The two most effective ways of getting to Slovenia
are flying or driving, each with it's own pro's and con's depending on your
own personal needs, number of passengers, baggage and the time you wish to spend
in Slovenia.
Fly
Flying is easier, faster and less stressful
(for some) than driving but after you have calculated the time you must leave
home to be at check-in, flight time, possible delays and baggage collection,
you could have driven half way across Europe in that time. If you are thinking
of staying in Slovenia for longer than three or four days you will also need
a hire car, Slovenia is a beautiful and exciting place better seen from outside
your hotel room. So, when looking at flying against driving and calculating
the cost you must take some things into account: Getting to and from the airport,
airport parking, baggage allowance (as little as 10kg pp), cost of tickets x
number of passengers and so-on.
Drive
Driving to Slovenia can be enjoyable and relaxing
too depending on mood and how comfortable you are driving 1,000 miles each way.
Driving allows you to go at your own pace and do as you please, fine if you
have plenty of time to take in the scenery and not rush back for work in two
days. Packing is simple when you can just throw everything in the boot (except
your passports, you will need them, and the kids because it is illegal). You
will also have the time to see some countries you have never seen before and
if you have been there before, you will certainly see more than you have in
the past. Ferry tickets are normally charged per car and not per passenger and
have more regular sailing times so you can choose the time best suited to you.
Night sailings are cheaper and the roads less congested if you are comfortable
with night driving. When calculating driving, again, like flying, there are
some not so obvious costs to take into account: Ferry tickets, fuel, overnight
accommodation should you wish to rest, auto bahn toll in Austria (currently
7.5€ for 10 days) you must also have a high visibility vest for all passengers
when driving in Austria in case of breakdown, these are on sale very cheap in
most motorway services.
You Decide
We have tried to make some things easy for you
so whilst you read the following about flying and driving, clicking on the underlined
Ryanair, EasyCar, P&O and Eurostar will take you directly to their respective
home pages should you wish to book or compare prices.
Probably
the best means of getting to Slovenia is to fly, depending on time and
number of passengers. It can be cheaper to drive with four passengers
splitting the cost, than to buy four air tickets depending on offers by
the airlines and flight times. Ryanair
have daily flights from London Stanstead into Graz in Austria which is
about an hours drive from our office. We have been informed that Ryanair
will also be flying to Balaton in Hungary starting in April, which is
about two hours drive from here. Before arrival at the airport you should look at how
to get from Graz to Murska Sobota, you have two choices: We meet
you at Graz airport in time for your arrival from as little as €55.00
for up to four people, or you may Hire a car from the
airport either pre booked or on arrival. There are many car hire centers
in and around Graz airport, Easy
Carbeing
one of them. Should you choose car hire, just leave the airport to the
large round about and turn right, follow the signs for Slovenia (Slowenian/Slo)
and continue towards Maribor (do not go to Maribor). On the road to Maribor
look for and follow signs for Bad Radkersburg and then Murska Sobota,
on arrival at Murska Sobota just call us, we will find you.
Driving to North East Slovenia can take as little
as 15 hours from Calais depending on speed, route and rest breaks. From
the centre of London to our office is exactly 1,600km (1,000 miles).
As you know there are two ways getting from Dover to Calais, over or
under. You can book ferry tickets through P
and O should you want to sail or through Eurostar
should you wish to take the tunnel.
There are many routes to take from Calais to Slovenia
but the one we choose is the easiest and most straight forward. After
leaving Calais, head for Dunkerque on the E40/A16,
it may look odd to drive up to come down but it makes sense. Then take
the E42/A25 towards Lille, continue
on the E42/A25 towards Liege. From
here it gets a little complicated so we will let you look at that yourself
but you need pick up the E35/A3 at Koblenz
in Germany. Once on the E35/A3 it is cruise control
on and relax. Be aware that the E35 changes number
from E35 to E41/E45 and E56
on your journey through Germany but always remains the A3.
This motorway will take you direct from Koblenz in
Germany to Wells in Austria.
Just to keep you on the right track, you will see signs
for Frankfurt, then Wurzburg, then Nurnburg
(you will pass and see sections of the famous Nurnburg Ring for the
racing fans amongst you), then onto Regensburg and finally
Passau on the Austrian border. Stay on the motorway and continue
down past Passau until you come to the Austrian Border.
You must pay a toll to drive on the Austrian Auto Bahn (Mortorway)
and to do this you need a Vignette (pronounced Vinyet). These are available
from the petrol stations(tank stella) prior to entering Austria, sometimes
on the border crossing if the shop is open or at the services. Go to the cashier
and just ask for a vignette for ten days please, "Eine vignette fur zehn tage
bitte" (I-na vinyet fur sen tag bitta), it costs at the moment €7.50
and must be placed in your windscreen. Failure to purchase and display a vignette
may result in an on-the-spot €120.00 fine so it is worth getting. A
word of caution, failing to display the vignette is the same as not
having one so you must stick it in your windscreen for it to be valid. Also,
pleading ignorance does not work either, nor does, "I got lost and got on
the autobahn by accident", or even not understanding German, they will leave
you there until you do understand and pay the fine. Trust me I once got caught
and tried them all so unless you look like Pamela Anderson, are driving topless
and wearing a thong.. Get the vignette !!
On crossing the Austrian border, the motorway becomes the
E56/A8, you should see exit numbers 65, then 53 until you
see exit 19, a little after exit 19 you will see signs for Graz
on the E57/A9. You must then turn on to the E57/A9.
Follow the E57 through the two long tunnels towards Graz.
Continuepast Grazon the E57 where
you will begin to see signs for Slovenia and Maribor.
At this point you know that you are about a hour away from a hot
cuppa and a warm bed. Just before the Slovene border you will see a sign for Bad
Radkersburg on the A69, take this road to Bad Radkersburg
where you will then see signs for SLO and Murska
Sobota, sometimes shown as M Sobota. On arriving
at Murska Sobota, give us a call and we will come for you and take you to
your hotel.
Accommodation
Live Slovenia.comcan make a hotel/motel reservation for you (vacancies permitting)
upon receipt of your flight information and reservation number. We currently use the Carda motel which
is very close to our office here in Mlajtinci and situated in an easy to find
location between Murska Sobota and Moravske Toplice. The Carda is also an
ideal place for your base because it is quite, relatively inexpensive and
centrally located to most of the properties we have in this area.
To give you some idea of tariffs: The Carda is currently
charging €25 pppn B&B, (Nocitev z zajtrkom) Another advantage of us booking
your hotel is that we will have the keys so you can get in no matter what
time you arrive, the motel locks it's doors at 23:00hrs and without keys you
are not getting in, reservation or not.
Caravans
We have
parking on hardstanding for caravans here at Mlajtinci, it
is nothing special and is not a campsite but we ask you to contribute
7.00€ per day per caravan for electricity and water. Facilities
are basic but it is clean, secure and well lit with just electricity,
water and cassette toilet drop, but it gives you a nice base to look
around from and give you a feel for the area for little money.
Life is for living-We Live it once-So Live it well 
