14 Sept 2024 - 11 Nights

3*Sup  Astoria Hotel, Bled (Now fully booked)

(....or our new alternative... Hotel Garni Berc)

4* Lifeclass Hotel, Portoroz

£1625 per person sharing

Single rate £1925

Sorry - Just one single in Hotel Garni Berc

Many travellers have described Slovenia as "Switzerland on a budget!" We wouldn't quite go that far but there are a few similarities and a few obvious differences. Slovenia has its own spectacular  "Triglav" Alps often decked in snow even in summer; there are beautiful lakes such as Bled and Bohinj, crystal clear rivers and lovely villages and medieval towns. The glaring differences are that, firstly Slovenia is on the sea, albeit with a short coastline and, secondly, it's fantastic value for money. Our customers have really enjoyed our previous visits and we look forward to welcoming you in 2024.

 Our first visit to Slovenia on a tour was in 2016 and it was a great success. We have been back a few times since but it was before “Covid”. The accommodation was excellent, as were the meals at the hotels. The spa at the LifeClass hotels was simply jaw-dropping and so too were the spectacular views of the Triglav Mountains and Lake Bled. One week was simply not long enough, so we have decided to return in 2024. We have changed the itinerary to allow a few nights in the stunning Bled area, featuring the lakes and mountains for which Slovenia is noted. We have added new and exciting excursions to give you the maximum benefit from your stay.

Some of the bug-bears of previous visits were flight times and distance to resorts from the airport. We think we have cracked that now! There are new flight schedules from Dublin to Trieste, which is just two hours from Lake Bled and only 45 minutes from Portoroz. Furthermore, the flight times mean no overnights in Dublin and no crazy arrival time back in Ireland.

Astoria Hotel, Bled

Located in the very heart of the historic town of Bled, surrounded by beautiful lakeshore, unspoiled nature, and views to the unique Bled Castle. The hotel has undergone extensive renovations, which has upgraded it to a contemporary ‘eco’ hotel of the 3-star superior category. The rooms have been designed in line with the latest sustainability trends and are equipped with modern amenities. As part of the Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism project, the Slovenian Tourist Board also awarded us the Slovenia Green Accommodation environmental certificate in recognition of its sustainable business model.

Hotel guests are served excellent breakfasts, pampered with delicacies from the self-service buffet in the evenings, and treated attentively by all members of the team during the full duration of their stay.

    We are now fully booked at the Astoria but we have a small number of rooms available in the Hotel Garni Berc, featured below.

Garni Hotel Berc, Bled is a gorgeous Alpine-style hotel, close to the shores of Lake Bled. It earns very high ratings from past guests and each room features a balcony. Breakfast will be taken at the hotel and evening meals at the Astoria Hotel, with the remainder of the group. We have only four rooms here, 3 x double and 1 x single. If you want one, you'll have to move quickly.

LifeClass Hotels Portoroz are a complex of 6 hotels, all of which share many facilities, such as conference, spa, leisure, entertainment. There are 4 of these, which are 4* and we will have one of those. The actual building will be advised nearer the arrival date but they all feature similar facilities and have similar standards and room size. (Alan Couser’s note: I have stayed here before, as have our guests and this has proved to be absolutely fine. There is little difference between the hotels).

“The Meduza Beach, privately operated by LifeClass Hotels is the most beautiful and exclusive beach on the Adriatic.“ So says the hotel but they are not far wrong. "Beach" here means a large, grassed area, with a seashore promenade, both equipped with deck-chairs, loungers and umbrellas. Meduza boasts top-quality services. The pavement made of white Istrian stone blends with the blue colours of the sea and the fresh image of the well-tended green lawns. In the shade of the Life on the Beach Bar, guests can choose from selected daily fresh summer salads and snacks, fresh fruit, a great selection of ice-creams as well as various refreshments and fine beverages. The beach is situated close to the hotels, just along the promenade in the centre of Portoroz and boasts an exceptionally beautiful location in the Bay of Piran..

The spa facilities at LifeClass Hotels are unequalled in Portoroz and rate amongst the very best in all of Slovenia and Europe. Residents of the hotel receive excellent discounts on entrance and treatment charges. We highly recommend this spa as a great way to relax and unwind during your holiday.

Breakfast and Dinner are buffet style and have always been of a good standard. Tea, coffee and table-water are included in the cost of your holiday 

 14 Sept 2024 - 11 Nights

3*Sup Astoria Hotel, Bled (Fully booked)

Garni Hotel Berc, Bled (Alternative)

4* Lifeclass Hotel, Portoroz

£1625 per person sharing at Hotel Berc

Single supp £395

Extra and Upgrades

Extra legroom on flights                    £15 per journey

Sea-View Room in Portoroz              £120 per room

Balcony Room in Portoroz                £120 per room

(Note that Balcony rooms may or may not have sea-view)

Included in holiday cost:

• Return flights Dublin to Trieste with Ryanair.

