Slovakia - Eastern Europe - page 615

higher than 150 Sk to 200 Sk ($5-$7/£2.75-£3.70). Two reputable agencies include
Fun Taxi ( & 02/16111 ) and Euro Taxi ( & 02/16022 ).
BY BIKE The car-free Old Town is easily negotiated by bike, but there are few
rental shops around. The rest of the city is less bike-friendly, with trolley buses, trams,
and traffic to contend with.
VISITOR INFORMATION
The main Tourist Information Center is located inside the Old Town (Klobu c nícka ul.
2; & 02/5443 - 3715; www.bratislava.sk). The staff is efficient at supplying maps and
suggestions of all kinds, as well as helping to arrange transportation and accommoda-
tions. The Bratislava Tourist Service, also in the Old Town (Ventúrska ul. 9; & 02/
5464 - 1271; www.bratislava-info.sk) is a separate but equally helpful office, where you'll
find plenty of maps and booklets as well as helpful suggestions on what to see and where
to sleep. The office runs daily walking tours (in English and German). For a more fun
tour, head to Hlavné nám. in the Old Town to catch the little red trolley through the
Old Town. Tours last 30 minutes and are great for a quick orientation ( & 0903 -
302 - 817; www.presporacik.sk). Nick's Bike Tours (Medená 15; & 0915 - 153 - 265;
www.nicksbiketours.com) offers off-the-beaten-track bicycle and walking tours, both
within Bratislava and in the surrounding countryside, from July 1 through October.
WHERE TO STAY
You may experience sticker-shock on arrival in Bratislava. The city attracts relatively
few individual travelers and most of the properties are aimed at businessmen on
expense accounts and the odd coach tour from Germany and Austria. If you do decide
on one of the luxury hotels, bear in mind that it never hurts to bargain. Even the most
expensive hotels have been known to slash rack rates on slow nights.
At the other end of the spectrum are private rooms. These, understandably, vary
greatly in comfort, cleanliness, and location. Some are real gems, situated in or near
the Old Town and presided over by Slovak grannies who make sure everything is spot-
less. Others are less desirable, in public housing estates in far-flung residential neigh-
borhoods. If you decide to go the private room route, insist on a room within
comfortable walking or tram distance from the Old Town. Check www.bratislava
hotels.sk for a good general overview of hotels, pensions, and private rooms.
VERY EXPENSIVE
Carlton Once the rather dowdy Grande Dame of Bratislava's prewar hotels,
the Carlton has gotten a multimillion-dollar face-lift courtesy of the Radisson hotel
chain and the result is easily Slovakia's finest hotel. You'll find everything you would
expect from a leading international hotel, packed into a lovely 19th-century neoclas-
sical building, along one of the city's leading squares. It's convenient to the Old Town,
the river, and all of the city's cultural facilities. The staff will cater to every whim.
Hviezdoslavovo nám. 3. & 02/5939-0000. Fax [phone]. www.radissonas.com. 168 units. 7,200 Sk ($240/£132)
double. AE, DC, MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant; spa; concierge; business center; shopping arcade; salon; 24-hr. room
service; dry-cleaning; nonsmoking rooms. In room:A/C, TV, dataport, minibar, coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron, safe.
Devin A quirky, local alternative to the Carlton if you're looking to spend high-
end money, but don't necessarily want a prefab chain experience. The Devin dates
from the 1950s and was once the hotel of choice for visiting Communist dignitaries.
It's been thoroughly scoured and spruced up since then, but you'll still find a sort of