Accommodation
Slovakia has been a great destination for holidays for decades, mostly thanks to the mountains in High Tatras. But in the recent years it’s getting also known for other beautiful destinations. There are thousands of hotels, pensions, hostels and apartment accommodations in Slovakia, but how to find suitable accommodation and what is to be aware off?
Reservation through Travel Agencies
There are two kinds of travel agencies in Slovakia. Ones which work with hotels (and other accommodation providers) on provision basis, which means they get discounts from the hotels (usually, around 10-20%, but it can be even 40-50%). These agencies usually make the price a bit under the hotel’s rack rate, so they ensure that next time the traveler books via agency again (instead of going directly to the hotel). Sometimes, the difference between the hotel rates and the agency rates can be even 50% (meaning agency prices are lower), but it is usually not even close to the percentage.
Then there are the agencies which actually have no special deals with accommodation providers and add a small reservation fee to the prices. Anyway even these agencies can be helpful in ensuring that your stay will be enjoyable and everything will go smoothly. Agencies usually speak a lot more languages than a person or two on the hotel’s reception. Combining this with 24 hours of support, the agency can help you fix any problem at any time of your stay.
So, rather than pointing out useless list of randomly picked up hotels, here are some time-verified booking agencies, which offer hundreds of accommodation possibilities. You should compare the prices on the websites mentionned below.
Please, do never leave your accommodation arrangements on the arrival at train station or airport, you can find yourself paying a lot more than you should!
Delia
Delia Tour is a travel agency established in 2008 that specializes in providing accommodation for holidays in Slovakia. It offers the following types of accommodation: cottages / wooden houses, guesthouses / pensions, apartments, hotels, spas and wellness and other accommodations like campings, hostels and other private accommodation. Accommodation is provided in all parts of Slovakia, included the most known High Tatras, Low Tatras, West Tatras, Orava, Liptov, Slovak Paradise, Mala Fatra, Donovaly, Pieniny and others.
The accommodation can be booked online very quickly and easily or if the customer has no time to search, he/she can contact Delia directly and they will help him/her to find the right accommodation. The customer only specifies the number of people, the date of stay, what type of accommodation would he/she like, what region he/she prefers and other requirements. They will send the possibilities on the customer’s email.
Limba
Limba Travel Agency was established in 1995 and with more than 150.000 customers yearly from across the world, it is the industry leader among Central European reservation systems. It offers the largest number of possible accommodations in Slovakia and it provides its customers with a spectrum of accommodations, including cottages, family pensions or hotels.
The offer is not limited only to booking holidays for single travellers, it also organises business meetings, presentations, seminars, sport and recreation trips, and cultural happenings or tours with a rich program for tourist groups.
Kiska
Kiska Travel Agency was established in Štôla in 1990. At the start, they concentrated on arranging accommodation in High Tatras through their own catalogue and through catalogues of foreign travel agencies. In 2003 their offer was extended to 180 accommodation facilities (cottages, guest houses, hotels, etc.) from all around Slovakia. Year after, they added Slovak spas in the offer, and services for self-catered individual trips.
They also arrange school trips, ski trips, wellness stays and events for firms. In 2005 their focus turned to the Internet to ease and increase sales, the team expanded and worked to make the website eve better, including adding almost 500 establishments for accommodation on their portal.
Accommodation Categories
The price range differs according to what season and where exactly you travel. The usual distribution of seasons in the pricelists is: Low, High and Top season. But the meaning behind these words can be extremely different. For example: The high season in Bratislava is between April and October. It’s mainly given by the nice weather which is great for city break-outs. On the other hand, if you travel to the mountains (ie. High Tatras), the High season means exactly the opposite – from November to March and then, of course, low season is the other part of the year.
Top terms are the same for both (mountains and cities) and are referring to these holidays: New Years Eve, Easter and Christmas. There can be more top terms per year depending on an accommodation itself. So, whenever you book, check twice whether your date is not in the top holiday season, because otherwise you can pay more than you expect.
