Slovakia is blissfully free of massive crowds. The Tatras draw the most tourists during peak season from July to August, and for good reason: cold winter weather makes the summer a much more pleasant (and safe) time for hiking the beautiful mountain range. To avoid any crowds at all, explore the Tatras in the two months before or after high-season.
Embassies And Consulates. Foreign embassies to Slovakia are in Bratislava . Slovak embassies abroad include: Australia, 47 Culgoa Circuit, O’Malley, Canberra, ACT 2606 (☎262 901 516; www.slovakemb-aust.org); Canada, 50 Rideau Terr., Ottawa, ON K1M 2A1 (☎613-749-4442); Ireland, 20 Clyde Rd., Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 (☎33 56 60 00 12; www.mfa.sk/zu/index); UK, 25 Kensington Palace Gardens, London W8 4QY (☎020 73 1364 70; www.slovakembassy.co.uk); US, 3523 International Ct. NW, Washington, D.C. 20008 (☎202-237-1054; www.slovakembassy-us.org).
Visa And Entry Information. Citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, and the US can travel to Slovakia without a visa for up to 90 days. Those traveling for business, employment, or study must obtain a temporary residence permit. Types of visas include single- and multiple-entry, as well as long-term. For more information, see www.slovakia.org/visainfo.htm.
Tourist Offices. The Slovak Tourist Board (☎484 136 146; www.sacr.sk) provides useful information. The tourist office, SlovakoTourist, and other tourist agencies usually can help. Public tourist offices are marked by a white “i” inside a green square. Slovakia has few hostels, most of which are found in and around Bratislava. English is often spoken at tourist offices, which usually provide maps and information about transportation. If booking accommodations at an office, be wary of handing over cash on the spot.
Money. Although Slovakia is now a member state of the EU, the Slovak koruna (Sk), plural koruny, remains the main unit of currency and comes in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, and 5000 koruny. Slovakia’s transition to the euro is slated for early 2009. The koruna is divided into 100 halier, issued in standard denominations of 50 halier. Bear in mind that smaller establishments may not be able to break 5000Sk bills. Credit cards are not accepted in many Slovak establishments, but MasterCard and Visa are the most useful, followed by American Express. Inflation is down to about 4.5%, which means prices are relatively stable. ATMs are plentiful and give the best exchange rates, but also tend to charge a flat service fee; it is most economical to withdraw large amounts at once. Banks Slovenská-Sporitelňa and Unibank handle MC/V cash advances. Banks require that you present your passport for most transactions.
Medical care varies a great deal in Slovakia. Tap water varies in quality and appearance but is probably safe, though bottled water is always safest. If water comes out of the faucet cloudy, let it sit for 5min.; air bubbles may be to blame. Drogerii (drugstores) stock Western brands. Petty crime is common; be wary in crowded areas. Violent crimes are not unheard of, but tourists are rarely targets. Accommodations for disabled travelers are rare. Women traveling alone are rarely harassed, but may encounter stares. Dress modestly and avoid walking or riding public transportation at night. Minority travelers with darker skin may encounter discrimination and should exercise caution. Homosexuality is not accepted by all Slovaks; GLBT couples may experience stares or insults.
By Plane And Train. Bratislava ( BTS; ☎233 033 353; www.airportbratislava.sk) is a large hub for budget airlines. Many travelers fly to Bratislava and then take a shuttle to Vienna, AUT. For more info on budget airlines, see. If you are flying from outside Europe, it’s best to fly to another budget hub and then connect to Bratislava. For train info, check the national company’s website ( ŽSR; www.zsr.sk). EastPass is valid in Slovakia, but Eurail is not. InterCity or EuroCity trains are faster but cost more. A boxed R on the timetable means that a miestenka (reservation) is required. Reservations are often required for expresný (express) trains and first-class seats, but are not necessary for rychlík (fast), spešný (semi-fast), or osobný (local) trains. Both first and second class are relatively comfortable and considered safe. Buy tickets before boarding the train, except in small towns. Master schedules (cestovný poriadoký) are sold at info desks and are posted in most stations.
