Taking the A4 from Wrocław to Silesia and from there to Slovakia is approx. 4 hours by car. That's why more and more residents of the capital of Lower Silesia select Slovak ski resorts: Chopok Jasna and Tatranska Lomnica as their winter holiday destination. Those who choose to travel after January 1 must remember about electronic vignettes for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes, in force in Slovakia from 2016. They replaced the traditional windscreen sticker vignettes.
'The purchase of vignettes is confirmed by a receipt. Special scanners installed by roadsides scan the registration numbers of the vehicles. If the car has no vignette purchased, such information reaches the central system, and on this basis, the motorway police stops the vehicle. The fine, which can also be sent by mail, is 200 euros, so there is no point in going without a vignette,' explains Jàn Bošnovič, director of the National Centre for Slovak Tourism in Poland.
How to buy Slovak electronic vignettes?
Electronic vignettes can be purchased at selected petrol stations in Slovakia, at sales points and self-service vending machines at border crossings, through the website www.eznamka.sk or via a smartphone or tablet through a mobile application, "eznamka".
Website www.eznamka.sk was developed in 6 languages, including Polish. Purchasing an 'e-vignette' on-line is very simple. At a purchase you need to enter the vehicle registration number, country of registration of the vehicle and provide your credit card number. If you wish to receive a purchase confirmation for an e-vignette, you must also enter your e-mail address. When you buy e-vignettes at petrol stations or at the border crossing sales points, you can pay with cash or credit card.
Prices of electronic vignettes in 2016 are the same as in previous years. The shortest term e-vignette, for 10-days, costs 10 euros, the monthly is 14 euros, and yearly is 50 euros. Motorcycles are exempt from tolls on Slovakian motorways and express roads.
Tatranska Lomnica Bukovahora, source: National Centre for Slovak Tourism in Poland
Slovak ski resorts are waiting for Lower Silesia citizens
'Why going in the Alps when you can go to the Tatra Mountains. It's closer and cheaper,' say the Slovaks. In winter, approx. 100 centres and over 500 kilometres of ski slopes await tourists. It is estimated that approx 150 000 Polish skiers leave for Slovakia.
'Slovakia is closer, and the conditions are comparable with the best alpine resorts. In the past 7 years the Slovaks have invested approx. 250 million euro in ski infrastructure, hotels and thermal water parks,' says Leon Susmanek, representative of the Honorary Consulate of the Slovak Republic in Wrocław.
Just a 3-4 hour drive allows the Lower Silesia residents can see how the money was spent. And there is plenty for tourists to choose from in Slovakia. And if skiing is not enough excitement, you can explore the numerous castles or go several meters under ground and see the charming caves. They are visited by 60,000 visitors annually. Almost half of them are Poles. And after all those attractions - Slovaks have something more to offer - a hot bath in one of 40 thermal spring centres.
Oravice Ski&Aqua, source: the National Centre for Slovak Tourism in Poland
'I personally recommend ski resorts Jasna Chopok, Strbske Pleso, Tatranská Lomnica, Donovaly, Vratna - Mala Fatra, Kubínska Hola and Velka Raca, where there are slopes for families with excellent skiing infrastructure,' says Jan Bošnovič.
Sample prices - a lunch in Slovakia costs 3-4 euro. Prices of all-day passes range from 15 to 37 euro (Jasna Chopok). The most attractive are 6-day passes, which in the case of bad weather and fatigue, serve as tickets to the thermal water parks. Private accommodation costs 7-10 euros, in pensions 15 euros, and in hotels 15-30 euro per night.
What is important, an obligation of wearing a helmet for those under 15 years of age has been introduced, starting from this year's season. Young skiers not wearing a helmet can get a fine of 330 euro and be removed from the slope by the manager of the ski resort.
