Great places at affordable prices

More For Your Group Travel Dollar in Non-Euro Central/Eastern Europe; EuroGroups Offers New Slovenia & Croatia Pakage

White Plains, NY, August 25, 2005 - The countries of the former East Bloc - still using their own national currencies (not the Euro) - are among today's best travel bargains and make for a distinctly different, off-the-beaten-path adventure. In Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, and Slovenia you'll find just as much history, culture and charm as more conventional European destinations, without the sticker shock or the crowds.

Rail Europe's group division, EuroGroups, specializing in customized itineraries for groups of 10 or more, reports an increase in the number of requests for group travel to this relatively undiscovered and fascinating part of Europe. EuroGroups has assembled a variety of economical packages in this region, including a brand new nine-day, eight-night tour of Slovenia and Croatia, starting at $1,269 per person for groups of 40 or more. This price includes roundtrip trans-atlantic air*, accommodations in first-class hotels, hotel taxes and service charges, 14 meals, English-speaking professional tour director throughout, arrival and departure transfers, luggage handling, and entrance fees.

Itinerary highlights include the spectacular walled city of Dubrovnik, the remarkable coastal city of Split (built within the walls of a Roman palace), stunning scenery at picture-perfect Lake Bled and Plitvice with its endless waterfalls, Slovenia's Art Nouveau-styled capital Ljubljana and Croatia's museum-filled Zagreb.

Among EuroGroups' other customizable packages for the Central/Eastern European region:

•  Imperial Russian Capitals of Moscow and St. Petersburg - 7 nights from $1,109 per person

•  Grand Tour of Poland - 10 nights from $1,359 per person visiting Warsaw, Gdansk, Malbork, Wroclaw, Krakow, Zakopane and other towns.

•  Central Europe Tour - 8 nights from $1,269 per person stopping in Prague, Budapest, Bratislava and Vienna.

•  Halloween in Transylvania/Dracula's Castle (Romania) - 9 nights from $1,768 per person, including Bucharest, Bran, Sinaia, Sighishoara, Sibiu and other picturesque towns.

•  Budapest and Prague Christmas Markets - 6 nights from $1,209 per person with plenty of time for shopping and sightseeing.

Full descriptions of these and other tours throughout Europe and the U.K. are available at www.eurogroups.com or call 1-800-462-2577. EuroGroups is the group travel department for the Rail Europe Group, which includes Rail Europe, Avanti Destinations and Destination Europe Resources.

* Note: all EuroGroups “starting at” prices are net and based on double occupancy with roundtrip airfare from NY; many other US gateways are available.

Photos: members of the press may download high-res photos of Eurostar and other European trains at www.raileurope.com/presspix