Slovakia - Chateau Bela

Slovakia is a landlocked nation in the heart of Central Europe, bordered by Poland and the Czech Republic to the north, Hungary to the south, Austria to the west and Ukraine to the east. Known for its fascinating old cities, its preponderance of historic castles and its immense natural beauty, visitors of every persuasion are sure to find something enchanting about Slovakia - one of Europe’s best-kept tourist secrets. From the compact, cosmopolitan capital of Bratislava, with its picturesque old town and buzzing nightlife, it is easy to make trips to the primeval forests and rugged peaks of the Carpathian Mountains to the north, and to the scenic regions of the east, where the countryside is dotted with historic chateaux, and medieval towns are presided over by majestic castles.

Currency 

The currency of Slovakia is the Euro (EUR; symbol €) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10 and 5 cents.

There are no restrictions on the import or export of local or foreign currency. However, amounts exceeding €10,000 or equivalent must be declared if travelling from or to a country outside the European Union.

Banking

Banking hours: Monday-Friday 08h00-18h00 

Major credit cards such as American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa and Maestro and Visa Electron debit cards are widely accepted.

ATMs are widely available in Slovakia and machines are generally reliable.

American Express, Thomas Cook and Visa traveller's cheques are accepted in banks and at bureaux de change. Exchange rate charges are at least 1% of the nominal cheque value. To avoid additional charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in Euros, US Dollars or Pounds Sterling.

Czech Airlines runs domestic flights within Slovakia. Since distances are not too great, it’s generally easier and better value to use the excellent bus and rail network.

The major routes run from Bratislava to Presov and Kosice, via Kralovany and Poprad. The network of roads and supporting services is dense and reliable. Motorways are equipped with emergency telephones every half a mile or less.

Travellers’ can book self-drive cars through the tourist office in main towns and resorts, or at Bratislava airport. Drivers must be over 18 (although some companies require the driver to be over 21).

These are available in all the main towns and are metered and cheap; higher fares are charged at night.

Slovakia's size and comparatively quiet roads make it relatively easy for visitors to get around under their own steam, either by car, motorbike or bicycle. Cycling in Slovakia is one of the best ways to see the sights through rolling countryside and forests and by the side of lakes, rivers and vineyards. Several companies offer mountain-bike tours and it‘s possible to hire mountain or road bikes in all major cities.

Buses are more expensive than trains, although weekend bus fares are sharply reduced. Slovak Lines is the country’s major bus service provider with connections to many domestic and international destinations.

Buses, trolleybuses and trams exist in Bratislava and several other towns. All the cities operate flat-fare systems, and pre-purchase passes are available. Tickets should be punched in the appropriate machine on entering the tram or bus. A separate ticket is usually required when changing routes. There is a fine for fare evasion. Blue badges on tram and bus stops indicate an all-night service.

InterRail One-Country Pass: offers travel for three, four, six or eight days in one month within Slovakia. Travel is not allowed in the passenger's country of residence. Travellers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children under 12 travel free when accompanied by an adult using an Adult Pass. Supplements are required for some high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes. Eurail Slovakia Pass: offers travel for three, four, five or eight days in one month within Slovakia. Available to non-EU nationals from Eurail.

Traditional Slovak eating and drinking habits date back to the old Slavic period influenced later by Austrian, German and Hungarian cooking. Slovak food revolves around a variety of soups, gruels, boiled and stewed vegetables, roast and smoked meats and dairy products. The style of cooking varies from region to region. Slovak specialities include both sweet and savoury dishes made with flour, including dumplings.

Popular drinks include Slovak beer, wine and mineral waters. Wine from the Tokaj region and sparkling wine from the Bratislava region are particular specialities. Restaurants and other catering establishments are many and varied, including cafés, buffets, snack bars, inns, alehouses and wine taverns. All restaurants are graded according to quality. The main meal of the day is usually lunch, comprising soup, a main dish, and dessert.

A 5 to 10% tip is usual.

Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Tap water is generally regarded as safe to drink.

Slovakia lies in a moderate zone and possesses a continental climate with four distinct seasons. The average daily temperature in Bratislava in winter is -2°C (31°F), rising to 21°C (70°F) in the summer. January is the coldest month, the hottest being July and August. The highest peaks are snow-capped 130 days a year.

Electrical sockets in Guyana are one of two electrical socket types:  Type C (CEE 7/16 Europlug) and Type E (CEE 7/5 Schuko).  If your appliance's plug doesn't match the shape of these sockets, you will need a travel plug adapter in order to plug in. Travel plug adapters simply change the shape of your appliance's plug to match whatever type of socket you need to plug into. If it's crucial to be able to plug in no matter what, bring an adapter for all types.

Electrical sockets in Guyana usually supply electricity at 230 volts AC / 50 Hz frequency. If you're plugging in an appliance that was built for 230 volt electrical input, or an appliance that is compatible with multiple voltages, then an adapter is all you need. If your appliance isn’t compatible with 230 volts, a voltage converter will be necessary.