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Looking to take the children somewhere different in half term, considering a little road trip to Slovenia, go to Lipica Stud Farm (one daughter loves horses), Caves etc plus loop Northern Italy take them to Venice etc.
Our Czech / Slovak is non existent, of course we can learn the basics but I assume like most European countries their English is pretty good?
Now the bike budget approval officer (aka my wife) has for years wanted to see some big autumn scenery, it it too much to hope for being still autumnal that time of year?
I know the weather has a huge impact on that but a warm September might help!
Looks like we can have a great trip and it not break the bank but any tips of recommendations would be great.
Thanks in advance
They speak Slovenian in Slovenia .
English is widespread as a second language especially amongst the young.
Driving to Slovenia is not a little road trip , it’s a long way , check your route planning before you consider doing that in a week.
Was in Slovenia for two weeks back in May.
It's nice. Visually not much different to either Austria or Italy across the border, but it is generally less developed.
The hills around the Soca Valley are interesting if you are into history..... Big battles fought during WW1 between the Italians and Austrians.
Not a cheap as we were led to believe. A meal out wasn't noticeably cheaper than in Italy. The motorways are mega expensive, even more so if your car is over 1.9m.
Wild camping is technically a no-no but GF discreet you can get away with it.
English is widely spoken.
It's a long way (and expensive) journey for me from Munich. Munich is a long way from Calais. Not sure if its make the journey for a two week stint,especially with northern Italy or France much closer.
Point taken re the distance, not an issue on its own but maybe over 7 days a lot to fit in and actually have two minutes to see things.
Slovenia is a beautiful country with great cycling and walking, but I'd be flying there instead of wasting a big chunk of the week driving a car.
3 children and we usually carry a ton of stuff, flying is rarely an option and then hiring a car big enough is always fun. Luckily I like driving 🙂
If you stick channel 4 on now there’s a little telly programme on about Slovenia.
logged into SkyGo and that slovenia show is the one featured! Spooky
Went there about 8 years ago and loved it. Just did a load of walking in hills at the time and did the Stud and caves. I don't remember much of a lingo problem at the time.
That travelman episode was ace! Looking at flights for half term myself…
From the south of the UK 18hr. So 2 full days, i.e both the weekends at either end so you would get a full 5 days to explore but not easy even if tag team driving with your other half.
I never count the driving until we get to Calais 😉
Does seem like we might need a few more days, but who knows it does look good. Travelman was really good - milk dispensing what's not great about that!
Been 3 times, Bovec which means a trip through Italy to get to and Lake Bohinj twice. Kids are taught English, German and Italian at school, lots of tourism jobs.
Went a couple of years ago, loved it. Soca valley and Kranske Gora. Lovely people.
I can speak a little bit of Italian and German, the languages of their neighbours but absolutely no Slovenian. It was standard practice for me to ask anyone I needed to speak to if they could speak English, Italian or German and for them to reply yes, all of them and ask which I prefered, in perfect English.
As an alternative suggestion, I live in the Czech Republic and can certainly recommend this country for a cycling holiday. It has excellent and extensive cycling infrastructure, traffic-free roads and cheap accommodation/food/drink. Not to mention some very beautiful countryside.
If you are interested try these resources:
https://www.cyklistevitani.cz/Uvod.aspx?lang=en-US
http://www.pragueviennagreenways.org/index.html
I can recommend South Bohemia (Ceske Budejovice, Cesky Krumlov, Trebon, etc.) and also South Moravia (Znojmo, Mikulov, etc.).
Been a couple of times but just as day trips to Lake Bled from Austria.
I didn't know about registering with the Police till after I got back ...
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/slovenia/local-laws-and-customs
Thanks levarg - will look into that and cheers birky wow that is good advice, never would have guessed that one!
Are you dead set on Slovenia? Western Austria is lovely and a fair bit less driving.
Just looking at Austria at the moment, trying to build in a stopover there maybe.
Slovenia is partly due to the Lipica Stud Farm, daughter rides and also near her birthday. Might sound like a crazy way to go for that but we've sounded them out and they are up for it if I can make a few other things fit. The drive doesn't bother me.
Looked at flights but just too expensive for the extra hassle it's a £1,500 flights and car hire.
Ideally I'd take them out of school for a day either side of half term and it would be a whole lot easier but we do that in May already. Not that I mind but the children don't want to miss much school time (weird!)
Looks like a cool viewing platform in Salzburg?
Yeah, Salzburg is cool. There’s loads of horsey stuff in Austria too. We’re an hour under Salzburg, it takes us around 2 hours to get to Slovenia.
When I do the drive from Wirral, it’s always 5 hours to Dover (300 miles), then usually get a cheap hotel around Luxembourg (240 miles), then set off next morning to Austria (440 miles). Get there around tea time.
For such a tiny country Solovenia has a lot going for it. The folk are nice too.
Cheers Colp, I'm on the south coast so a bit quicker to the tunnel than the wirral 🙂
Looks like an area you'd rarely get bored thats for sure - F'in Brexit!
just back from a 10 day cycle tour of slovenia. it is quite simply a fabulous place for anyone into the outdoor life. bovec on the soca river is a buzzy wee town full of adventure providers. google it - any type of outdoor activity you can think of. a real gem especially for teenage kids. the lippizanner stud is quite a bit further east , out of the mountains in the wine/agricultural region near trieste. you will have a ball, weather permitting!
just back from a 10 day cycle tour of slovenia. it is quite simply a fabulous place for anyone into the outdoor life. bovec on the soca river is a buzzy wee town full of adventure providers. google it - any type of outdoor activity you can think of. a real gem especially for teenage kids. the lippizanner stud is quite a bit further east , out of the mountains in the wine/agricultural region near trieste. you will have a ball, weather permitting!
Slovenia was a stop for me on way to Hungary on my first “long” ride on the motorbike. Lovely place!
not that far, really. I stopped in the oddest hotel the night before near Innsbruck... https://www.alpenlove.at/
There and back in a week is reasonable.
rachel
just back from a 10 day cycle tour of slovenia
We need pics, I did a tour there about 10-15 years ago it was awesome.
Personally I think driving to Slovenia for a week is bonkers but each to their own!
I always used to do the drive in one go, so leave home around 5pm, get an 11pm ferry from Dover, drive through the night on coffee and cake, the family would wake up around 9am somewhere deep into Germany (after a re-fuel in Luxembourg). Then I’d carry on or if I was too tired my wife would drive. I could usually get to by Munich before I was completely zonked.
I always break it up now though so it is 2 days each way.