 
- Very old, with
evidence of settlement from 22,800
years ago, and very new,
an independent democracy only since
1993.
- Was the "other half"
of Czechoslovakia, which split into
two countries in 1993.
- A melting pot of nationalities/ethnic
groups: Slovaks (86%), Hungarians
(10%), Czechs Rusyns/Ruthenians
(related to Ukrainians but different),
Romany (Gypsies), Polish, Gorals
(from Tatra Mountain region near
Polish border),Ukrainian, with heavy
influence from Germans and Austrians.
- Blessed with 6
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
– both natural sites (caves)
and cultural sites (castles, old
towns and villages)
- Compact (twice the size of Vermont)
and easy to explore
- Well connected to other Central
and Eastern European countries
(Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria,
Poland, Ukraine).
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- Name of country: Slovak Republic
or Slovakia
- Form of government: parliamentary
democracy
- Member of the European Union and
NATO since mid-2004
- Land area: 18,933 sq. miles (twice
the size of Vermont)
- Mountainous: almost 80% is 2,400+
ft above sea level
- Population: 5.4 million (5 times
the population of Vermont)
- Location: central
Europe bordering Poland, Ukraine,
Hungary, Czech Republic and Austria
- Capital city: Bratislava,
population 452,288, including about
60,000 university students
- Language: Slovak, which belongs
to the Slavic group of languages
(includes Polish, Czech, Croatian
and others). In Slovakia many people
also speak Hungarian, German, Czech.
- Religion: most are Roman Catholic(60%),
with minorities of Protestants,
Greek Catholic, Jews
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- No visa needed, just a passport
(valid until at least 6 months after
your trip)
- No vaccinations required
- Security risk is low, but just
like anywhere, keep an eye on wallets
and luggage in busy areas.
- Electrical current: 220 volt,
50 Hz (standard 2-prong round European
plugs)
- Country code (telephone): 421
- Currency: Slovak koruna (will
probably adopt Euro in 2008)
- Money matters: credit cards accepted
at major hotels, restaurants, larger
shops – but not in smaller
establishments or in the countryside.
ATMs available in major cities only
and exchange rates at ATMs are good.
Travelers’ checks can be cashed
at major banks and post offices
- Tipping: 10-15% at restaurants.
Standard procedure is for them to
tell you what is owed and when you
give cash, tell them total you want
to pay including the tip.
- Time zone: same as Western Europe
(1 hour ahead of GMT, 6 hours ahead
of US Eastern time)
- Internet cafes are available
in major cities but not in smaller
towns
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(Note: these costs are for the capital,
Bratislava, which has substantially
higher prices than the rest of the
country; elsewhere in Slovakia
costs can be 40-50% less expensive
than these)
Hotel:
- 3-star hotel room in international
chain $80 (per
room per night, not per person)
- 4-star hotel room in international
chain $100
- Comfortable 3-star level pension
(like B&B) $35-55
 Food
& drink
- Breakfast (usually included with
hotel room)
- Substantial lunch with beer or
soft drink and coffee/tea (moderate
restaurant) $8-10
- Dinner with appetizer, main dish,
dessert, beer/wine, coffee (moderate
restaurant)
$12-15
- Bottle or on-tap pint of good
Slovak or Czech beer $1.50
- Glass of good-excellent Slovak
wine in restaurant $1.50-$3.00
- Bottle of good-excellent Slovak
wine in restaurant $9-18
- Cup of coffee in restaurant/café
$1.00
Museum
entrance $2-3
Opera
ticket $6-33
Ballet
ticket $4-25
(Click
here for tickets)
Taxi:
Up to $1 to start
plus $1.20 per mile
Rental
car
- From international companies,
similar prices as rest of Europe
- F rom Slovak companies, such as
www.rentpoint.sk, lower, starting
at $27/day
or $191/wk
Gasoline
per gallon - $4/gal
(generally twice as expensive as in
U.S., but remember the country is
small, so distances are shorter)
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