B&B Slamič Review
Close to hotel Lev and tucked away on a little side street, you find the small and charming Bed and Breakfast Slamič (promounced Slamich) which dates back to 1932. Even though the B&B has not existed from the start, the Slamič family has run a restaurant / café on this location since 1932. The building has today a stylish modern façade but the interior of the rooms, corridors and the café creates a feel of an older comfortable retreat.
Even though B&B Slamič isn’t a traditional bed and breakfast, in the sense of a family letting out a room of their house, this hotel has a great homely atmosphere and it feel as if you are invited to a large house rather than a hotel.
The Café at B&B Slamič
To the locals in Ljubljana, B&B Slamič is best known for the café ‘KavaČaj’ on the ground floor and with a bigger terrace on the first floor. This café is beautifully decorated in a Viennese coffee house style with a lot of dark red wood furniture, wall panels and a great old style bar.
Every Wednesday, there is live music, mostly jazz, in the café and it is a great evening visited by many locals in Ljubljana. However, you will not be disturbed as a B&B guest as they always finish early (and possibly too early for the music lovers) guaranteeing you an early night if you wish.
These jazz evenings are not advertised on their website but you can normally find out who is playing on B&B Slamič’s Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/BB-Slami%C4%8D/264301230275104
Rooms at B&B Slamič
The rooms are decorated in a similar style to the café with beautiful wooden floors and red solid wood furniture. It creates a wonderful comfortable feeling and you are likely to feel at home here.
The rooms vary in size and some have bath tubs and some have showers. If you’re booking early, it is a good idea to ask for your preferred bathroom features to ensure you get your perfect room.
All rooms have air conditioner, cable TV, telephone, free WIFI internet access, mini bar, safe and a hair dryer.
The Breakfast
It is fairly obvious that the breakfast is included in the price. However, one major advantage to B&B Slamič is that you are able to go out on the terrace in the summer and enjoy your breakfast in the sunshine.
Free Parking at B&B Slamič
Free parking is available in the courtyard but you need to ask in advance to reserve a place. We recommend you to do so at the time of your reservation so you don’t miss out on the free places.
To all of you who are looking for a small Ljubljana hotel with charm and character, we recommend you to consider B&B Slamič. Even though there are Ljubljana hotels which are more central, it is rare to find accommodation with great location and character together with breakfast, outside terrace and free parking etc.
Ljubljana Car Rental Guide – Discounts & Special Offers
In Slovenia, you find most of the major rent a car company’s and the Ljubljana Car Rental companies are of no exception. To help you find the best deal, we have listed all the major car rental companies and their locations in Ljubljana.
Ljubljana Car Rental Discounts
Budget rent a car is offering 10% discount in what they simply call “The Big Budget Sale!“. You need to book before the 14th February and it is advertised on the Slovenian www.budget.si website.
Hertz rent-a-car is offering a “Sleep & Drive package” where you can stay at Hotel Azul, 5km from Ljubljana Airport
Seen any other offers? Leave a comment on this blog so that we can share the car rental discount deals while they’re fresh!
It might be obvious but to find the best deal, it is always best to visit the local websites listed below. Most car rental companies work as franchises and the local offices is usually better than each companies international website. Always look for the .si domain! Also, some of the big comparison websites do not cover little Slovenia and when they do include the Ljubljana car rentals, you are not guaranteed to get the best rate. It is also advisable to check the location of the rent-a-car office to avoid taking a taxi to pick up the car.
Map of Ljubljana Car Rental Locations
Car Rental Companies in Ljubljana
Budget Rent a Car Ljubljana
Ljubljana Car Rental Map
Grand Hotel Union, Miklošičeva cesta 3, 1000 Ljubljana
(01) 421 73 40
www.budget.si
Hertz Car Rental Ljubljana
Trdinova ulica 9, phone: +386 (0)1 4340147
www.hertz.si
Avis Car Rental Ljubljana
Cufarjeva 2, 1000 Ljubljana
+386 (0)1 430 80 10
www.avis.si
SIXT Ljubljana
Trg Osvobodilne fronte 5, Ljubljana
+386 (0)1-2344650
www.e-sixt.com
Avant Car Ljubljana
Dunajska cesta 140 (Ljubljana Bezigrad)
+386 (0)1 589 08 50
www.avantcar.si
ATET Rent A Car
Derčeva ulica 4, 1000 Ljubljana
+396 (0)1 513 70 17
www.atet.si
AGIO Rent a car
Celovska cesta 228, Ljubljana
+386 (0)70 727777
www.agio.si
Ljubljana Christmas Lights pictures 2011
Every year, Ljubljana is lit up by a display of artistic Christmas lights. This year is no exception so we have photographed a small selection of the best light creations.
