Slovakia trip ahead

[Urban Rider]

I'm heading off for Slovakia at the end of July with swmbo and am after any advice from anyone who's done a similar trip. We're planning on taking 4 days to get there via France, Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic and finally Kosice in Eastern Slovakia. We'll be staying there for 7 days then taking a further 7 days to return. Planning on coming back via, Hungary, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France and then home to Blighty. Hopefully taking in the Stelvio Pass in Italy and then generally playing in the French / Swiss Alps but don't really have any other plans. We'll be camping every night so any advice on campsites or particularly good routes in any of these countries would be most welcome

 

[Urban Rider]

Anyone out there?

 

[Loiq]

don't ask for a cheese burger in solvakia very disappointing


it more a cheese sandwich, due to the fact there was no burger but it did have a very watery ketchup like discharge in it.

 

[(RIP) ugg]

we will be goin past Bratislava on the A4 heading towards Budapest just below ya in hungry in late July

ugg

 

[Duncan Richmond]

Hi There,

Shame I am away at the time you will be passing through this way. If you plan on visiting Prague and want a quite campsite there are some nice ones by the zoo (its right by the river) with safe parking and good and quick public transport links to the city centre. It can be quite difficult riding around central Prague - better to use the trams and buses. You can find cheap hotels but parking is a problem and theft can be a problem here in Prague (Rural CZ does not have that problem) Loads of nice countryside south west of Prague if you are coming in from Germany on Plzen highway, the minor roads are quite and the surfaces can be ropey (ideal for a GS) Plenty of nicley located campsites dotted all over the countryside. Be careful on D1 highway heading towards Slovakia, the driving standads are awful (that goes for the rest of the Czech Republic as well !) let me know if you need any more info on specific areas in CZ, I might be able to help.

Cheers

Duncan

 

[POG]

am after any advice from anyone

Don't watch Hostel before you go

Have a great trip

 

[GS TRV]

"Don't go in to Eastern Europe if you want to hold on to your bike"

Well, that's what my German coleagues tell me - went once but in the firm's motor

 

[(RIP) john plane]

Anyone out there?

Go to the bikers campsite in budapest it is very good.

 

[ae1eara]

Very similar trip

Hi,

I did a very similar trip to your planned one last year, I journeyed from Italy, through Austria and into Slovakia and made my first stop Bratislava. I found that it was immediately quite different from Western Europe. I didn't camp there because the hotels were so reasonable. In Bratislava I found a brand new top notch hotel for a very reasonable price.

Generally the traffic was OK and the people friendly and helpful. Where there are motorways they are pretty good. I didn't hang around Bratislava but headed North East to Poprad which was a good day's travelling cross country. The roads were mostly like UK 'B' class roads, over undulating countryside with small villages that are very linear, a bit like you would imagine Russian villages to be like.

The larger towns are quite easy to find yourself around - they are interesting because there is still a feel of the old Eastern Europe about them. The food from food kiosks and the like is, erm, interesting, but the food in the hotel restaurants I used was pretty good.

I heard from other travellers on the way to be careful to abide by the speed limits because the police pretty strict. I didn't have any problems though (maybe cos I was on a Yam TT600 single!!)

One safety tip: treat all older vehicles with caution. I nearly got T boned by an old Tatra lorry that just didn't have any brakes - right of way wasn't an option, he just thundered across a roundabout with an apologetic wave/shrug...

Poprad is situated just to the South of the Tatra mountains and has a very attractive village adjacent to it. I found a really good Hotel next to the river there - again at an amazing price for what was really an apartment. If you go to Poprad, about 10 Kms out to the East look out for a German war cemetery - very, very sobering as it dates from the final months of the war and brings home to you what happened there/then.

There is a road up into the mountains and over to Poland which becomes almost a dirt track on the Polish side but a scenic and interesting trip.

That was my next destination so I only did a short trip but I did find Slovakia both cheap and interesting. Can't recommend the red wine though....

I'm afraid I don't have the Hotel details on me at the moment but I will try and dig them out and post them in a couple of days.

Cheers

Andy

 

[Deleted Member I]

On your way back to the mountains .. remember to do the GAVIA PASS before or after you do the Stelvio .. depending on which way you approach it. It's a blast .. nice 90mph+ sweeping bends.

Perfect for two up riding

 

[Invicta Moto]

"Don't go in to Eastern Europe if you want to hold on to your bike"

Well, that's what my German coleagues tell me - went once but in the firm's motor

Bit like saying that all Scousers nick your wheels if you venture into the mersey area.... bollocks.

I've been to both Czech and Slovakia on many occasions since 1986 and never had any trouble. In the old days queues formed to look at shiny westerner motorcycles but no theft. I lived in Brno for a year and it was no different to anywhere else.

Lock the bike up as you would in the UK, don't leave your shite loafing about and there are no problems.

Czech driving is generally very poor as they have only been able to amass a few years to learn how to do it as getitng a car under the Commies was very hard.

Take the same precautions as any other place and you'll be find. There are scum everywhere so if you are the sort to leave your helmet on the mirror in Manc or London, then that's your look out.

I haven't camped in either CR or SR as B&B and hotels are cheap and plentiful.

If you are going as far as Kosice then have a look for the Andy Warhol Museum in Medzilaborce.

 

[Urban Rider]

Thanks for all the advice guys, much appreciated

I won't be camping in Slovakia at all as my girlfriends from there. We'll be staying in a small village called Michal'Any south of Kosice at the family home for 7 nights then head back through Hungary, Austria, Italy (Stelvio), Swizerland and then France and will camp en route. We're giving ourselves 4 days to get out there and 7 coming back. Enough i think

 

[sani]

Hi Chris
4 Days is to Long You can be in Slovakia in 8-10h time
I am heading for Romania on the 22th of August probably we can meet same where in the route
Have nice Holiday and enjoy your stay in Slovakia

 

[Invicta Moto]

as my girlfriends from there.

(Only joking!)

 

[Elvie]

Gipsy and I are camping just north of Poprad at the moment. Campsite is crap so glad you've decent accommodation. Countryside around here is beautiful although roads pretty poor, more like B roads as stated previously. If your girlfriends Slovak you'll be fine. We've been here three days and have so far met only one person who speaks any English - restaurant meals have been hit or miss to say the least! Have now discovered Tescos and are self catering!

Can recommend the High tatras, particularly the cable car to Lomnicky Stit and Spissky castle which we visited today & rafting on the Dunajec gorge. Bikercamp in Budapest is fun & they have B&B rooms as well as camping,while in Budapest do visit Szechenyi Baths. Can highly recommend magyarroute66 in Hungarian northern highlands( see our blog)

 

[Urban Rider]

Wwwwaaaaaahhhhhaaaayyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Only a week to go........

This time next week I'll be camping somewhere in Germany en route to Slovakia