Bojnice Travel Forum

My wife and I will be staying in Bojnice for several days in August and will have arrived by bus from Prague. I would like to visit at least one more area such as the High Tatras for several days. Is this area reachable by bus or would I have to rent a car?

Check this http://www.eurolines.sk/ for bus.
Car is more confortable. Depend on You

Slovakia is very well connected via bus, but is somewhat of a pain. A rental car may be a good alternative, but with the huge gypsy problem, there is a good chance they'll steal your car. The car theft rate in Slovakia is VERY high.

Oh NO NO,
in High Tatras are No gypsy. In Bojnice ? NO.
HUGE GYPSY PROBLEM ! ;o(((
Problems in Slovakia ? Like problems in all central Europe countries.
Not good idea put these "good infos" to forum.

As Bojnice is a part of the town Prievidza, the best is to catch the train with the direction to Kosice or Poprad via High Tatras, it is very comfortable and not that expenisve as hire the car. After arriving to Poprad there is connection via special train right to the High Tatras. If any help, contact me :)

I took the train from Poprad to the Tatras and found it pretty easy and nice.
I have come across my share of Gypsies in that area, but if someone who lives there has more info, then I defer to their insight...

As Marian noted, I may have been too terse in my warnings of auto theft an gypsy problems. I do have friends who have had automobiles stolen, and know also that there is a tremendous surcharge for a rental car in Austria that is to be taken to Slovakia. Any Slovak I asked warned me against driving a rental car...
I have traveled around Slovakia many times and have found it to be beautiful and the Slovaks to be very nice and generous.
Slovensky Raj is a great day of hiking and the Tatras are WONDERFUL!
Have a GREAT trip and enjoy Slovakia!

Yeah the problem of stealing car is a problem but problem of all countries around so it depends. My friends who came by their cars (not so great and not so new) hadn't any problem... this can happen also anywhere in the world that they will steal your car. People here are mainly generous and hospitable but be careful if there is a bigger group of Gypsies. This is not the prejudice or so but reality. Especially in the Eastern Slovakia there are villages full of poor Gypsies and meet them isn't that pleasure :) but all in all Slovakia is not that dangerous country.

We go to Slovakia every year on holiday (ski-ing and walking) and always drive from London via Poland as my wife is from Katowice. Our car is 4 years old at present and I have Never, ever felt threatened or that the car is unsafe in any part of the country. We have stayed int he east where there are more gypsies and in the west where there are less. They are to be pittied rather than feared - it sounds very wet and liberal but life has dealt them a very bad hand which I admit, they do little to try and improve themselves. However, if you are going to Bojnice I would really reccomend that you do hire a car since bus travel leaves a bit to be desired. We live in London and are used to very frequent services and the long haul routes in Slovakia are evry couple of hours in some cases and many people report that the bus timetables are confusing and in many cases not at the stops. If you want to do something that will knock you out - go to the ice cave at Demanovska Dolina. It is a couple of hours by car and if you use the main roads not at all stressful. This will be the most incredible sight you have ever seen- trust me. This cave is frozen solid and breath taking in its beauty. In August you will climb up the track from the car park thinking you are going to faint in the heat. Then, as the door to the cave opens, it is like walking into a deep freezer. The tour takes about an hour so make sure you have a coat in your bag or you will be really cold. Bojnice often has events in the Summer with costumed actors and birds of prey featuring.amongst them. Another place I would reccomend you visit is the hunting lodge at Betliar - this is in a large landscaped "english park" with romantic follies dotted around. To see these things a car is really essential or you will waste your holiday waiting for trains/buses and miss so much of what is a beautiful country.

And there in the area of Bojnice you also should find great must seen tips :) such as Cicmany village, special architectural jewel, the village well preserved with special painted houses and also Rajecka Lesna where is situated the largest wooden Betlehem consisting of almost everything in Slovakia. Check my Slovakia and other connected pages to see it. :)