Bratislava; the jewel in Slovakia’s crown – February 2005

Bratislava was our next half term adventure. Following the trips to Prague and Budapest, we wanted another city within our reach that offered good value for money. Bratislava, according to reviews, is one of the cheapest cities in Europe. Its currency is the euro.

Bratislava is so pretty, sitting along the banks of the Danube. The old town with its immaculate cobbled streets and Baroque architecture is beautiful. It has an abundance of well-priced bars, cafes and restaurants. The castle sitting on the hill, dominates the city.

Venture further afield for the incredible views from the UFO tower. A little difficult to find on foot but worth it.

Its quaintness makes it very easy to forget you are in a capital city.

We stayed in the top Bratislavan Trip Advisor hotel ‘The Loft’ with its very own Fabrika Beer Pub on-site. The hotel is very close to the Presidential Palace.

A 4 star hotel in the centre of the city – all the major sites within walking distance. Reading the reviews I thought it was too good to be true – mini bar replenished daily, top range coffee machine, complementary snacks, wine dispenser outside our room along with the on-site microbrewery. It certainly did not disappoint! The rooms were extremely well presented. What a fantastic place – another upgrade added to a wonderful experience.

We, like most visitors, did a day trip to Vienna. Very cost effective from Bratislava. The train is direct to Vienna Hauptbahnof and takes just under an hour for less than £16 return. What a bargain. Vienna is another story…