Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
shows the poet France Prešeren (1800-49) and a line from his poem 'Zdravljica' ('A
Toast'), which forms part of the Slovenian national anthem.
» On the three lowest-denomination coins - €0.01, €0.02 and €0.05 (all copper) - are a
stork, the stone where the 8th-century Carantanian dukes were installed, and
The Sower
by painter Ivan Grohar (1867-1911). The other three coins are brass. On the €0.10 coin is
a design for a parliament by architect Jože Plečnik (1872-1957) that was never built and
the words '
Katedrala Svobode
' (Cathedral of Freedom). The €0.20 coin features a pair of
Lipizzaner horses prancing. The stunning and very symbolic €0.50 coin shows Mt Triglav,
the Cancer constellation (under which independent Slovenia was born) and the words '
Oj
Triglav moj dom
' ('O Triglav, my home').
ATMs
Automated teller machines (ATMs) - called
bančni avtomat
- are ubiquitous throughout
Slovenia. If you have a card linked to either the Visa/Electron/Plus or the MasterCard/
Maestro/Cirrus network then you can withdraw euros anywhere. Both Abanka and SKB
Banka ATMs are linked to both networks but some smaller banks only link to one or other
of the networks.
Credit Cards
Visa, MasterCard/Eurocard and American Express credit cards are widely accepted at ho-
tels, restaurants, shops, car-rental firms, petrol stations and travel agencies. Diner's Club
is also accepted but less frequently.
Visa cardholders can get cash advances from any Abanka branch, Eurocard/MasterCard
holders from a Nova Ljubljanska Banka or SKB Banka. American Express clients can get
an advance from the main office of
Atlas Express
( 01-430 77 20; Slovenska cesta 56;
8am-5pm Mon-Fri)
in Ljubljana, but the amount is usually limited to €600 in travellers
cheques for Green Card holders, €1200 for Gold Card holders and €3600 for Platinum
Card holders. American Express customers who want to report a lost or stolen card or
travellers cheques should also call here or on 01-568 0300. They can both replace
cards (although you must know the account number) and make refunds for lost or stolen
American Express travellers cheques.
If you have problems with your Visa card, call the
A Banka Visa Centre
( 01-471
81 00)
in Ljubljana. Eurocard and MasterCard holders should call
Nova Ljubljanska
Banka
( 476 39 00;
www.nlb.si
;
Trg Republike 2; 8am-6pm Mon-Fri)
or
SKB
Banka
( 01-433 21 32)
.
Diners Club
( 01-589 61 33)
is based in Bežigrad, a
northern suburb of Ljubljana.
