Traveler Tips

TIPS FOR VISITORS TO SLOVENIA

 

Time Zone Conversions:

During the 2005 QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup, Slovenia is 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

When it is midnight in Ljubljana during the 2005 QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup, it is:

Midnight (0000 hrs) in Amsterdam, Netherlands; Belgrade, Yugoslavia; Berlin, Germany; Budapest, Hungary; Copenhagen, Denmark; Gibraltar; Madrid, Spain; Oslo, Norway; Paris, France; Rome, Italy; Stockholm, Sweden; Warsaw, Poland, Zurich, Switzerland; Prague, Czech Republic; Lagos, Nigeria

0100 / 1 a.m. in Athens, Greece; Helsinki, Finland; Istanbul, Turkey; Tel Aviv, Israel; Riga, Latvia; Talinn, Estonia; Johannesburg, South Africa; Cairo, Egypt; Amman, Jordan; Beirut, Lebanon

0200 / 2 a.m. in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Dubai, UAE; Doha, Qatar; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Baghdad, Iraq; Moscow, Russia

0330 / 3.30 a.m. in Tehran, Iran

0400 / 4 a.m. in Tashkent, Uzbekistan; Almaty, Kazakhstan

0430 / 4.30 am in New Delhi, India

0445 / 4.45 am in Kathmandu, Nepal

0500 / 5 a.m. in Rangoon (Yangon), Myanmar

0600 / 6.00 a.m. Jakarta, Indonesia; Bangkok, Thailand

0700 / 7 a.m. in Beijing, China; Hong Kong; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Manila, Philippines; Perth, Australia; Singapore; Taipei, Taiwan Macao, the same day

0800 / 8 a.m. in Seoul, Korea; Tokyo, Japan

0930 hrs / 9.30 a.m. in Adelaide, Australia (Daylight Savings Time, or DST)

1000 / 10 a.m in Sydney, Australia (DST)

Noon in Wellington, New Zealand (DST)

1300 / 1 p.m. in Honolulu USA

1500 / 3 p.m. in Los Angeles USA; Vancouver, Canada

1600 / 4 p.m.. in Denver, USA; Edmonton, Canada

1700 / 5 p.m in Chicago, USA; Mexico City, Mexico; Winnipeg, Canada; San Salvador, El Salvador; Tegucigalpa, Honduras; Guatemala City, Guatemala

1800 / 6 p.m. in Bogota, Colombia; Lima, Peru; Kingston, Jamaica; Montreal, Canada; Nassau, Bahamas; New York City, USA; Toronto, Canada

1900 / 7 p.m. in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Caracas, Venezuela; La Paz, Bolivia

2000 / 8 p.m. in Santiago, Chile; Asuncion, Paraguay (DST); Buenos Aires, Argentina;

2100 / 9 pm. in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (DST)

2300 hrs/11pm in Reykjavik, Iceland; Casablanca, Morocco; Dublin, Ireland; London, England; Lisbon, Portuga

Electrical Considerations:
The electrical current in Slovenia is 220 watts, 50 cycles AC. Those with equipment which is other than this will need a converter and these are readily available in electrical stores.

Banking Hours and Currency Exchange:
The national currency of Slovenia is the Tolar. The exchange rate is approximately 1 Euro to 240 Tolar, 1 US Dollar to 185 Tolar and 1 � sterling to 350 Tolar. Changing money is easy in the many banks and exchanges around Ljubljana. Euros are widely accepted. ATMs are also readily available throughout the city.

Telephone Calls
The country code for Slovenia is 386. Calls to overseas numbersrequire the �00� code followed by the country code, area code and destination telephone number; however, World Cup bowlers and guests will be required to pay for any local or overseas telephone calls they place from their rooms at the Marina Mandarin. All telephone charges are the responsibility of the person who incurs them.

Mobile phones from overseas can be operated in Slovenia, but you may need to consult your network provider.

What to do
Sightseeing tours around Ljubljana or further afield are available through the World Cup official tour agency, Globtours. There will be a Globtours representative in the Hotel Grand Union; please contact the desk if you wish to book a trip.

Within Ljubljana itself there is plenty to see and do, much of it within easy walking distance of the Grand Hotel Union. The Church of the Annunciation is close by, at the edge of Preseren Square with its statue of Slovenia�s greatest poet, Franc Preseren. Stand by the statue and follow the direction of his eyes to see his beloved Julia!

The triple bridge is a landmark of the city and a unique gateway into the old town. Further along the river is the dragon bridge, recalling the legend of the city�s founding. It is said that Jason and the Argonauts were fleeing from King Aites, from whom they had stolen the golden fleece. They sailed from the Black Sea, up the Danube into the Sava and from the Sava to the Ljubljanica. Here he encountered a terrible monster which he fought and killed. This monster was the Ljubljana dragon which is now commemorated as a statue on the dragon bridge and in the coat of arms of the city, a flag of which flies proudly over the castle.

Crossing the river over the triple bridge, you come to the Cathedral of St. Nicholas with many points of interest. Close by is the market � a good place to shop whether during the week or at the Saturday flea market.

The castle (Ljubljanski Grad) which dominates the town is easily reached by the tourist train which runs every hour from Preseren Square. Archaeological research has shown the continuous presence of man at the castle since the 12th century. The view over the city from the castle is spectacular.

A three-day privilege card � the Ljubljana card � is on sale for 3,000 tolar and is valid for three days. Ii entitles the visitor to free or discount tickets to museums, galleries and event, free travel on city buses and discounts on taxi fares, lower prices on guided sightseeing tours and some shopping discounts.

There is a tourist information office just across the triple bridge from our hotel and staff there will be pleased to help.

In addition there are numerous excellent cafes and restaurants in the old city. Much of the architecture around the city is dates from the beginning of the last century and wherever you look you will see examples of classic art nouveau.