• 20kgs checked luggage plus

         one small piece cabin baggage

• Luxury coach transfers airport to/from hotel

• 4 Nights at 3*Sup Astoria Hotel, Lake Bled

• 7 Nights at 4* LifeClass Hotel Complex, Portoroz

• 11 Excellent buffet breakfasts and

               10 evening meals

• Half-day excursion to Ljubljana

• Full-day excursion to Trieste

• Visit to world-famous Postojna Caves

• Walking excursion to Piran

• Optional excursion programme

• All taxes and local charges

• Reduced price access to spa complex

• Full ATOL protection

• Escorted throughout by Alan Couser

 Excursions:

Some excursions are included in the cost of the holiday.

 Lake Bohinj with cable-car ride into the Triglav Mountains, part of the stunning Slovenian Alps.     

£85pp (Limited to just 16 people - so book early

This journey is by private car, enabling us to get right into the heart of the mountains. After an early departure from the hotel, we drive for about thirty minutes to Ukanc on the shores of Lake Bohinj. We then travel by cable-car up to 1523 metres above sea-level (approx 5000 ft), where there is an opportunity for a short walk of approximately one mile. Before returning to the valley below, call in for a light lunch of mountain stew with bread and apple pie (included in the cost). Then it's back to to the hotel just in time for a swim or a sauna before your evening meal.

Numbers on this tour are strictly limited. Please call urgently to secure your place. 07808 366930.

Half-Day trips to Izola and/or Koper

These are not included but only cost a few Euro each. Both of these gorgeous towns can be reached by local bus and are well worth the visit. We have no plans to escort these trips but, if we plan to go ourselves, you are welcome to tag along. Otherwise, it is very easy and cheap to get there and back. We will give you all the info in resort.

Ljubljana Day Trip (Included in cost of holiday)

This is by regular local bus, which operates hourly, to the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana. One of Europe's "newest" capitals. Ljubljana is a picturesque, small city, easily traversed on foot. Along the river Ljubljanica many tavernas and restaurants vie for trade. offering very reasonably priced lunches and drinks. The daily market is a huge draw, offering a great range of food-stuffs, clothes and souvenirs. Great place, too, for lunch.  A trip on the funicular cable-car will bring you up to the city's castle, which dominates the entire area, offering splendid views of the Slovenian Alps and the city below. (Castle and funicular are extra and optional but only cost a few Euro)

Trieste (Included in cost of holiday)

Situated just a few miles from Portoroz is the historic city of Trieste in Italy. Tucked inside the Slovenian border, this frontier city simply bristles with life. Variously owned or occupied by the Romans, Habsburgs, Mussolini’s regime, Germans and Allied Forces, it only finally returned to Italy in 1954. A jumble of architectural styles, magnificent neoclassical buildings line the Piazza Unita d'Italia and the Canal Grande. The superb Museo Revoltella, housing stunning works of art and adorned by grand chandeliers and intricate marquetry is surrounded by top Viennese-style coffee shops; Illy has its HQ here. You will not fail to be impressed. Note this excursion may be by ferry or by minibus, depending on weather and availability.

Piran (Included in cost of holiday)

This is a walking tour along the coast to the pretty little town of Piran. Made wealthy by its salt flats and its great location, Piran resembles Venice, or at least its buildings do. Stroll along the harbour, climb up to the ramparts, enjoy a seafood lunch at one of the many locandas which line the coast or just sit in the sqaure and watch the world go by. (There is also an alternative to travel by bus for those not able to walk the 8km return trip)

Visit to Postojna Caves.      (Included)

Explore the world famous Postojna Cave, located in the Karst region and we will spend approximately three hours here.. We travel here on the day we transfer from Lake Bled to Portoroz.  Enter the mysterious, more than 20 km long Karst cave system, with its great underground galleries and halls. Magnificent cavernous halls with impressive sculptures as well as their colours will take your breath away. A part of the visit is made on an electric train and a part of it as a guided walking tour. The visit of the cave lasts approx. 1 ½ hour. The temperature in the cave is around 10°C/50ºF. Walking shoes and jackets are recommended.

For those who do not wish to visit the caves, for whatever reason, we will give you €20 towards a lunch at the restaurant instead.

Optional Excursions

Various Walking Tours and other local trips.

During your stay, your host Alan will offer various walks, from dead easy to more challenging. There may be some small costs involved if buses and/or trains are required.

The resort offers a number of other opportunities, such as boat trips, excursions to the Lipica Stud Farm, famous for the beautiful Lipizaner Ponies, tours into Croatia and Italy. All of these can be booked locally.

Full-day tour to Triglav Mountains by coach

(Approximate cost £85 per person)

At time of printing, we do not have full details of this tour and, indeed, it may not even operate. The tour would commence in Bled and travel north, stopping at various points. The ultimate destination is the viewing point for Mount Triglav, the highest mountain in Slovenia. More details in May/June 2024.