Hidden Gems Of Slovakia & The Czech Republic

Our Clients’ Reviews

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

Average Review Rating: from 6 reviews.

rachel nockels

HIDDEN GEMS OF SLOVAKIA & THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Written September 2012
Hidden Gems of Slovakia and the Czech Republic is an amazing look into a rarely visited but very beautiful part of Central Europe. You can see the Communist influence everywhere but slowly each nation is starting to regain its individual charm. The people are so warm and friendly.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The night tour of Bojnice Castle, very scary but so amazing
What did you think of your group leader?
Viera was very knowledgable and passionate about her country, its people and the past, present and future. She explain everything in great detail and gave lots of suggestions for free afternoons. She also started to teach us Slovakian
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take Euros and Czech Korunas as whilst in Moravia they will not willing take Euro's.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This is a great trip with an insight to a small part of Europe.
Stephen Winsor

HIDDEN GEMS OF SLOVAKIA & THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Written September 2011
Central and Eastern Europe are my favourite destinations, but this was much the best holiday that I have had there. Slovakia is a wonderfully unspoiled country and as untouristy as they come. It is very beautiful and packed with fascinating places to visit.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Bojnice Castle by lamp light, dinner with Gypsy musicians playing, Tatra Tea!!!! Banska Stiavnica, Mikulov, Lednice.
What did you think of your group leader?
Zuzana Gašparová is the best tour leader that I have ever travelled with. Full of enthusiasm, a superb command of English and a wealth of information about the places visited. Her knowledge of the country allowed us to see a few extra unscheduled locations en route which greatly added to the pleasure of the tour. She was always ready to help and advise evey member of the party.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Exodus do great holidays, however they don't do holidays for people who want to be cossited and to take it easy. Although this is classified as "leisurely", if you want to see a country, then you have to travel and you have to walk. The journeys were broken down into manageable sections and were not arduous. The walking was easy to do as it was (with rare exceptions) on the flat. However we walked quite a distance every day. Travel on the little bus wasn't perfect for someone who is 6'2", however if you want to be part of a small group, then that's what you get. Personally, I would much rather travel with a small group with all the benefits that the small group size brings. Research Vienna before you go as there is the potential to spend 5 or 6 hours there.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
A real gem of a country. I cannot recommend it highly enough. If you go once, you will want to return. Glorious landscape and full of historic towns and romantic castles. Food excellent, hotels clean and comfortable with all mod cons.
Ruth van Hoogstraten-Brown

HIDDEN GEMS OF SLOVAKIA & THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Written September 2011
Slovakia was completely unexpected. It was incredibly clean and bright and colourful and we were amazed at the good condition of the many attractions. We loved the humour in the architecture, the art and the people. The scenery is lovely and the weather was fantastic. And for us, it was incredibly good value for money. The cost of food and drinks was so reasonable. Slovakia is without doubt a hidden gem. The greatest pity is that the major producers of guide books do not seem to have much information on Slovakia, so relying on local knowledge, as Exodus have done, throws up some really unexpected pleasures. It was a fantastic trip and I’m looking forward to my next one!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Instead of the usual tour through a castle, we had a specially arranged night tour through Bojnice Castle. It was clever and different, and everyone in the group loved it.
We had a dinner arranged by our guide at a traditional restaurant, complete with gypsy music. A lovely, memorable evening.
Although it wasn't on the itinerary, our guide managed to fit in a morning in Skalica because there was a festival in town. There was enough interesting and scenic in the town to have kept us a lot longer
What did you think of your group leader?
Our leader was simply fantastic. Her English was very good, her knowledge of the country was amazing, she managed our itinerary to best fit in with weather forecasts, and other events so that we got to do and see everything we expected to, and more. She was friendly and pleasant and organised. an absolute star
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
For people intending to do extra time, I'd suggest a good phrase book. Not everyone spoke good english, although a lot did
Jonathan Halls

