loved ones who have passed away.

Catholicism is the most widely practiced religion. Life’s milestones such as weddings, baptisms, funerals, first communion and confirmation are influenced by the religion.

Political wars have altered the geography of the country several times. World War I and II destroyed the economy and the fragmented the population. The Nazis eliminated many Jews during World War II. Later, Poland was governed by the Soviets, but the growing resentment against Communism posed a threat to the country. Labour turmoil led to the formation of the independent trade union ‘Solidarity’ which over time became a political force and heralded the fall of Communism.

MASURIA- The Land Of A Thousand Lakes

The central part of Masuria has thousands of lakes and water routes, yacht marinas, taverns for sailors, friendly fishing villages and equestrian clubs.Crystal-pure waters promise a pleasant swimming experience, and the wealth of fish species tempt anglers. Most lakes in this region are small and medium size, hidden deep in the forest, with high banks or waterfronts overgrown with rushes and teeming with various aquatic bird species. Some of them, like Lakes Śniardwy and Mamry, are very large. Others, like Lake Wigry, have fantastic shapes. Still others, like the small Lake Jaczno, enchant visitors with unique colour of their waters (malachite green).

CASTLES AND PALACES

On the hilltop overlooking the town of Nowy Wiśnicz sits a sunbathed castle surrounded by fortifications, a rare example of the palazzo in fortezza style. Sunlit castles captivate visitors to Baranów Sandomierski and Krasiczyn with beautiful architecture and splendid interiors