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Whether it’s a few days of snow sports or a tranquil weekend getaway in the heart of Slovenia’s most stunning Alpine scenery that you fancy, this typically Slavic mountain lodge is the perfect choice. The eleven rooms and four recently-added apartments come with satellite TV, WiFi Internet and sizeable bathrooms, whilst six rooms boast lake-facing balconies. The top floor rooms, with exposed beams, are most atmospheric. It is, however, the views over Lake Bohinj (framed by Mount Triglav, the country’s highest peak) that steal the show. Gasperin also offers ski packages, as well as bike hire and packed lunches for trips into the forest-carpeted hills nearby. The locally-raised owners also have bundles of information to help plan your stay. There’s a drinks terrace, a cosy lounge stocked with books and board games and a breakfast of fruit, cold meets, eggs and Slovenian ewe’s cheese substantial enough to set an army up for a day in the wilderness. The lakeside, offering boat trips, hiking trails and cafés, is a 250 metre walk away.
Rooms from €32 pp
B&B Gasperin, Ribcev Laz 36a, 4265 Bohinjsko jezero, Bohinj Slovenija,
www.bohinj.si/gasperin
Tel 00386 (0) 41 540 805
Railway station: Bohinjska Bistrica 6km east
Google map: tinyurl.com/ybzxg6t
Terme Čatež or Čatež thermal spa can be found in eastern part of Slovenia near Brežice. Terme Čatež is the biggest thermal spa in Slovenia and also the most popular ones. They were recently renovated and now have even more fun facilities such as new toboggans in inner and outer pools. While kids are playing, parents can enjoy in wellness or in sauna.
Terme Čatež are located in village Čatež ob Savi near Brežice.
www.terme-catez.si/si/
More information about Terme Čatež: www.terme-catez.si/en/catez/
Information about thermal spas in Slovenia: www.sloveniaholidays.org/category/slovenia-holidays/thermal-spas-in-slovenia
The most central Mexican restaurant in Ljubljana, this is a great reasonable restaurant for vegetarians, with massively generous portions of great quality foods. Try the tortilla lasagne for the ultimate in fusion food.
From Preseren Trg, go down Wolfova, the alley besides number 6 Wolfova leads to a run of restaurants including Cantina Mexicana.
www.cantina.si
Google map: tinyurl.com/yzdatrm
This is a gorgeous boutique hotel in the verdant hills above Skofja Loka, a great base for exploring nearby Ljubljana, Bohinj and Bled by car. It's an old manor house which has been lovingly restored by its British owners. Sarah leads optional hikes in the mountains during the day (we opted out!), while Keith prepares gourmet feasts for the evenings, topped off with an array of homemade liqueurs. There are only four of five bedrooms, each of which is HUGE with enormous beds. There's even a jacuzzi in the garden with mountain views! Sarah and Keith are friendly, thoughtful hosts (they even made us cake to take with us when we left). It really was perfect and a total bargain for a luxury hotel and food.
Skofja Loka, Slovenia
www.boutiquehotelslovenia.com
www.walkslovenia.com
Though, during my brief stay in Bled, the weather wasn't all that consistent I would absolutely recommend going there to see the sights and swim in it's beautiful lake. While there I stayed in the affordable campsite on the lake's edge. I arrived just after dawn and, the walk down from the train station, as the morning mist curls off over a carpet of conifers which trail towards distant mountains, must be the best introduction to this painfully picturesque location. The Baroque church on an island in the blue-green lake offsets the natural beauty with an air of mysticism; this, coupled with the cliff-top castle looking over the lake, give the feeling that you're in a sublime, fantasy film set. Expect to see others swimming and rowing in the azure waters and, I urge you, don't think twice about jumping in to join them.
Incredibly beautiful, quiet and calm lakes locted in the middle of the Julian Alps. Lake Bled incorporates little beaches for wild swimming, as well as designated areas for swimming plus boating, fishing and cafes. In the middle stands an island with the idyllic church of St Mary which you can reach by boat. Lake Bohinj is quieter and there are many places to access the lake and swim.
Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj, Slovenia
www.bled.si
The white water rafting on the Soca River is among the best in Europe. The mountain scenery is spectacular.
There are fast and furious stretches of the river, and other places where it is calm and the most beautiful turquoise colour, overlooked by summer meadows and snow-capped peaks.
Although most people use Bovec as a base, there is a better place to stay: Tolmin. It's friendly and cheap.
We are serious skiers and I can tell you the "Golden Fox" skiing slope just off the Habakuk Hotel in Maribor is more than worth its reputation.