HIDDEN GEMS OF SLOVAKIA & THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Written September 2011
In complete agreement with the previous four reviewers, including that our guide Suzanna made the trip so special.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Mala Fatra (Terchova area), Lednica chateau, Banska Stiavnica.
What did you think of your group leader?
Could not have been better. Excellent!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Complain about the coal mine visit. It should not be on the list of hidden gems.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Three negatives: 1) Not visit the coal mine. Spend more time in Bojnice.
2) Have a better vehicle with clean windows. There were some bad seats for viewing.
3) Unclear ending to trip.
Margot Hewspear

HIDDEN GEMS OF SLOVAKIA & THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Written August 2011
Great countries to visit wonderfully introduced to us by Zuzana our fantastic group leader. Rather too much driving though.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Raft trip down Dunajec Gorge. Wandering round beautiful Czech towns like Mikuluv.
What did you think of your group leader?
As good as any I've had in 7 Exodus trips. She was very knowledgeable, inspirational and an all round lovely, fun person to be with.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be prepared for some very long journeys in a hot, rather uncomfortable van.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Transport really needs to improve - a proper minibus would be much more comfortable. I'm only 5' tall and was squashed !
I think the itiniary could be improved - spent time in the High Tatras but only did a short stroll around a mountain lake. whilst the trip was graded 'leisurely' it still seemed a wasted opportunity not to do at least a half day's walk.
The overnight stay at Skalica was 'wasted' - dull hotel (even if it was 4*) in a dull setting. Would have been much better to spend 2 nights in nearby Lednice - good hotel in stunning location.
Ruth Green

HIDDEN GEMS OF SLOVAKIA & THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Written August 2011
My first Exocdus trip. A great introduction to a country I knew nothing about. Stunning scenery & plenty of activities. Excellent guide and friendly travelling companions
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The ice cave experience was stunning - although you need to be fit to do the 20 minute steep climb to the entrance of the cave. Also enjoyed the raft experience down the Dunsajec Gorge. Also loved the candlelight tour of Bojnice Castle - fun was had by all!
What did you think of your group leader?
Zuzana was everything a group leader should be. Knowledgeable, caring, friendly, flexible & with a sense of humour. She obviously cares about her country very much and this came across in her in depth knowledge of all the sites we saw. She put 110% into her job and we all felt we had made a good friend when we parted at Vienna airport.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
As one of my fellow travellers on the tour, Margot mentioned, be prepared for some uncomfortable journeys. The a/c wasnt particularly effective and the seats on the minibus had limited legroom. The itinerary is not leisurely, as much is included and you need to be prepared for packing & unpacking almost daily. No very early starts though!
Take your own decaff coffee as Slovakia doent seem to have heard of this and many of my co-travellers weren't impressed with Slovakian teabags!
It is cold in the ice cave & coal mine so take a fleece & waterproof, also good walking shoes or trainers are a necessity.
I would also take some Czech currency as it was very tedious having to wait inline in a bank to change euros!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
As Margot mentioned the transport really needs to be addressed. My husband is 6'1" and spent a very uncomfortable day in one of the front seats behind the driver.On other days he had to seat on an end seat with his legs in the gap by the door!
I am 5' 7" and also found the seats short on legroom. Everyone changed seats daily but this didnt alter the confined feeling we all felt. I understand a bigger bus would be more expensive but several of us agreed we would definitely pay more for a greater degreee of comfort.
I would not use the 4* hotel again either and would prefer a reverse itinerary with Bratislava at the end of the trip.Or either - an earlier flight from Vienna to London on the last day would be better or spending more time in Mikulov and leaving for the airport after lunch.
We hadn't factored in being at Vienna aiprort by 10:30am for a flight home at 8pm. The trip notes just say return to Vienna for flight home. The only alternative to spending the day at Vienna airport was to go into the city. It was 32C and we had to spend 12 euros each on the bus to the city, plus lunch & Vienna isnt a cheap city!