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Ski Slovakia

© Roxanne Nelson

With the break-up of the Soviet Union, the face of Europe underwent its greatest change since WW II. Germany reunified, to much media fanfare. The former Soviet Republics grappled with their new freedom, some violently and others a little more peacefully. Yugoslavia broke into pieces and the beautiful city of Sarajevo, once home to the Olympic games, hit center stage as a bloody war engulfed the area now known as Bosnia. But attracting far less attention than any of the others rewriting the map, the nation of Czechoslovakia ceased to exist on January 1, 1993, for the second time this century. Beginning as the "Velvet Revolution" in November of 1989 - thus named because the Communist government was deposed diplomatically and without bloodshed - the nation eventually underwent a "Velvet Divorce." Some rather complex issues faced the new democratic and newly renamed Czechoslovak Republic, one being an increasing insistence among the Slovak minority for more autonomy. Eventually, the best solution appeared to be to divide the country, and thus the Czech and Slovak Republics were born, or reborn, depending on one's perspective.

The Czech Republic, and in particular the city of Prague, is far better known and has become a tourist mecca. It has also acquired some of the less appealing aspects of a tourist hot spot, including overbooked hotels and predatory pricing. By contrast Slovakia is largely undeveloped, and its mountain villages maintain traditional ways of life. While blighted in places by post WW II industrialization, particularly in the east by giant steel mills, industrial complexes and the resulting pollution, much of the land is mountainous and strikingly beautiful. And because Slovakia has not had the same rush of tourism as its neighbor, prices are still quite low, with good value for the money.

Besides the capital city of Bratislava, visitors tend to flock to Central Slovakia, attracted to its breathtaking mountain scenery, which is perforated by limestone caves and blanketed with thick forests. The High and Low Tatras are very accessible to visitors and are a great place to visit in the winter if you're in search of ski slopes. Skiing the Tatras is relatively inexpensive as compared to other areas in Europe, and while the crowds are growing, it is still possible to find quiet valleys and slopes all your own.

The Low Tatras

Undoubtedly one of Slovakia's most popular mountain resort areas, with most of the area lying within the confines of the 810 sq. km Low Tatras National Park. The best known and developed ski resort is Demanovska dolina or Demanovska Valley, located near the town of Liptovsky Mikulas, which is the base for visiting the Low Tatras. The valley and the national park begin near the village of Pavcina Lehota, about 6 km from the center of Liptovsky Mikulas. From there you can travel up into the mountains for another 10 km and seek out a room in the Jasna region, which encompasses a collection of hotels and chalets. Winter is the most popular season, and room prices and availability prove that. While there are a number of hotels in the area, the chances of getting a room in winter without prior reservations can be nearly nil. Prices may also rise 40% or more over other seasons, as is customary during high season wherever you go. The ski season usually lasts until April.

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