SITUATIONS

GETTING THERE

The Ljubljana International Airport is served by scheduled non-stop flights from several European cities. Should you be traveling by train from Italy, the point of entry is Sežana; from Austria, Jesenice or Maribor. Citizens of European Community countries may enter Slovenia with a valid identity card only.

A tourist visa for entry to Slovenia will be stamped in your passport during the passport control at the Slovenian border or airport. You can ask:

CUSTOMS

In the summertime, when there are big tourist crowds, customs (carina) may not be the best place to practice your Slovenian. Customs officers know some English. Nevertheless it should be helpful to understand a few standard phrases:

MEETING FRIENDS ON ARRIVAL

LUGGAGE

RENT-A-CAR

Major international companies rent cars in Slovenia. It is advisable to make reservations, but cars are usually available at airports. Gasoline is more expensive in Europe than in America, while rental costs are similar. (American Express or other credit cards are accepted in lieu of deposit as well as for payment.)

TAXI

CURRENCY EXCHANGE

Foreign tourists are allowed to take unlimited amounts of foreign currency or travelers checks in and out of Slovenia. Current dollar and other foreign currency axchange rates are prominently displayed in banks and currency exchange offices (menjalnica). The latter can be found at all border crossings, international airports, and elsewhere. Rates are also quoted daily in Delo and other newspapers. You will be asked to show your passport when exchanging travelers checks. Check the current exchange rates at http://www.bsi.si/html/eng/financial_data/daily/tecajna_lista.asp. You can get local cash with your credit card at one of many ATMs. Make sure that the ATM is the appropriate one for your type of card before you insert it.

BUS

Both city and inter-city buses are very popular in Slovenia. The fares are reasonable. Have exact fare ready when riding Ljubljana city buses, which can be recognised by green color. Drop it into the box next to the driver. Tokens (žetoni) can be purchased at news-stands located near the bus stops or at post offices. On inter-city buses, tickets are sold by the conductor and at the bus stations. Reservations may be required for long-distance international trips on express buses (e. g. Ljubljana-Zagreb). There is a slight charge for luggage stored in a special department by the driver. You can find the Ljubljana city bus schedule at http://www.holdingmestaljubljane.si/obvestila.htm.

TRAIN

For travel within Slovenia at a short distance you may take a rapid commuter train (motorni potniški vlak). To enter or to exit the country Inter-City (IC), Euro-City (EC), and business trains are available. They connect Slovenia with Munich, Vienna, Budapest, Trieste, Venice, Paris, Pula, Rijeka, Zagreb, etc. Arrivals (PRIHODI) and departures (ODHODI) are prominently displayed at stations. Buy tickets at the counter (BLAGAJNA/VOZOVNICE). It is advisable to take first class on long-distance trains; commuter trains have only coach class. When traveling by sleeper (spalnik), make advance reservations at the station or at a travel agency. Show your ticket to the conductor whenever requested. Antique trains take tourists on the sightseeing trips. Contact Slovenijaturist (Ljubljana, Slovenska 58, tel. (01) 291-30-71 or (01) 291-30-72) to obtain the timetable. Find further information on http://www.slo-zeleznice.si/.

DRIVING

Carry with you the following documents: your regular driver's licence (vozniško dovoljenje), car registration (prometno dovoljenje), and international insurance certificate, the so called green card (zelena karta). If involved in a minor accident, fill the international accident report form, including the name and address of the other driver, or wait for the police. Gas stations offer full service and sell 91-, 95-, and 98-octane unleaded fuel only, recognized by green labels. Main gas stations operate 24 hours a day, the others operate from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m and are closed on Sunday. Many of them are self-service. For repairs go to a repair shop. Should your car break down at the expressway, call POMOČ-INFORMACIJE from the nearest telephone along the shoulder. They will dispatch a service mechanic and if necessary a tow truck to your car. Traffic signs, mostly symbols are the same as elsewhere in Europe. Be careful: there's no right turn on red. Speed limits are posted in kilometers: 130 for toll expressway, 100 for main highways, and 90 for other open roads. In town the speed limit is 60 kph. Observe the posted speed limits and follow the traffic. Find further information on http://www.amzs.si/.

Emergency phone numbers

Emergency phone numbers

Some vocabulary

Police may stop you either to check your driver's licence and car registration or because you failed to observe the traffic rules.

HOTELS AND OTHER ACCOMODATIONS

If you are planning to travel in peak season, making advance hotel reservations through a travel agency is advisable. In case you have not done so and are looking for accomodation in a major tourist center, tourist information offices can advise you on vacancies in hotels and homes renting out guest rooms (privatne sobe). Find private accomodation and hotel rates at http://www.slovenia-tourism.si/eindex.htm or at http://slovenia.nethotels.com/english/default.asp.

In hotels, breakfast is likely to be included in the price of the room. The polpenzion rate includes one meal in addition to breakfast, while polni penzion includes all three meals. Inns (gostilna or gostišče) may also have rooms (sobe or prenočišča). Some camp grounds (kamping) rent out cabins in addition to providing space for tents and campers.

ELEVATOR

TELEPHONE

Use phonecard-operated public phones for local calls and short international calls. Besides your hotel, the most convenient place from which to make a phone call to America is the post office. After completing the call, return to the clerk at the counter to pay. The Slovenian international calling number 00 is followed by a one- to three-digit code of the country you are calling, the area code, and the number. To reach your home in Cleveland, for example, dial 00-1-216-home number. From the U.S.A. you can call Slovenia: 011-386-area code-home number. Long-term visitors should consider buying one of the prepaid cellular telephone kits (mobi), which are sold at post offices and on gas stations. Find detailed information on phoning at http://www.telekom.tis and on mobile telephony with one of the providers.

Area codes in Slovenia

When calling outside your area, the number shown in the telephone directory should be preceded by area code shown on the map. Omit 0 when calling from abroad.

Some telephone numbers

988 Directory assistance for Slovenian telephone numbers
9100 Wake-up calls
9595 Exact time
901 To order a collect call (klic s plačanim odgovorom)

POST OFFICE

Slovenian post offices can be recognized by the horn on a bright yellow sign. Mailboxes are painted the same yellow color. Note that stamps can be purchased at some newsstands. For express delivery, DHL, UPS, EMS, and SkyPak are available. You'll get more information in English at http://www.posta.si/eng/ps/default.asp.

Most post offices are open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

SENDING TELEGRAMS, E-MAIL

Telegrams can be sent from any post office. Fill out the form Telegram, on which you will find the following items:

To send a telegram by phone, dial toll free 080 1410.

Electronic communication (e-mail) is available at copy services, cyber-cafes (find them at http://www.matkurja.com/eng/resources/computers/computer-entertainmet/cyber-cafe/) and at academic institutions. You will find your addressee from Ljubljana university, for example, under name.lastname@uni-lj.si.

SENDING MONEY

Domestic money transfers can be made from any post office. Go to the window marked VPLAČILA (receiving teller). If the payment is to be made to a private person, the form to be filled out is called Poštna nakaznica. You will be given a receipt, and the money will be delivered by the mailman to the recipient. If the recipient is a business and you know their account number, the form to be filled out is called Položnica. If you need to wire money, go to the post office window marked TELEGRAF and ask for Telegrafska nakaznica. For international money transfers go to a bank.

Should you be sending money from the United States to someone in Slovenia, we suggest using a personal check or purchasing an American Express money order, available in most supermarkets in the States.