American internet magazine Budget Travel has included Slovakia among the 10 best and most affordable vacation destinations for 2013. The magazine took into account flight ticket prices, hotels, cultural events, current exchange rates and other factors, the TASR newswire reported on December 7.
“After their amicable split in 1993, the Czech Republic and Slovakia took very different approaches to singledom,” reads the Budgettravel.com website. “The Czech Republic, led by majestic Prague, became a major stop on the backpacker circuit and eventually caught on with jetsetters. Slovakia, on the other hand, has always remained more of a quiet hidden gem.”
Yet, after 20 years of its existence, with one of the fastest growing economies in the EU, Slovakia finally seems ready for its close-up.
“In recent years, the capital Bratislava has seen the construction of a luxury riverside five-star resort and a brand-new community-run Jewish cultural center,” the article continues, pointing to numerous attractions, including Kempinski River Park Hotel, the new five-star complex on the Danube riverside, and the newly established Jewish cultural centre. Highlighted is the fact that prices for such things are half that of nearby Vienna.
The Budget Travel magazine also pointed to the second biggest city in Slovakia, Košice, which will become the 2013 European Capital of Culture. The magazine observed that even though Košice, the history of which goes back to the 12th century, has numerous historical sights to offer, the focus in 2013 will be put on the future, as the city plans to organise exhibitions of contemporary art, experimental theatre and other cultural events throughout the year.
Source: TASR, Budgettravel.com
Compiled by Radka Minarechová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
