Central European LCC SkyEurope might've had humble beginnings in Bratislava, and tricked a few people by inventing an airport called "Vienna Bratislava" (which actually meant taking an hour-long bus ride across a border checkpoint after arriving in ordinary old Bratislava). But in recent years they just keep expanding and the deals are still as cheap as ever.

With dozens of flight routes that now center around Bratislava, Prague, Budapest and Krakow, there are more being added every time we turn our head. This October, new flights will include runs to the London Luton airport from Bratislava, Prague and Poprad in the Tatra Mountains, and a connection to Kosice in eastern Slovakia too.

Since they're now showing "all inclusive" prices on their website, it's much easier to be impressed with the bargains: Even at short notice there are heaps of flights on many routes for just €29 (less than $40) including taxes and charges. And last time we flew SkyEurope, the flight attendants wore denim: We like that.

Related Stories:
· Site Scramble: SkyEurope [Jaunted]
· SkyEurope [Official Site]

[Photo: pterjan]]]> amandak 2007-09-11T09:30:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/8/16/231914/413

Sometimes there's nothing quite like feeling a little support on your side, so grab your runnin' crew and head to this week's pick: The Last Legion. The movie's centered on young Romulus Augustus who flees his crumbling city and heads to Britain to track down his very own legion. This is the prequel to the King Arthur legend, for you Knights of the Round table fans out there.

Colin Firth and Ben Kingsley appear, as does stunnig Indian actress Aishwarya Rai. Expect dashing sword flights and misty walks across chilly bogs: Perfect for a humid summer afternoon.

The Last Legion was shot in some stunning locations, including Slovakia. Here are some interesting things to check out in this culturally rich country:

Where To Stay: Hotel Kamila -- Steal away from the bustle of the cities and tuck into Hotel Kamila, an 18th-century château owned by Slovak actress Kamila Magálová. With just 25 rooms, it's known as family-friendly and has activities to keep everyone happy like riding, golf, tennis, and a wellness center with a solarium. Tradition abounds here and the restaurant serves German and French dishes as well as famed Mövenpick coffee.

Where To Snack: Leberfinger -- Perched on the right side of the Danube in Bratislava, Leberfinger has had a checkered past including burning down entirely in 1992. It was reconstructed and now features an outside patio and traditional Slovak cuisine (think deer medallions in hazelnut crust), as well as a downstairs pub for after-dinner beers.

Where To Stroll: Michael's Gate -- This is the only preserved gate of the city's originally built three. It still retains its Gothic design and visitors can climb to the top for a city view, as well as check out antique weapons inside.

Related Stories:
· Slovakia Hotels [HotelChatter]
· Slovakia Travel [Jaunted]

[Photo: pop yoo]]]> sedona 2007-08-17T09:05:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/3/6/214852/9754
Today marks the beginning of a bit of a public transportation festival for Jaunted. All throughout this week and next, our contributors will be focusing on their favorite and least favorite transportation systems around the world, with some valuable tips and memorable anecdotes to come. Join us in celebrating the ultimate travel tool: a cheap way to get around. Share your own stories with us in the comments or by emailing tips [at] jaunted [dot] com.

Slovak capital Bratislava has, it must be said, a pretty good public transportation system. Left over from socialist times when few could bribe the right person for a car, an extensive bus, trolleybus and tram network criss-crosses the city and you really can get nearly everywhere you need to, and for a very fair price. That price, of course, cannot be paid on the tram, but at a ticket machine that is sometimes nearby and sometimes functioning (but usually only takes coins, which you'll never have enough of). You can also buy tickets in blocks from the people who work at small kiosks if you have good sign language skills.

Riding a tram in Bratislava can be a bit of a cultural experience. When I lived there in 2004, it was common to watch a tram pull into the station with a driver wearing no shirt (don't get excited guys, they were always men; and gals: they were nothing special), eating a sandwich with one hand and sending a text message with the other. Obviously trams can steer themselves. Rumor has it that (somewhat sadly, really) they have to wear uniforms now, that is, actual shirts, not just a uniform bare chest.

