We are planning a trip to Europe next summer and someone wants us to visit them in Slovakia. Have any of you ever been there? What is it like?

http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessages.jsp?fid=2&tid=1329356<BR><BR>seems to have about 70% negative posts.<BR>

Thanks for the thread, xxx. I have never seen Slovakia mentioned before and never thought to do a search! It doesn't sound that great, but at such low prices a two day visit might be worth it! Any other adive, anyone?

<BR>Susie,<BR>I drove through a couple of times, and overnighted in Bratislava going from Budapest to Auschwitz. Slovakia is unremarkable but very economical. See the Lonely Planet "Eastern Europe" guide book for good info on what to see and do.<BR>John

I have been about four times. It is cheap, not much visited by western tourists, has beautiful countryside, mountains, cities and towns and huge lumps of industry that you can easily avoid, and serves good food, especially Hungarian, and wine. Top attractions are Kosice, the Spiz towns, and the Tatra mountains. People on the Lonely Planet forum are keen on Banska Bystrika and thereabouts, but I have not been yet. Bratislava is rather a provincial city than a capital, with a fine centre and riverside, but marred by the communist plonking there of a great new bridge.<BR><BR>I can readily believe that forum users find Slovakia short of Hyatt, Sheraton, and suchlike hotels, of west European and American meals, and of people who speak English. I like Dslovakia a lot.<BR><BR>Web sites for the country are these.<BR><BR>Links, from a museum of Czech and Slovak matters: http://www.ncsml.org/links.htm<BR>Links: http://goeasteurope.about.com/travel...ope/msubsk.htm <BR>Browse websites? at foot of http://sk.orientation.com/en/home.html<BR>http://www.travel-library.com/europe/slovakia/<BR>http://www.budgettravel.com/slovakia.htm<BR>http://www.heartofeurope.co.uk<BR>http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~sever/slovak.html<BR>http://www.slovakia.org/tourism/ <BR>Slovak Tourist Board: http://www.sacr.sk/<BR>http://www.region.sk/<BR>Art, architecture, food, cultural experiences, hiking and other matters. http://www.centraleurope.com/country/country.php3<BR>Accomodation, with prices: http://www.ubytujsa.sk, then Eng<BR>Schedule for busses and trains in Slovak and Czech republics: http://www.vlak.cz/ConnForm.asp?tt=c&cl=E5<BR>Rail: http://elis.zsr.sk/elisint/uk/default.asp<BR>Bratislava, including links: http://www.inyourpocket.com/Slovakia/index.shtml<BR>Bratislava: http://www.bratislava.sk/ANGLICKY/INDEX.HTM<BR>The Tatras: http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,3986149,00.html<BR>Poprad Tatry: http://www.tatry.sk/<BR>Kosice: http://www.kosice.sk/<BR>List of castles: http://www.hrady.sk/ <BR>Caves: http://www.ssj.sk/<BR><BR>Please write if I can help further. In the mood for adventure you will like it.<BR><BR>Ben Haines, London<BR><BR><BR>

Hi Susie,<BR>I was in Slovakia this year, took the train from Prague to Kosice to visit friends.<BR>The country side is quite lovely and mostly unspoiled and the centre of Kosice is well worth a visit, very attractive and beautifully laid out, centred on the cathedral. Be sure to see the illuminated musical fountain show in the centre in the evening.<BR>The outskirts are very socialist type housing estates.<BR>Betliar Castle, about an hours drive from Kosice is well worth a visit as are the nearby Ice Caves.<BR>The High Tatras are spectacular.<BR>As Ben said, very few Westerners venture over that far and as such are usually welcomed.<BR>English is not all that widely spoken, but the welcome is warm, the food is good and very cheap and yes - I would visit there again.<BR>Prices for goods are on the whole very cheap.<BR>Hope you enjoy your trip.<BR>Regards<BR>Maggie.

To illustrate Maggie s point, on the handsome town square in Levoca three years ago I bought a dinner service from Bohemia. It was classic, meat plates, soup dishes, tureens, bowls, gravy boats, the lot, enough for twelve, for 120 US dollars. <BR><BR>Ben Haines

Ben and Maggie, <BR>I can't thank you enough for such wonderful information. Our friend has been asking us to visit for several years and lives near the High Tatras. I wondered if my children would like the visit (but that's another post!)Since we will be with him, language won't be a barrier, and it has castles, ice caves, great shopping and beer! We are going to go. Thank you again for such wonderful tips.<BR>Susie

Hello again Susie,<BR>If you do go to Levoca you must take the guided tour of the church. It is absolutely beautiful.<BR>Regards<BR>Maggie

Ben and Maggie,<BR>Just one more question! I was originally thinking of making Slovakia a short side trip, but with the info you have provided, it seems like we could spend a week or 10 days there, esp. since we will have a personal tour guide! What do you think? Is a week too much? Thanks!<BR>Susie

Hi Susie,<BR>I am sure that your host will want to show you as much of his country as he can - as my hosts did - and it is so much easier with a Slovak speaker.<BR>I would think that a week would be fine but ten days would not be too long.<BR>Where will you be based?<BR>Regards<BR>Maggie<BR>

I agree with Maggie. A week yes, but ten days might be long.<BR><BR>Ben Haines