Slovakia

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been all over that country for family reasons, many many times. I would merely classify it as "quaint." Anything that it has, some other country has a better version that is more upscale, better run, easier to get to, etc. etc. Slovakia is kind of like the Kentucky or Arkansas of Europe. There may be some nature or old structures to see but is it really worth trekking there?

I've been all over the country for family reasons and I agree. That being said, the Tatras are nice if you really want to visit the country.

New poster, and I've visited several times for family reasons too - my husband is a first generation here in the US. I agree, with the above. In the smaller towns there isn't a lot of English spoken. I'm lucky to have my husband and his family as a guide when I go. If I didn't have them, I would stick to the major cities/tourist attractions.

In the summer the landscape is very pretty and the weather is nice (I've mainly visited places in the mid-north). Not a huge fan of the food, but the suggestions mentioned up thread are familiar to me and worth trying, as well as Vinea soft drink, Horalky candy bars, and Langos (fried garlic bread). Ice cream (gelato style) vendors are extremely cheap and we get cones a lot since the portion isn't huge.

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04/25/2024 09:56

Subject: Slovakia

quote

Anonymous

Great thread! My grandparents were from Smilno and we are going this summer, but just to Bratislava for the day. I would love to go to their town but as PP said that is a trip that I think I would need some serious help coordinating.

For those who do Bratislava in a day, do you recommend a tour or self-tour or anything in particular? It will be my husband and I and our 12-year-old daughter coming from Vienna. We have some flexibility to stay the night but not a ton.

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04/28/2024 00:50

Subject: Slovakia

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:Great thread! My grandparents were from Smilno and we are going this summer, but just to Bratislava for the day. I would love to go to their town but as PP said that is a trip that I think I would need some serious help coordinating.

For those who do Bratislava in a day, do you recommend a tour or self-tour or anything in particular? It will be my husband and I and our 12-year-old daughter coming from Vienna. We have some flexibility to stay the night but not a ton.

PP. I would recommend that you search for a full-day guided bus tour leaving from and returning to Vienna. There also seem to be options involving boat cruises. When time is short, it makes sense to have the movement logistics handled by pros. With a full-day tour you can also avoid relocating your luggage. I looked on the web and see a variety of options. Since I haven't experienced them, I can't recommend but there may be reviews to consult.

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04/28/2024 01:05

Subject: Slovakia

quote

Anonymous

PP again. Here's a representative self-guided itinerary.

https://www.hannahhendersontravel.com/1-day-in-bratislava-a-day-trip-from-vienna/

Think about whether you'd like freedom to walk this kind of route yourself or be guided. On a guided tour you usually get more explanations but it's harder to linger if anything catches your fancy.