By Scott Vogel
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, October 14, 2007

Q. Is there any place left on the planet that is welcoming smokers? Where can I go and not be treated like a second-class tourist?

Kathy Hornick, Harrisonburg, Va.

A. True, fewer and fewer places worldwide are welcoming smokers, but is that any reason to think of yourself as second-class? Not according to John Banzhaf, executive director of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), a national nonsmoker rights organization. He notes that nudists, people who ride trail motorcycles (Banzhaf is one), fireworks enthusiasts and others are also not allowed to indulge their passions when traveling to various destinations, but they hardly think of themselves as second-class citizens. It's just that like cigarettes, he says, these activities "create noise and smoke and annoyance." (Well, not nudists, but you get the idea.) Nevertheless, smokers are still at least tolerated in many locales around the world, including Japan, China and most South American countries. (For ASH's up-to-date list, see http://ash.org/intltravel.)

Samantha Phillipe, meanwhile, president of the Smoker's Club, a smokers advocacy group, writes via e-mail, "You have hit on a question that we get at the newsletter all the time." She likes to direct tourists to her online publication (at http://www.smokersclubinc.com), where you can click on dozens of destinations for news and information that may be of interest to tobacco users. But remember, Phillipe says: "No matter where you go, call ahead to be sure there is smoking. . . . Call the convention center, restaurant, amusement park. Just because there is no state ban doesn't mean you won't run into a local one, and no one wants surprises on their vacation."

We would like to visit Auschwitz, perhaps making it part of a five-day trip to the area. Do you have any suggestions for other points of interest to round out our travel plans?

Ellen Golden, Syracuse, N.Y.

The Nazi concentration camps of Auschwitz and Birkenau in southern Poland, where more than a million Jews were murdered during World War II, are visited by thousands of travelers each year (for info, see http://www.auschwitz.org.pl). You can't expect to have any experience more sobering or powerful during your journey, but the city of Krakow, about 40 miles east, deserves a visit.

Unlike Warsaw, Krakow emerged from the war physically intact, although many cultural treasures were stolen. Among the survivors was the spectacular castle on Wawel Hill, a former royal residence, as well as the cathedral there; both date from the 14th century. A few miles from Krakow is another popular tourist attraction, the Wieliczka Salt Mine, which boasts an unbelievable network of tunnels and underground attractions, including a chapel and former sanatorium, both carved out of salt. Finally, consider a visit to the town of Zakopane. Located two hours south of Krakow near the Slovakian border, it's most often thought of as Poland's winter sports capital, but at other times of the year it's a popular rafting and hiking destination.

Send queries by e-mail (travelqa@washpost.com) or U.S. mail (Travel Q&A, Washington Post Travel Section, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071). Please include your name and town.