As Slovak Republic is part of the European Union, there are regulations in travel industry, which ensure that the standards are comparable to those in other EU countries. But there are a few things to know before booking:
Hotels
The requirements for hotels of higher quality levels are as shows the following table:
| Luxury ***** |
First class **** |
Standard *** |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Lounge |
|
|
|
| Catering |
|
|
|
| Room facilities |
For each bed:
Vestibule:
|
For each bed:
Vestibule:
|
For each bed:
Vestibule:
|
| Sanitation | All rooms and apartments have own facilities – private bathroom and private WC or bathroom with WC. | All rooms and apartments have own facilities – private bathroom and private WC or bathroom with WC. | All rooms and apartments have own facilities – private bathroom and private WC or bathroom with WC. |
| Sanitation equipment |
For every bed:
|
For every bed:
|
For every bed:
|
| Changing laundry |
|
|
|
| Social areas |
|
|
|
Cheaper hotels should match these criteria:
| Standard *** |
Economy ** |
Tourist * |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Lounge |
|
|
|
| Catering |
|
|
|
| Room facilities |
For each bed:
Vestibule:
|
For each bed:
Vestibule:
|
For each bed:
|
| Sanitation | All rooms and apartments have own facilities – private bathroom and private WC or bathroom with WC. |
At least 50% of rooms have own facilities – bathroom with WC or sanitation corner sink with hot and cold water in every room without private facilities facilities on every floor. |
On every floor:
|
| Sanitation equipment |
For every bed:
|
For every bed:
|
For every bed:
|
| Changing laundry |
|
|
|
| Social areas |
|
Pensions
Pensions are officially categorized similarly as hotels: 1, 2, 3 star pensions, but there are actually two general types – standard and cheap.
Standard pensions are small in size, but completely fit into the definition of 3 star hotels and some services may be even better. Cheap pensions or B&Bs (bed and breakfast) are rather hostels than anything else. So, it’s very important to know beforehand what kind of a guest house you are about to book.
Hostels
Hostels are the only accommodation which is not worth of booking through an agency. Most of the hostels cannot afford to offer a provision for travel companies as their prices are quite low. Therefore the agencies mostly add a small booking fee to the hostel’s prices.
Also, this is the kind of accommodation where you have to be very careful. In terms of quality, hostel in Slovakia means whatever accommodation between a toilette room and a two star hotel.
Apartments
Apartment houses in Slovakia are divided according to the quality on two and three star accommodations. But the owners usually don’t follow the official star classification, so the quality can differ a lot.
You might not have a 24 hour reception as in a hotel (apartment houses have 16 hour assistance and nonstop availability on the phone), but you are in your own place with no rude neighbours, a lot of space and privacy. You can cook your own food, you can do whatever you are used to do at your home.
The prices differ according to the quality and location. But generally speaking everybody can find a good balance which fits his/her requirements.
Chalets / Cottages
In regions such as Tatra Mountains it is recommended to rent a chalet. Chalets give special feeling to the vacation. Visitors feel more connected to the nature and the fireplace is very romantic!
October 21st, 2009 at 7:25 pm
hi my name is Mr Milon Chowdhury Im citizen of Bangladesh(the south asin country)I would like to
[Reply]
Slovak-Republic.org replies:
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:03 am
Hi Milon, what would you like to? You haven’t finished your comment. :)
[Reply]
November 17th, 2009 at 10:43 am
Hello, I am from Romania and I want to visit your country. I have never before there. First I want to know if the people in the hotels speck english. AND what can you say o us about HUTNIK hotel. Thank you very much.
[Reply]
Slovak-Republic.org replies:
November 17th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Dear Rig.Veda,
in most of the hotels people speak english. I am not sure which hotel you mean. Is it Hotel Sorea Hutnik? If yes, I think it is a great choice. Both of their hotels are having good location, services, food, etc. If you will go there in winter time, you will have great ski oportunities, if in summer, it is beautiful as well.
[Reply]
February 17th, 2010 at 7:12 am
Hello, I am from India , I want to get settle in Slovakia with my family. what is the job availability? What could be my earnings monthly basis?
I would be thankful for your response.
Regards
GURPREET SINGH
[Reply]
Slovak-Republic.org replies:
February 18th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Dear Gurpreet,
for the information about jobs please read http://www.slovak-republic.org/work/. About the earnings, it realy depands on the position, company, ect.
[Reply]