Auschwitz tickets

[mrsconradfisher]

Appreciate it’s not exactly holiday related but figured someone on here might be able to help.
We are visiting Krakow in April for my DS’s 21st Birthday…yes I realise it’s not exactly the usual 21st location but that’s what he wanted to do!
Im trying to book tickets to Auschwitz when I’m there however when you go on the website to book tickets it just says “website under maintenance” and has done for the past few weeks. The whole point of us going is to visit Auschwitz so I’m reluctant to book flights etc without securing tickets first. I’m not sure if I’m doing something wrong or anyone has got any bright ideas of what I can do…

We went last year and booked via get your guide. It also included birkenhau. The coach picked up near the main square, we had booked for 10am but the day before it was altered to 6am.
Our coach was split into two groups and we had no issues with queues etc and the tour guide was brilliant. It’s hard to describe the experience, it certainly wasn’t sensationalised and was very respectful and thought provoking.
Some people went on to the salt mines tour but to be honest we were shattered. The whole trip including transport was about 7 hours (we got back about 1pm)
Also, get your guide do a golf buggy tour that takes you around Krakow and explains the history of the ghettos, visits the Jewish quarter and we found that hugely informative

Can I just say - good for your son. I am nearly 60 and have been thinking that this is the year that I will go.

I think it is a very good thing to go. To honour the poor souls who suffered and died there and to never, ever forget what evil man is capable of.

I wish your family an interesting and educational trip and a your son a happy birthday x

Please be very careful who you book with. I am on some krakow groups from my last trip and many have ended up not getting into auschwitz after booking with get your guide or Mr shuttle. They have been told their pick up times have changed to all hours and when they turn up they have effectively just paid for a transfer and had to join a queue to buy tickets. Please see the fb groups for further info. We booked with "michal kr" via one of the krakow groups. We had to provide him with passport pics etc and our tickets were given on the day. None of this queuing for tickets on the day at the office just the queue for security. He also provided a light lunch if wanted. Highly recommend. The fb group I was on is "krakow travel guide - tips and tricks"

In case anyone is remotely interested, I managed to go on the actual Auschwitz website today and book tickets direct through there. We are going on 9th April and they release them exactly 90 days before so I’d been waiting each day for them to be released. We are going to go by train I think and then get the shuttle bus at the other end, I’ve booked for 10.30 so should give us plenty of time to get there.

Good to hear op, it’s place I think we should visit, however upsetting, to ensure history doesn’t repeat itself