Ljubljana Christmas Lights 2011
Lev Hotel Ljubljana Videos
To help you get a better feel for a Lev hotel Ljubljana we have created a you tube playlist which you can view in this blog. All user generated or promotional video currently available have been included and we will continue to update the list as new videos emerge.
Lev Hotel Ljubljana Videos
If you have any videos of Lev Hotel Ljubljana that you would like to include or know of anything we’ve missed, please let us know by leaving a comment below.
We hope you enjoy the play list.
Ljubljana Ski Rental
With the many ski resorts around Ljubljana, you might want to rent your equipment in the city before you set off to the ski slopes. By renting in advance you can compare the rental prices and you can ensure that you get the right shoe size, style or colour of the equipment etc. However there are not many Ljubljana ski rental shops that you can simply walk in and try out the equipment so in order to help you find the right shops, we have listed the available options below.
INTERSPORT Ski Rental Ljubljana
The most prominent Ljubljana ski rental service on the internet is Intersport rent. However, the website is lacking with information about rental prices and what type of equipment they offer in Ljubljana. You are therefore left with the only option to visit their shop as the website links to the intersport.si which in itself links back to the Intersport rent website.
Online Ski Rental
There are a few new services launching for the ski rentals from Ljubljana. As the information becomes available we will update you on the latest deals. With the lack of information in English, this could be a good way to pre-book your equipment before you set off to the near Ljubljana ski resorts.
Pro Ski Servis’ Ljubljana Ski rental
A well stocked and very professional ski rental shop in the outskirt of Ljubljana is Pro Ski Service. This is a small Slovenian company which started with servicing ski equipment for professional skiers.
Eve though for example google places lists them as a location for Ski rental in Ljubljana, it is not clear from their website that they offer Ski rental from their Ljubljana office. Their website is currently only in Slovenian which is an obstacle for most tourists.
Ljubljana Train Station
Ljubljana Train Station is located close to the city centre and it takes only 10 minutes to walk to the Triple Bridge which is considered the heart of Ljubljana. Inside the station there is a ticket office, left luggage, waiting rooms and a MacDonalds restaurant. Outside of the station, you also have a café and bar where mane locals often stop by.
The timetable for arrivals and departures from the Ljubljana train station can be found online here: www.slo-zeleznice.si . You are not able to book the tickets online but the website does show you the opening hours of the ticket office.
Ljubljana Train Discounts
Hotel Park Ljubljana offers a 15 percent discount to all passengers arriving by train to the Ljubljana train station. A poster is displayed in the under-path of the platforms and you can see a photo of it to the left.
The History of Ljubljana Train Station
The station was built during the time of the Austrian/Hungarian Empire in 1849 when the railway between Trieste and Vienna was created. The station building was renovated as late as 1980. At the Ljubljana train station you also find a plaque of James Joyce which reminds us of when James Joyce spent a night in station. He had to stop here in 1904 when he was travelling to Trieste.
Location of the train station in Ljubljana:
Central Hotel Ljubljana, Cafe review
In our series of Ljubljana hotel cafe reviews, we visited Hotel Central cafe which goes under the name Franky’s Bar.
From the street, Ljubljana Hotel Central’s cafe looks like a separate bar with the name Franky’s bar next door to the hotel. However, the cafe is connected with the hotel lobby so this perception is most likely only felt by the by-passers in the street. Franky’s bar is a less pretentious café with a homely Austrian coffee house feel to it with the red carpet and and clothed chairs.
