Intro

In the eyes of many a Yugoslavian despot, Slovenia is the golden goose

that got away. Rich in resources, naturally good looking and persistently

peaceful, Slovenia has been doing just fine (flourishing, even) since

breaking away from its Yugoslav owners in 1991. Travellers in search of an

antidote to much of Europe's crowds and high prices can, at least for the

meantime, consider it their little secret.

Little Slovenia (Slovenija) straddles Eastern and Western Europe. Many of

its cities and towns bear the imprint of the Habsburg Empire and the

Venetian Republic, while up in the Julian Alps you'd almost think you were

in Bavaria. The 2 million Slovenes were economically the most well off

among the peoples of what was once Yugoslavia, and the relative affluence

of this country on the 'sunny side of the Alps' is immediately apparent.

Except for a brief period in June and July 1991 when Yugoslavia attempted

to stop its smallest child from leaving its collapsing nest, there's been

no fighting, no war and no terrorism in Slovenia. While Croatia and

Bosnia-Hercegovina became embroiled in the bitterest conflict in Europe

since WWII, Slovenes got on with making money and keeping out of the

limelight.


Destination Facts

Full country name: Republic of Slovenia (Republika Slovenija)
Area: 20,256 sq km (7898 sq mi)
Population: 2 million
Capital city: Ljubljana (pop 330,000)
People: Slovenian 88%, Serbo-Croatian 7%
Language: Slovene, Croatian, Serbian, German, English, Italian
Religion: Roman Catholic (72%), atheist (4.3%), Eastern Orthodox Christian

(2.4%), Muslim (1%), Protestant (1%)
Government: parliamentary democratic republic
President: Milan Kucan
Prime Minister: Janez Drnovsek


Facts for the Traveller

Visas: Citizens of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, Hong Kong, the USA

and most European countries do not require visas for stays of up to 90

days. Citizens of other countries can get 90-day visas in advance at any

Slovenian embassy or consulate, or 30 day visas on arrival.
Health risks: None
Time: GMT/UTC plus 1 hour, daylight savings observed
Electricity: 220V, 50Hz
Weights & measures: Metric


When to Go

September is an excellent month to visit because it's the best time for

hiking and climbing, and the summer crowds have vanished. December to

March is high-time for skiers, while spring is a good time to be in the

lowlands and valleys because everything's in blossom. Try to avoid July

and August, when hotel rates rise and there are lots more tourists,

especially on the coast.


Source: http://www.yahoo.com

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