What are the states of Eastern Europe really like?

When I think Eastern Europe, my images of the economy, landscape, peoples, etc, get stuck in the way things were and looked in the era when those countries were vassals of or threatened by the Soviet ideological machine. But I've been looking at pictures of those various countries and watching some SCOLA videos based there, and the landscapes, at least, look as if those areas have histories and cultures at least as valid as anything that is considered 'The (capitalist) West'. The architecture and that kind of thing are indistinguishable, for the most part, from the free countries in Europe that neighbor it, yet Eastern Europe seems sparsely decorated and thinly populated, and of course I know that those areas, just now experiencing a bit of rebirth, can be unstable and violent (as in Kosovo).

How does being in an Eastern European country for the average vacation compare to, say, Germany or France?
Can I continue with plans to visit just as a tourist and take my family?

there is a wonderful film about backpacking in the region,it focusses on the cultures and people of the region,I believe its called hostel.
Hope that helps.

i dont understand how you can judge countries by past....there is no soviet union anymore
eastern countries are beautiful,have a charm and a culture
there is much more to see than you can imagine
i think you should contact a good travel agency and book a nice trip

and T-tom grow up please

Don't listen to what that guy tom-tom, or whatever his name is. I've lived in two different Eastern European countries and I can tell you that they are getting out from under being subservient to a political and social yoke that wasn't totally of their own making.

Most people are socially and financially conservative except for health care and the general well being of its people. There is, however, an incredible amount of racism towards Roms (the people also known as gypsies), and complete befuddlement at Americans inability to appreciate the 'need' to hate these people. They are generally curious of Westerners having seen a lot of American tv and films.

Areas of instability are generally in the former Yugoslavia area and not to be confused with the rest of Europe.

Yes, there is a lot of similarity in landscape and architecture, but the same can be said of vast regions of the US, for example. Areas are thinly populated because many people, mostly young people, have moved to other countries in search of work.

A vacation in the East will be cheaper than in the West, but there may not be as many amenities as in the West; or those amenities may not be up to the standards Westerners are used to. But I think you'll feel safe and I think you very well may have a great time.

There is no difference anymore if you travel these countries and me personally I traveled them for many years even back at the time they were Communist.There are some of the most beautiful cities of Europe in that region eg Prague the capital of the Czech republic to give only one example

all of those estern european country are very nice to visit.
People are very friendly and very well educated, speak english is no problem.
The Baltic states are already on a high standard, same as Check Rep. and Hungary and Slowenia.
Slowenia is a very beautiful country.
Hungaria is one of my favorite, Budapest is one of the most beautiful cities in europe, same is Prag (Check Rep.).
The area around the Balaton lake in Hungary is very nice, warm(hot) water lakes, beautiful landscape.
Check Rep. in the mountains is beautiful, shoreline in the baltic states is top.
and so on and on
just go there and have a look you will not be disappointed.

I think you'd have to go there, i like being in eastern europe, it is a little different from the west and the people are slightly different as well, but being there for a few days it just all seems rather normal to me even as a westerner. The first time i went behind what had been the iron curtain was to budapest and i expected it to me very different, it wasn't, except for the russian writing on the subway trains because that is where they were made. (and the fact that it was damn cold).

There is nothing to fear from eastern europe, it is probably generally safer than your average US city. I mean, i got really lost in pristina one night, a place where lots of people are afraid to go, walking around in the dark trying to find where i was, and nothing happened, whereas in the US when i have been there, i feel less comfortable on the streets, i have to know where i am at all times, not like europe. Go and experience something a little different.