By Bus. In hilly regions, ČSAD or Slovak Lines buses are the best and sometimes the only option. Except for very long trips, buy tickets on board. The following footnotes on schedules are important: x (crossed hammers) means weekdays only; a is Saturday and Sunday; b means Monday through Saturday; n is Sunday; and r and k mean excluding holidays. Premava means including; nepremava is except; following those words are often lists of dates. Check www.slovaklines.sk for updated schedules.
By Bike And By Thumb. Rambling wilds and ruined castles inspire great bike tours, and renting a bike in Bratislava is becoming easier. Biking is very popular, especially in the Tatras. Let’s Go does not recommend hitchhiking, but it is common and considered somewhat safe in Slovakia.
Email And Internet. Internet access is common in Slovakia, even in smaller towns. Internet cafes usually offer cheap (1Sk per min.), fast access.
Telephone. Recent modernization of the Slovak phone system has required many businesses and individuals to switch phone numbers. The phone system is still unreliable; try multiple times if you don’t get through. International and national phones exist in each city, but there is no good way to distinguish between them. Card phones are common and are usually better than the coin-operated variety. Purchase cards (100-500Sk) at the post office. Be sure to buy the “Global Phone” card if you plan to make international calls. International direct dial numbers include: AT&T Direct (☎0800 000 101); Canada Direct (☎ 0800 0001 151); MCI (☎08000 00112); Telecom New Zealand (☎0800 00 64 00).
Mail. Mail service is generally efficient. Letters abroad take two to three weeks to arrive. Letters to Europe cost 11-14Sk; letters to the US cost 21Sk. Almost every pošta (post office) provides express mail services. To send a package abroad, go to a colnice (customs office). Mail can be received via Poste Restante. Address mail as follows: First name LAST NAME, POSTE RESTANTE, post office address, Postal Code, city, Slovakia.
Language. Slovak is a West Slavic language written in the Latin alphabet. It is closely related to the other languages in this group—Czech and Polish—and speakers of one will understand the others. Older people speak a little Polish. Attempts to speak Slovak will be appreciated. English is common among Bratislava’s youth, but German is more prevalent outside the capital. Russian is occasionally understood but unwelcome. The golden rules of speaking Slovak are to pronounce every letter and stress the first syllable.
Foreigners are often charged much more than Slovaks for accommodations. Finding cheap rooms in Bratislava before student dorms open in July is very difficult, especially in Slovensk Raj and the Tatras. In other regions, finding a bed is easy if you call ahead. The national tourist office, SlovakoTourist, and other tourist agencies usually can help. Slovakia has few hostels, most of which are found in and around Bratislava. These usually provide few amenities. Juniorhotels (HI) tend to be a bit nicer than hostels. Hotel prices are dramatically lower outside Bratislava and the Tatras, with budget hotels running 300-600Sk. Pensions (penzióny) are smaller and less expensive than hotels. Campgrounds are on the outskirts of most towns and usually rent bungalows to travelers. Camping in national parks is illegal. In the mountains, chaty (mountain huts) range from plush quarters (around 600Sk) to bunks with outhouses (about 200Sk).
The national dish, bryndzové haluky (small dumplings in sauce), is a godsend for vegetarians and those sticking to a kosher diet. Pork products, however, are central to many traditional meals. Knedliky (dumplings) or zemiaky (potatoes) frequently accompany entrees. Enjoy kolačky (pastry), baked with cheese, jam, or poppy seeds, and honey, for dessert. Pivo (beer) is served at a pivnica or piváreň (tavern). The favorite Slovak beer is the slightly bitter Spis. Another popular alcohol is Slivovica, a plum brandy with an alcoholic content of well over 50%; it is so concentrated that some say it won’t cause hangovers.
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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