Slovakia is a relatively young state. It emerged as a fully independent nation after parting ways with its former union member the Czech Republic with which it keeps strong ties till this day. Slovakia is a mountainous country with the highest number of castles and chateaux per capita and 7 national parks making it a paradise for hikers.

Traveling info

Because Slovakia is a member of the Schengen convention all citizens of the member states of this agreement may move freely to Slovakia for tourist, business, starting a new life or any other purpose without the requirement to obtain any sort of a visa document. The only document required to cross the border is an ID card. There are several countries who are outside of the European Union however they are a part of the Schengen convention. These are Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland, and Switzerland. Nationals of countries which are not part of this convention are required to obtain a Schengen visa that will allow them to move freely within the boundaries of the Schengen convention nations. Schengen visa is normally admitted once per half a year for a duration of 90 days. Schengen visa holders can not work or study during their stay within the Schengen boundaries. To drive in Slovakia visitors will need to have their national driving permit, certificate of insurance and car registration documents with them at all times whilst driving. Nationals who hold driving permits from countries which are not part of the EU or the EEA must obtain an international driving permit. Such permit may only be issued by the driving department of visitors origin, therefore, it is vital to arrange this prior to travel. The IDP does not substitute for the national driving permit and must be carried along with it all the time while driving. Citizens of EU and EEA countries are exempt from the requirement of an IDP and may drive using their national driving permits. Winter tires are required by law during heavy snowfalls. Headlights must be used both day and night whilst driving.

Traveling hazards

Roads in Slovakia are generally well maintained. Highways are 4 lanes and connect major cities and neighboring countries however other main roads are usually only 2 lanes. During the winter period, Slovakia usually receives heavy snowfall which lasts from November until March. Whilst highways are properly cleared of snow and ice, secondary roads often lack appropriate care which causes a lot of traffic accidents. Tire Chains are necessary for parts of the country, particularly in the mountainous areas during winter. Lack of illumination on the roads outside of urban areas means driving should be cautious as animals often wander out onto the roads causing many traffic accidents.

Environmental hazards

There are many national parks in Slovakia which give shelter to many different animals. Bears and wolves inhabit Slovakia Tatras and despite their popular reputation, these animals stray from human company. Dangerous encounters and fatal attacks are real however these are extremely rare. Bears and wolves avoid human contact and will retreat if given the opportunity. To avoid a close encounter with any of these whiles on a hike, make as much noise, particularly human noise as possible. Talking loud even to yourself while solo traveling can be life-saving. Upon hearing human noises these animals will attempt to leave the area. Surprising the animal by walking undetected into their close proximity might result in a defensive attack. Approaching any of these particularly when the animal has cubs is almost like a deathwish. If spotting any of these animals from far it is strongly advised just to change the route and walk away. Shortening the distance undetected might result in the earlier mentioned defensive attack. Following these simple guidelines should make your hikes trouble free. Deers are partly responsible for the deaths and injuries of many people however these are not direct attacks. These animals often cross the roads in the most unexpected moments jumping out right before the cars often causing serious accidents on the roads. Ticks are present in almost entire Europe. These parasites carry lyme disease which is very dangerous. The disease attacks organs including the nervous system and joints. Lyme disease is difficult to cure however the earlier discovered the easier it is to cure. Later stages of the disease are extremely hard to treat. Uncured usually kills within 5-10 years. If being bitten by a tick it is important to submit it to a laboratory for lyme disease testing. The quicker the disease is discovered the higher chances at curing it. Slovakia is a landlocked country however it has many lakes and several hot springs are perfectly safe to swim in. Slovakia has no volcanoes and the last earthquake the country experienced had a magnitude of 1.5 and happened 5 years ago causing no damage whatsoever. Slovakia, however, suffers from floods, particularly during snowmelts.

Health hazards

There are currently no outbreaks of any diseases nor are there any requirements in order to enter Slovakia. There are several vaccines which will help you to have a disease free holiday. These vaccinations are the routine vaccine, hepatitis A and B and rabies vaccine. Slovakian public healthcare service provides a good quality of care however it is not comparable to those provided by western European nations. Nonetheless, public hospitals and clinics will deliver quality service. Citizens of EU and EEA who hold the European health insurance card are eligible for free or reduced cost services in the public hospital. Private hospital and clinics will deliver a higher quality of care compared with that of the western European nations and usually have English speaking staff. Private services, however, are not covered by the EHIC and are usually quite expensive. For those who are not eligible for EHIC or are from the outside of EU or EEA, medical insurance is recommended.
In case of an emergency dial 112.

Crime

Slovakia experiences a small level of crime. Violent crime is rare and even rarer for the tourists. Petty crime however just like anywhere else in the world is quite common. Newly arrived visitors unaware of their surroundings are particularly targeted by local pickpockets who often operate in groups and employ a variety of complex tactics in order to steal from tourists. To avoid falling a victim of pickpockets or bag snatchers there are several ways to stay low key. Thieves rely on perception when picking their target. Tourists who wear overly expensive clothes or jewelry and are indiscreet with money will often find themselves to be a target. Keeping a tight grip to your handbag or backpack is advised particularly in crowded tourist areas and public transport. Wearing money belts and storing money, credit cards or IDs in it is a great way to stop thieves lifting those out of your bag or pockets. Naturally the darker it gets the more dangerous it is. Although Slovakia is generally considered safe, there are more instances of crime after dusk than in the day. It is best to use a taxi to get from point A to B and once exploring, to stick to crowded tourist areas. Secluded places should be avoided. Slovak drug laws forbid use, distribution or cultivation of any narcotics.

Summary

As well as castles, hiking, and cycling trails, Slovakia offers an amazing experience during the winter which is a great alternative to the much more expensive French or Italian one. Skiing and a variety of different winter sports are available in Slovakia where snow is present for almost half a year. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
http://www.slovakia.org/visainfo.htm
https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/slovakia-visa/
(Vaccinations)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/slovakia
(EHIC)
http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=559