Heinz Karner

Hello, I'm Heinz Karner and I have been traveling Europe for over twenty four years.

I enjoy travelling most parts of Europe, but having grown up near Hungary, it is one of my favorite countries in Europe and most definitely worth including on your itinerary. I have been visiting Hungary since 1969 and I love seeing all the changes since that time, particularly since the fall of communism.

When I'm on tour, I enjoy talking to my guests about the history of each country, particularly the rise and fall of communism and the history of the Hapsburgs. I like to convey a sense of European history so that all the sights we see fit into a bigger picture. I generally escort tours like Highlights of Eastern Europe, and The Bohemian . There is so much history shared in the countries we visit, making for quite an interesting journey as we piece together battles, empires and major events one region at a time.

My advice to anyone thinking of taking an Insight tour is to pack some good comfy shoes for the city walking tours, as cobblestones are quite hard on the feet and to also throw in a waterproof jacket, as an umbrella tends to be a bit unwieldy on crowded narrow streets.

Also, have a good think about how you will carry your valuables on tour before you leave. It's a sad fact but some areas of Europe are known for pickpockets, so you do need to be alert.

While in Eastern Europe, you will want to try some local foods. Hungary in particular has some local cuisine that most people will enjoy. You'll find wonderful sweet bakery treats, such as sour cherry pastries and savory specialties like paprika spiked meat and of course, Hungarian goulash, which is actually a soup in Hungary, not a stew. Eating becomes a great adventure in Eastern Europe, and most guests agree that the cuisine went far beyond their expectations.

The highlight of my job is to see the happy smiling faces of a group or travellers who have just had the time of their lives, so go on, join the crowd of satisfied customers and join Insight for a fabulous holiday in Eastern Europe.