This place is a real hidden gem in Europe
www.maribor-slovenia-travel-guide.com/pohorje-vacation-snaps.html
Cheap (under €50 a night for a double ensuite), nice room in a converted house with a fruit market and numerous bakeries at your doorstep. It comes with an extensive air con and tiny little fridge. Stayed in June 2008 and was impressed.
You can book from hostelworld, the agency that owns it is www.maona.si/
I had much fun in Piran. Small ancient town with lots of hidden small streets and quite a huge tourist offering.
Cafe Teater is just one of many local pubs but it's located on the best location in the city. I did not know until recently that the owner is renting apartments. I found out about that on their website. I'm looking forward to visiting there again this summer.
www.piranjein.com
They have three languages at the moment but the owner said they will expand to 5 languages.
It's a lovely bakery and cake shop situated up by the castle above the lake. The custard cream slice is to die for!
Near the Castle.
We spent 5 days at the hostel and were pleasantly surprised at the welcome we received. The first thing we noticed was the friendliness of the people running the hostel. We enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere of the hostel and would have no problem recommending it to others. The hostel is located in wonderful surroundings and has the added bonus of a pub nearby.
The hostel has great views and is situated in a quiet location. The hostel itself has a wealth of character and the rooms are of a good size. We were particularly at home in the kitchen, which provided the opportunity to meet with other people visiting the hostel. We would like to return to Slovenia and would have no problem in coming back to the hostel. Thanks so much for a very enjoyable stay the we will remember for a long time to come.
Podkoren 72, Kranjska Gora
Soca Valley is an ideal place for spending active holidays. Its river attracts many watersports enthusiasts and the unique warm air current make the place a mecca for paragliders.
Mountainbiking on mountain paths above 1000m that date from WWI, the natural beauty and the peacefulness of the area makes it a perfect place for enjoying every moment.
for more info visit:
www.leban-tourism.com or
mountminbike.blogspot.com/
An unknown natural wonder, the Skocjanske Caves World Heritage Site is a complex of underground caverns of immense scale. Hang back to get the full imposing atmosphere.
Dolenjske Toplice is one of Slovenia's most well known spa resorts. If you are serious about doing absolutely nothing and want to get out of the Llubljana tourist traps then this is the place to go.
Restaurant serving traditional Slovenian fare. I packed snacks for a trip to Ljubljana, expecting the food to be bad. My friend and I were so impressed with this place, we went back three nights in a row. You must try prekmurska gibanica, a Slovene speciality with poppy seeds, cottage cheese and apples. Truly addictive. The game plate is also excellent. Popular with the tour groups, but don't let that put you off. Great food and very inexpensive.
Torso d.o.o. Ciril Metodov trg 18;
tel: +386 1 439 68 55
Fax: 01 430 01 17
www.gostilna-sokol.com/gostilna-sokol.asp?lng=eng
Most tourist trips to Slovenia take in Bled, an admittedly beautiful lake with a monastery on a lake in the middle. But 10 miles west of Bled is Bohinj, a totally unspoilt lake amidst the southern end of the Julian Alps. Great for snowboarding in winter, and surrounded by woodland that makes for some great walking in summer. Just watch out for bears.
There is a fine hotel on the eastern shore, and an equally good campsite to the west.
For travellers on a budget, especially if travelling alone, Celica Youth Hostel is a great place to stay. Not the cheapest of the city's youth hostels, but unique in being an old renovated prison. The cheapest room is in a domitory in which the accommodation is basic, but free internet access, a good bar, breakfast, linen and towels included, access to a small kitchen and laid-back atmosphere make up for this. It's also only 10 minutes walk for the station and 20 from the city.
Metelkova 8, Ljubljana; tel: 386 1 230 97 00
Casa del Papa, located on the outskirts of the city, is loosely themed on Ernest Hemingway’s life. And so you have an American Bar upstairs, a Cuban Club in the cellar, and in between a canopy-covered restaurant serving a mix of Spanish and African cuisine. Quite where the tiramisu fits is anyone’s guess, but one taste and you won’t be inclined to complain. Dance off those calories in the salsa club, enjoy the cocktails, and party until the bell tolls for you.
54 Celovska Cesta; tel: 386 1 4343158
This very impressive building contains a good collection of Slovenian paintings - the Impressionist Painters/Period are particularly interesting – sculpture and frescos plus some European art.
Because of space constraints not all the collection can be displayed at one time, a fact explained on their informative website at www.ng-slo.si, however it is certainly worth going to see what is on display.
Opening Hours are 10.00am-6.00pm Tuesday-Sunday (closed Mondays and January, 1 May, 1 November, 25 December) Cost: 1,000 SIT
Prešernova 24
1000 Ljubljana
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