At this time of the year, it is not a surprise that there were few people outside but to my surprise, I was greeted by a packed room cafe inside and I was lucky to get a seat. The guests were a mixture of locals and hotel guests and best described as a cosy cafe far away from the trendy bars in Ljubljana where the youth are likely to hang out.
The prices at Central Hotel Ljubljana’s cafe were average and Wifi internet access was available although this wasn’t advertised at the entrance. Wifi wasn’t free and you have to pay with either credit card or mobile phone via the NEO network or Skype access.
All in all, the café reflects the feel of this cheaper of the 3 Union hotels. It is friendly, affordable and with a good service.
Ljubljana snow – the first snowfall of the season
Yesterday, the first snow fell in Ljubljana for the season. It was the traditional heavy and wet Ljubljana snow which we unfortunately have become far too used to the last couple of years. You might wonder why we even bother to mention it on the Ljubljana Hotel Information but the importance comes when you consider the mountains close by. If snow falls early on the mountains, it is more likely that the snow in November and December doesn’t melt away. This is hopeful news for the ski season and a closer look at the live camera from the nearest ski resort Krvavec we can see that the snow is already on the ground.
Krvavec near Ljubljana snow on webcam
Source: http://www.rtc-krvavec.si/en/winter/webcam/live-feed/
Here at the Ljubljana Hotel Information, we are planning to assist you over the ski season with information and advice on how to use Ljubljana as a base for your skiing in Slovenia. We recommend you to read our first Ljubljana Ski guide. We are now hoping that the Ljubljana snow that fell this week will be the start of a great Ljubljana ski season.
Ljubljana Casino Hotels
In Ljubljana there is now only one casino hotel left after Central Hotel’s casino closed not too long ago. However, the best casino package hotel offer doesn’t come from the same hotel so take a look to find the best offer for you.
Ljubljana Casino Hotel Lev
Vošnjakova 1, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Casino Lev is situated next to the luxurious 5 star hotel Lev. The main entrance to the casino is actually around the corner from hotel and even though they are in the same building with the same title Lev, the two are normally not marketed together. At casino Lev you find 200 gaming machines, electronic roulette and 2 smoking rooms. The dress code is ‘Appropriate (normal)’ and you have free parking in the 2 garages of Hotel Lev.
At Casino Lev, they use the so called TITO ticketing system throughout which works similar to the classic casino chips but prints out receipts. There is also no dealers handing out the chips at the roulette as it is an electronic roulette. Many people in Ljubljana prefers to do the online poker instead with websites such as PartyPoker.com. However, if it is the atmosphere and socializing you’re looking for, there is nothing like the casino gaming hall.
Ljubljana Casino Hotel Package
Hotel Lev doesn’t have a special casino offer so interestingly, the best hotel package with Casino entrance comes from Hotel Park which is located 20 minutes walk from Casino Lev. Hotel Park is less luxurious but a good Ljubljana hotel with great location in the city centre.
For €90 per person you get:
- 2 nights in a double comfort room,
- Large breakfast,
- Welcome drink at the hotel,
- €10 playable ticket with complimentary drink at the casino
- Free transfer to Casino Lev
Ljubljana SKI – guide to the nearby resorts
Ljubljana with it’s close location to the Slovenian Alps is a great starting point for ski day trips or weekends. These Ljubljana ski getaways have a big variety of slopes and you can reach them by car in under one to two hours drive. Ljubljana is therefore not only a great city break destination and you should consider including a day or more skiing in to your visit. Ski hire is also cheap as long as you book in advance which also gives you more time and less stress when arriving at the slopes.
The ski resorts below are listed in order of how long it takes to drive to them from Ljubljana. To keep it simple, we have invented the term ‘Ljubljana Ski distance’ for this purpose.
Krvavec, Ljubljana ski distance: 40 minutes
This is not only one of the closest ski center from Ljubljana, it is also located only 15 minutes drive from Ljubljana’s airport. Krvavec is therefore the only ski resort in Slovenia that can offer you a morning of skiing before your flight in the afternoon. It also has a good variety of slopes from beginners to advanced which makes it one of the best choices for a day’s skiing from Ljubljana.
