European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 17, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Is a Ahl Arlun restored old town part of Warsaw. Trade lain in Leipzig can Book a i Airport to the Merkur one of Only 112 German democratic Republic. Pro menacing along the Placa is a popular pastime in the Beautiful walled Adriatic City of Dubrovnik Yugoslavia one of Eastern Europe s most famous tourist destinations. Isle acted the slate department s travel advisory Lor Imama still recommends extreme caution Albania has in spurned Western Louism for years. American travel to Eastern Europe was Odell limited mainly to people with relatives there and venerate travellers the Appeal of the Region began growing in the mid 30s because of its relatively Low Cost and As terrorism came a problem in parts of Western Europe its safety while More americans visited Eastern Europe in 1989 in Ever before the numbers Are still Small Poland which expects a 20 percent increase in i tors irom the u was Host to 86.000 americans in 189. Up irom 40,000 in 1986 Czechoslovakia had 70.000, Bulgaria 20,000. And i Gary. With 150,000, was the Region s biggest draw Ping even the soviet Union which was visited by i 5.000 americans about 2 8 million americans visited Britain last year while americans with their hard cur ency Are come at the moment Lew Eastern european Wintries have the amenities to accommodate Large timbers. Particularly those who expect up to Date Ostern style hotels the Region s strengths and weaknesses As a tourist i station were highlighted  the  year s Liday in Berlin the Benaroya who arrived without i. Ier Valins. Paid $200 Lor their room about 30 percent Ore than the regular Price alter spending nearly an entire Day looking for commode tons. Edward Little a Toronto air Frallic stroller. And his Wile. Lynda a nurse joined the Odds Al the West Berlin tourist office the couple who gave up their annual Holiday in the Caribbean to visit Berlin eventually got a room with a private family for $80 an employee of Deutscher Reisaburo Der in Frankfurt said that in East Germany. All the hotels Are already ust about booked through the month of May " the whole country has Only 112 hotels Lor International tourism and 32 of them Are in the High Price Range 200 Marks a night about $122 and upward there arc 80 other hotels that Range irom very primitive to acceptable with prices irom 30 to 150 Marks a night. The Western tourist has to be tolerant about hotel facilities in East Germany they also have to learn that you can t find restaurants without a reservation and taxis area rarity " but. The Der tour expert also said he thought private persons in some East German cities would probably be offering private accommodations for reasonable prices at the Palace hotel in Prague it is necessary to Reserve Al least a month in Advance Lor the Winter season when a Standard double room costs $142 a Ghl. Summer rates Are $24 a night in Budapest More than 20,000 rooms Are available at in Lar  hotels which include branches of the Hilton the inter Continental and the halt but Budapest lacks office space and Western companies doing business there routinely refit Hoe rooms As oldies keeping them even when their representatives Are not in the City the new $65 million Warsaw Marriott which opened in october is the first hotel in Trie Region that is not state owned and operated double rooms Cost around $185. Payable Only in hard currency visa rules stars and stripes Here Are some of the regulations governing travel by action cans to East bloc countries the information is taken mainly irom the u s state department pamphlet. Foreign visa requirements to most cases visas May be obtained at an embassy or consulate of the destination country. Hungary and Yugoslavia Issue tourist visas at Border crossing Points and airports however having visas in Advance helps avoid delays at crowded airports and when lights arrive outside Normal working hours Albania. Passport and visa required currently visas Are Only issued to business representatives and groups of at least 10 persons Bulgaria passport and visa required a tourist visa is valid Lor slays Over 30 hours and up to 30 Days a visitor s visa Lor us citizens requires a loiter of invitation and is valid Lor a stay of up to 90 Days it is issued to relatives friends Etc and May be extended transit visas valid up to 30 hours require Onward return ticket and visa Lor next destination if appropriate Czechoslovakia passport and visa required a tourist transit visa is valid Lor live months and one 01 two entries two applications and Lour photographs Are required. German democratic Republic East Germany one Day visits Are permitted Only to East Berlin a visa Lor such a visit May be obtained by those with a tourist passport Al checkpoint Charlie or the a Bahn station at Friedric Strasse passport should not have a status of forces stamp  service members and Dod civilians driving to we Berlin from Federal Republic of Germany West Germany Are required by u s military authorities to use the Berlin Holmstedt autobahn through Easl Germany they must carry two copies of the Berlin briefing statement and have hag orders issued by their leave granting authority for visits to other parts of Easl Germany which in include at least one overnight visas Are issued by embassy or at a Border crossing Point upon presentation of travel vouchers or visa entitlement certificates travel vouchers May be obtained through a local travel agent for a stay Al a hotel in any place other than Berlin the traveler must Book in Advance through a travel Agency and must present passport hotel voucher and telex confirmation irom East German hotel to get visa at Border. Visa entitlement certificates Are required Lor those making arrangements o stay in private Homes with relatives or friends write Reise Boro Der Der. Ami fur Besuch Weise Ein Reisen Postrach 77. Ddr-1026 Berlin Tel 00372-2154170 transit visas for travel through the g d r to West Berlin or to another country Are also issued Al the Border Hungary. Passport and visa required passport must be valid at least one month beyond expiration da1- of visa a transit visa is valid Lor a stay of up to 48 hours an entry visa is Good Lor up to 30 Days and valid for six months irom Date of Issue an application and two photo. Are required double entry visas Are also available but require Lour photos and three application forms. A multiple entry visa valid Lor one year May be used Lor visits of up to 30 Days. Ii requires two photos and an application form. Obtain visa in Advance from consulate or upon arrival at Airport or Border crossing Points Poland passport and visa required a transit visa is valid Lor 48 hours and one entry. A tourist business visa is also valid Lor a single entry and a stay of up to 90 Days Romania passport and visa required a single entry or double entry transit visa May be obit unto ? Border Point of entry in Romania or irom an embassy transit visa is valid 72 hours. A tourist visa valid six months irom Dale of Issue for single entry of up to 60 Days requires letter stating reason Lor trip and i Morai an official at the us consulate in Frankfurt said that the slate department has issued an advisor for Romania recommending thai americans fief Tir travel Iii Lurther notice because of the unsettled situation there soviet Union passport and visa required visa is valid Lor one entry. Three photos and passport or photocopy of passport required Yugoslavia passport and visa required visa is valid up to one year and is Good for multiple entries Lor visits of up to 90 Days. May be at obtained upon entry or at yugoslavian consulates and embassies n z. Nuary 17,1990 stars and stripes Page 15