SLOVAK REPUBLIC FAQ

About Slovakia

"There are beautiful valleys, good beer and friendly people. I suggest you visit the ice cave in Dobsinska Ladova Jaskyna, some more caves in the surroundings (Demanova, Jasov, Gombasek, Domica with an underground river called Styx), and Ochtina with aragonite formations, or if you like castles, Spis is the biggest one in Central Europe (No. 2 in Europe) but it is now in ruins. Some other ones are: Krasna Horka, Betliar (Andrassy family), Turna (in ruins), Hajnacka (in ruins), Strecno (in ruins), Bratislava, Nitra and Pocuvadlo."

"One disadvantage about getting off the beaten track was that in some of the country areas not many people spoke English. Many of the older people speak German but it was the first time I ever felt at a loss for words."

"The best bargains in Slovakia are of the human kind, that is personal services like a pedicure or a massage or a haircut. These were about a fifth of what we pay at home. Similarly, handmade items such as wooden toys are excellent value. But people believe that all Western Europeans are millionaires, having seen the way some of them behaved. Still, many restaurants in the country areas near larger towns offered a lovely meal with a small musical group playing background music and at a very reasonable cost, probably about a third what we would pay in the UK."

"The Slovak people I met were very nice and so hospitable, just like Scotland about 50 years ago. They are a bit upset about how long it will take them to reach the entry requirements of joining the EU, I think their first prime minister did them no favours and probably held them back quite a bit."

Name: Slovenská republika (Slovensko)
Area: 49,006 sq. km (18,927 sq miles)
Population: 5,379,780 (January 2002) - 2348 Moravians, 44 620 Czechs. 51.3% female (December 2001)
Official Language: Slovak
Bordering Countries: Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, Austria
Capital: Bratislava (Population 446,700)
President:Ivan Gasparovic
Prime Minister: Robert Fico

Currency: Slovak Crown (Sk)
Approximate Exchange Rate:

U.S.$ = 47.50 Sk

EUR = 43.00 Sk

Cash Machines:

• Cirrus/Mastercard: (800) 424-7787
• The Plus Network much less common: (800) 843-7587

"I was over in Bratislava for about a week at Easter and if you keep away from the tourist traps then you should have no problems. I did have trouble with the ATM's however, mainly because of the denomination of the notes they issued. It was sometimes difficult to get change, but at least in Bratislava there had plenty of machines."

"Several commission-free legal money exchange kiosks are located OUTSIDE of TESCO (formerly K-MART) in downtown Bratislava, they all have big signs posted on them in English. It is interesting to note that just a few steps away inside of TESCO, there is a kiosk that charges 8% (how do they manage to compete ???).
Travelers should be careful about the unauthorized money-changers that operate in same area!"

Postage

• Postcard to U.S. 10 Sk
• Letter to U.S. 16 Sk
• Postcard to G.B. 8 Sk
• Letter to G.B. 12 Sk

Stamps can be purchased at PNS outlets.

CUSTOMS:

• Tipping: Round the restaurant bill up by about 10%
• "You have to pay to use public restrooms: Drop 2 Sk in the attendant's dish and take the strip of toilet paper. There's none inside."

STORE HOURS:

• Generally 8-6 (many with a 12:30 to 1:30 lunch break)
• Banks may close at 3:30
• Saturday, most stores close at 1 or 2
• Sunday a lot of foodstores are open, but they close at noon.

Time zone: GMT+1 (seasonal changes)
Voltage: 220V/50Hz
Video System::PAL

Telecommunications

Note:
The Country's Telephone Code is 421

"City codes start with 0 (e.g. Bratislava is 02). However, the leading zero is not dialed when calling from overseas."

• Local calls from public phones: 2 Sk (6 min)
• Local Phone Inquiries: 120
• Pre-paid phone cards can be purchased at local Tabak or PNS outlets
• International Inquiries: 0149
• International calls from the Slovak Republic: dial 00 first!
• "International telephone service is also offered by World Wide Telecom at 20%-70% savings. tel/fax: 02/822204"
• AT&T USADirect: 00-421-00101
• MCI Call USA: 00-421-00112
• CanadaDirect: 00-421-00151
• Global One (Sprint): 00-421-87187
• AustraliaDirect: 00-421-06101
• B.T.Direct (U.K.):00-421-04401

"A cellular network is available in larger cities and along the main highways, gradually covering up to 90% of the country. This system uses the European GSM standard and is operated by Globtel GSM (France Telecom) and EuroTel (Atlantic West B.V.)."

