Slovenia is one of the smallest states in Europe with a population of only two million which is surpassed by the number of tourists coming to the country each year. Almost ⅔ of the country is covered in beautiful lush forests. The Slovenian Alps located in the Triglavski national park are an incredible place to visit for hiking and mountain climbing. The small 43 km stretch of the Adriatic coast provide Slovenia with beautiful sandy beaches and incredible leisure opportunities.

Traveling info

Because Slovenia is a member of the Schengen convention all citizens of the member states of this agreement may move freely to Slovenia 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. Those tourists who wish to drive in Slovakia must have their national license, certificate of insurance and vehicle registration documents. Nationals of non-EU/EEA member states, must have their international driving permit with them whilst drive. Such document is only issued by the driving department of the visitors country of origin and does not substitute for the original driving license which must be always carried along with the IDP. EU and EEA nationals are exempt from this requirement and may use their national driving permit without any limitations. Between 15th November and 15th of March winter tires are mandatory. To drive on the Slovenian highways vignettes are required. Vignettes are a highway toll in the form of a sticker. Once bought the sticker should be placed on the inside of the windshield. Vignettes may be purchased at any gas station in the country with a 10 day, month or yearly duration.

Driving hazards

Driving in Slovenia is generally considered safe. There is low traffic congestion however with the increasing number of cars it is rising. There is a well-developed highway system which connects all major cities and neighboring countries. Driving outside of the urban areas particularly at night should be done in a careful manner as animals often wander onto the roads frequently causing traffic accidents.

Environmental hazards

Although Slovenia is quite small a large part of it is covered by forest which allows animals to flourish. There is a significant brown bear population in Slovenia given the country size. There are over 500 bears inhabiting Slovenian forests. Roughly up to 3 attacks happen yearly in Slovenia however there have been no fatalities since the 70s. These attacks mostly concern hunters and people who do not follow the guidelines when hiking through woods. These animals usually avoid human contact and will retreat if given the opportunity. To allow a bear to retreat, hikers should make as much noise as possible whilst in the wilderness. Bears upon hearing human noises will normally try to get away. This, however, does not apply when hikers happen to be too close to a bear especially when there are cubs around. Surprising a bear usually results in a defensive attack which very rarely is fatal, nonetheless, it is very brutal due to the sheer power and size of the animal. There are around 50 wolves in the country and despite their reputation, these animals avoid humans as much as possible however local livestock is sometimes preyed upon. There are three species of vipers to be found in Slovenia. Two of them have a mild venom which is rarely fatal. These are the asp viper and the common European viper with the first one to be found in the southwest of the country whilst the common European viper inhabits most of the country. The third species is known as the horned viper. This snake is considered to have the strongest venom in Europe and is considered to be very dangerous especially in remote areas where there is no immediate access to antivenom. Ticks are particularly dangerous due to the disease they carry. These small parasites bite people when such opportunity arises. Lyme disease is dangerous and should be treated as soon as possible. Early stages of the disease are quite difficult to cure while later stages are almost impossible. The disease attacks organs including the nervous system and joints. Untreated the disease kills within 5 years. If bitten by a tick it is strongly recommended to submit it to a laboratory for Lyme disease testing. The quicker the disease is discovered the easier it is to cure. There is a species of Scorpions which can only be found along the coastal region of Slovenia however their sting is comparable to that of a bumblebee. Slovenia has quite a limited access with a 43 kilometer stretch of Adriatic coast. Although there has only been one recorded shark attack in the history of the country, there have been numerous in the neighboring states. Swimming after dusk is not advised due to increased activity of sharks. Swimming with bleeding cuts is also advised against. Other than the almost impossible shark attack there are no major threats in the Adriatic waters.
Slovenia experiences earthquakes, however, these rarely reach high magnitudes. Floods in the country happen more often and are responsible for a lot of damage to infrastructure and urban areas.

Health hazards

There are currently no outbreaks of any diseases in Slovenia nor are there are vaccination requirements in order to enter the country. There are however several recommended vaccines which will help to keep your trip disease free. These vaccines are the routine vaccines, hepatitis A and B and the rabies vaccine. The public healthcare system in Slovenia provides a free service for its citizens if they are insured by their employer which automatically covers their dependents. Expats, however, must pay for the received service. European health insurance card holders are exempt from paying or receive service at a greatly reduced cost. Only citizens of the EU and EEA states may apply for such card. Those outsides of the EU or EEA should consider purchasing health insurance to cover possible medical expenses which may come at quite a cost. Both public and private facilities provide a high quality of service however services provided by private hospitals and clinics come at a higher cost. Due to the high influx of tourists to the country, most hospitals and clinics have English speaking physicians and staff.
In case of an emergency dial 112.

Crime

Slovenia is a safe country. Violent crime is very low and decreasing however petty crime like anywhere else in the world is common. Opportunistic theft such as bag snatching and pickpocketing is a problem. This, however, can be avoided by keeping about your wits. Pickpockets usually operate in groups in around crowded tourist areas and on public transport and employ a variety of sophisticated tactics to stay unnoticed. To avoid pickpockets keeping your valuables close is important. Keep a good grip on your bag or handbag and try to avoid overly crowded places. This particularly applies to heavily congested places where walking around without physically bumping or touching anyone is almost impossible. Wearing money belts is a great way to keep money, credit cards or IDs safe. Thieves often pick their targets by perceiving their wealth, therefore, wearing overly expensive clothes and expensive jewelry increases the chances of becoming a victim. Although nightlife in Slovenia is considered safe, it is advised to avoid wandering around particularly solo and in secluded places. It is best to hire a taxi to travel from point A to B at night. Slovenian drug laws state that minor possession for personal use is not a criminal offense and is punishable by a fine of 40 up to 200 euro. Possession of greater quantities, production or distribution is punishable by 1 up to 15 years in prison.

Summary

Apart from the incredible landscape, castles, and museums, Slovenia is a mix of Italian and Balkan cuisine which makes a great place to dine. Major cities in Slovenia are full of town squares where restaurants are almost abundant. Do not forget to visit the caves of Slovenia which are some of the most extensive in Europe. 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)
https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/slovenia-visa/
(Vaccinations)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/slovenia
(EHIC)
http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=559