More after the jump.]]> amandak 2007-03-07T14:58:25-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2006/10/16/53350/491
Harjinder Singh Sidhu, an Indian-born businessman residing in the U.K., has purchased Air Slovakia. The Bratislava-based airline, which has a less than stellar reputation among its customers, is about to be injected with some Punjabi flava. Sidhu told the BBC that his rebranded Air Slovakia will have Punjabi "ambience and flavor," IFE, food, and flight attendants.

The aircrafts will also be facing an identity crisis of sorts, as tickets to and from India will be sold under a Punjabi name, and it seems the planes themselves, at least on those routes, will be dually branded.

Expansion plans are underway, and Sidhu expects that a fresh start will please the airline's heavy load of South Asian passengers. Let's just hope that more legroom is part of the new Indian "flavor."

[Photo: Java Cafe]

Related Stories:
· Fly Air Slovakia for Punjabi experience [BBC]]]> djk 2006-10-16T08:45:30-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2006/8/3/15466/43735
Feeling all environmental and activist-like this month? Then your summer holiday should be in Slovakia, at the Ecotopia festival. The 6-20 August camp for those interested in alternative lifestyles, traditional crafts and permaculture is being held this year in Zajezka, pretty much smack bang in the middle of the Slovak Republic.

Along with enjoying a really green (in both senses) holiday in the mountains, the workshops attached to this fest sound impressive: Activist samba drumming, rebel clowning and large costume making are all featured in the program. We suspect the rebel clowns are the rejects from the Bestival fest in the UK, where the organizers were forced to change the fancy dress theme thanks to the high rate of those with a clown phobia. Hopefully the Ecotopia planners have already checked into possible protests from samba drumming phobics.

[Image via Altered Ego/Flickr

Related stories:
Art and Activism Caravan [indymedia]
Quit Clowning Around [Jaunted]
]]> amandak 2006-08-04T08:45:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2006/5/31/64527/7798
It's not only alcohol that Eastern Europeans are good at drinking. With an unseasonably cool end of May bringing near freezing temperatures to many parts of central Europe, curling up inside a café with a hot chocolate is something we recommend this week.

In Slovakia's tourism-explodes-here-next capital, Bratislava, you just need to locate St. Michael's Gate at the top of the Old Town, then head down a few shops to number six Michalska Street: chocaholic's heaven, Čokoláda, is here. While they claim to make drinks, the glass full of melted chocolate your 70-odd koruna buys you requires a spoon, for sure.

A full page listing more than 30 types of hot chocolate takes time to work through, even if the staff supply you with the English version. Imagine pretty much any possible ingredient (think whisky, tomato juice, ice cream) and you'll find it on the list, though our favorite is the Sudánska with orange pieces, coconut and honey; almost healthy, right? So if you're in Slovakia this week and didn't bring your winter clothes, pig out on a hot chocolate instead. If that doesn't warm the cockles of your heart, many of the 30 types come with a shot of alcohol. It is Eastern Europe, after all.

[Image via Thomas Hawk/Flickr]]]> amandak 2006-05-31T09:45:02-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2006/5/23/104356/602
A Hungarian teacher learnt an important lesson this week: don't teach your students anything, or you could be arrested. He'd taken his history class to nearby Slovak capital Bratislava and was showing them through St Martin Cathedral when police arrested both him and his pupils. The teacher had been giving an unlicensed guided tour, the police alleged: and his students earned arrest by listening.

We've personally tried many a time without success to negotiate St Martin's erratic opening hours, and commend this teacher for even getting inside. What's more, we've heard more than a couple of stories where the police in this area fail to follow even the vague form of the law. It's unclear if there are other circumstances which led to the arrests: perhaps the teacher misinformed his charges on the dimensions of the gold pillow topping the cathedral tower or incorrectly attributed the chapel of St Anna to Anna Kournikova. If you're tripping through Bratislava, we still heartily recommend checking out St Marty's. Just be careful not to sound too knowledgeable when chatting to your traveling partner.

How did the school excursion end? The Hungarian embassy got in on the action secured the group's unharmed release. That'll learn 'em.

[Image via Jamie.Silva/Flickr]

Related stories:
Embassy requests clarification [mti]
Boating to Bratislava [Jaunted]]]> amandak 2006-05-24T09:00:01-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/