EUnet Slovakia has been providing Internet services in Slovakia since 1989. Phone: (421-2) 725-306, Fax: (421-2) 728-462, E-mail: info@Slovakia.EU.net

The Union of Translators and Interpreters:
Laurinska 2, 815 08 Bratislava, Slovakia, telephone (421-2) 5443-4374, or 5443-2817, ext. 226.

Recommended Translator/Tourist Guide:
Vladimir Benko

English Language Newspaper:
The Slovak Spectator (weekly)
Ph: (421-2) 5249-6517, 5249-9843

Speed Limits:

• 4-lane controlled access highway: 130 km/h (80 mph)
• open roads: 90 km/h (55 mph)
• build-up areas: 50 km/h (30 mph)
• Speeding fines: 1000 Sk (payable on the spot)
• Seat belts: Compulsory

Tolls:

For the highways, your automobile has to have a toll sticker. They are available at border crossings, filling stations and post offices. Prices are:

FOR ONE YEAR:

• Passenger cars up to 1600 ccm: 400 Sk
  over 1600 ccm: 800 Sk
  

• Most passanger cars: 60 Sk
  Most trucks: 130 Sk
  

Pay attention to inconspicuous looking cars (mostly Skoda Favorits, but also VW Golf and Renault 21) parked at the side of the road. On the highways, for pacing they use stronger cars (Fords etc.) with cameras filming the speedometer and your car. On the outskirts of bigger towns, the main practice is the use of photo radar.

Alcohol limit is 0.0 in Slovakia, so don't risk it.

"The drivers were no worse than you will get in any major European city, but much better than in Paris or Milan. The Mafia types were very much in evidence, you can tell them because they all seem to drive Jaguars and wear a lot of gold chains. It is good sense to lock up your car whatever country you are in. I found the roads in the part of Slovakia that I visited not too bad and almost deserted compared with some roads in the South of England. We drove from Bratislava up to a ski resort in the Tatra mountains about 150 miles away and new hotels seemed to be springing up everywhere. Most of this road was a new motorway with fairly light traffic. On the way back to Bratislava the road was almost deserted, once it got dark. This was at Easter and I expect the traffic to be a bit busier in June and July, as it is everywhere."

"Nowadays many Slovak (and Czech) drivers use stronger cars than they used to. They have found that it's possible to pass nearly anywhere they want to. Never mind lines, no lines, curves or no curves. It is the best not to stop outside of towns or villages at night, even for a person in uniform. There are too many gangsters trying to get your money or vehicle. Continue to the next village with street lights and stop only if it's a police car that's following you."

"Gas/petrol (benzin) comes as Natural 95 and 98 (unleaded) or UNI91 and UNI95, which can be used in place of either leaded or unleaded... The APPROXIMATE cost per U.S. gallon is $3 (About 35 Sk/litre). Diesel fuel is called "nafta".
Remember: There may be some stations in the countryside without unleaded, and not all are open past 6 P.M. Get a list of 24-hour ones from Satur."

Emergencies:

• Police (tel. 158)
• Ambulance (tel. 155)
• ZS Slovakia Alfa (tel. 154) - towing
• Fire: (tel.150)

National Holidays: Jan. 1 and 6, Good Friday & Easter Mon., May 1, July 5, August 29, Sept. 1, Sept. 15, Nov. 1, Nov. 17, December 24-26

Climate: (Bratislava)

Average Maximum Daily Temperatures:
Jan:  2C (36F)  May: 21 (70)   Sep: 22 (72)
Feb:  4  (39)   Jun: 24 (75)   Oct: 15 (59)
Mar:  9  (48)   Jul: 26 (79)   Nov:  8 (46)
Apr: 16  (61)   Aug: 26 (79)   Dec:  4 (39)

NOTE: Tatra Mountains are much cooler year-round!

5-Day Forecast for Bratislava