Krvavec is a beautiful and impressive resort which is highly regarded by the locals. The altitude varies from 1,450 to 1,971 meters above sea level which you reach by a cable car. This nearby Ljubljana ski center has three main summits and snow at is generally guaranteed for 100 days of the year and the combined length of the slopes is close to 35 kilometers.
One important detail often raised by locals in Ljubljana is that the narrow roads to the cable car often creates bad traffic jams so it is a good idea to avoid the busiest times when traveling to and from the resort.
Altitude of ski center : 1450 – 1971 m
Area : 94 ha
Number of ski lifts : 3
Number of single lifts : 1
Number of two-seat lifts : 5
Number of six-seat lifts : 1
Capacity : 13700 skiers per hour
Expert trails : 6 km
Intermediate trails : 12,5 km
Easy trails : 5,5 km
resources:
http://www.rtc-krvavec.si/en/winter/ski-resort/
http://www.slovenia.info/en/smucanje/Krvavec.htm?smucanje=122&lng=2
Velika Planina, Ljubljana ski distance: 40 minutes
This idyllic mountain plateau is closest to Ljubljana ski center available. It is only suitable for beginners to intermediate skiers as the slopes are not as long and challenging as most other resorts. However, if you the view and fewer people are more important than the slopes, this is the place for you. The plateau has several small herdsmen huts and holiday cabins which are ideal if you want to escape. Unfortunately, the cable car which takes you up to the mountain is not likely to run this winter 2011/2012. Please check in advance to avoid disappointment.
Altitude of ski center : 1420 – 1666 m
Area : 40 ha
Number of ski lifts : 5
Number of two-seat lifts : 1
Capacity : 3300 skiers per hour
Cross-country trail : 10 km
http://www.velikaplanina.si/Home
http://www.slovenia.info/en/smucanje/Velika-planina.htm?smucanje=86&lng=2
Kranjska Gora, Ljubljana ski distance: 1 hour
Located close to the motorway, Kranjska gora is easily reached from Ljubljana and it is the most famous Slovenian ski resort. Its fame comes partly from the World Cup competitions but it also has the oldest history in Slovenia. This together with the easy access from the motorway makes Kranjska Gora a popular choice for Ljubljana ski enthusiasts.
The slopes are good for all abilities and its geographical location offers one of the most reliable skiing conditions in Slovenia. It is also worth mentioning that Kranjska Gora is a big ski resort with 10 hotels close by. A great choice if you are looking for the party atmosphere and activities.
Altitude of ski center : 810-1295 m
Area : 125 ha
Number of ski lifts : 13
Number of single lifts : 1
Number of two-seat lifts : 1
Number of four-seat lifts : 4
Capacity : 20200 skiers per hour
Expert trails : 2 km
Intermediate trails : 8 km
Easy trails : 10 km
Sledding trails : 5 km
Cross-country trail : 40 km
Resources: http://www.kranjska-gora.si/Activities/Skiing/Map-of-ski-slopes
http://www.slovenia.info/en/smucanje/Kranjska-Gora.htm?smucanje=58&lng=2
Vogel / Bohinj, Ljubljana ski distance: 1 hour 20 minutes
Situated on top of the mountains in the Triglav national park above lake Bohinj, the view from the top of the cable car station and restaurant is breathtaking and worth a visit in itself. It takes roughly 1 hour and 20 minutes drive from Ljubljana and it is by far not the closest ski resort. However, it is one of the best ski centers for reliable snow conditions in Slovenia.
The ski centre is good for beginners to advanced skiers. It also hosts a snowboard park and it is known for great off-piste skiing when the weather and snow condition permits.
The altitude varies from 569-1800 meters
Number of ski lifts : 4
Number of two-seat lifts : 4
Capacity : 7240 skiers per hour
Intermediate trails : 14 km
Easy trails : 4 km
Cross-country trail : 8 km
Resources:
http://www.vogel.si/index-zima.php
http://www.slovenia.info/en/smucanje/Vogel.htm?smucanje=130&lng=2
Fri 4 May
Wed 2 May
Tue 17 Apr
Mon 16 Apr
Sat 14 Apr