Loved them both. Porec last year was just lovely by the Adriatic. And Lake Bled a couple of years before. Both my ‘kids’ are now full sized adults so it doesn’t need to be ‘family friendly’ specifically.

Probably coastal again if possible. So much choice tho – any recommendations/pointers helpful…

Montenegro?

No previous experience myself but that’s where we are going

I have been to Slovakia three times for work now. Each time I find it a great place. Generally very welcoming folk, typical slav’s so happy to chat and share a meal and a drink… Tourist places = slightly expensive and nothing too different from a lot of Europe. Off the beaten track = fabulous places, warm welcome, cheap food, don’t expect any H&S on any vaguely touristy things…!

Brastislava is typical european city – modern in so many ways, steeped in history and great to wander around.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/PGMhn6]Slovakia 2016 for work[/url] by Matt Robinson, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/PE2pbY]Slovakia 2016 for work[/url] by Matt Robinson, on Flickr

Nearby is Devin, typical of the castles in the whole country. Full of more modern history from the cold war.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/QKVeYV]Slovakia 2016 for work[/url] by Matt Robinson, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/Qndy8J]Slovakia 2016 for work[/url] by Matt Robinson, on Flickr

I also went to Banská Štiavnica, a wonderful medieval town in an extinct volcano and home to some very early mine technologies. Proper ‘locals’ tourist place – although the German’s had also discovered it. Lovely hills and forests. Good biking 🙂

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2iumchH]Banska Stiavnica – Erasmus+ Bioprofiles[/url] by Matt Robinson, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2iunmUc]Banska Stiavnica – Erasmus+ Bioprofiles[/url] by Matt Robinson, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2iuiCAB]Banska Stiavnica – Erasmus+ Bioprofiles[/url] by Matt Robinson, on Flickr

Of course, being work we had some work to do…

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2iumcLD]Banska Stiavnica – Erasmus+ Bioprofiles[/url] by Matt Robinson, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2iumcxC]Banska Stiavnica – Erasmus+ Bioprofiles[/url] by Matt Robinson, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2iunn2r]Wetting the babies head first thing in the morning….[/url] by Matt Robinson, on Flickr

We also ‘hopped’ over the border while in the High Tatra’s in Zakopane, Poland for family holidays. It is noticeable how less developed the Slovak side is (due to much stricter conservation laws) and how less inhabited it felt than Poland.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/MbrEZ1]Rysy in distance[/url] by Matt Robinson, on Flickr
[url=https://flic.kr/p/29jdZN6]Slovakia[/url] by Matt Robinson, on Flickr

We have also been to Presov area, some lovely low Tatra hills and it feels like ‘proper’ eastern Europe when you peer over the border into Ukraine. A really warm welcome here – one village cafe we were taken to said we were first UK tourists that year for them. It was April.

I would happily go back for a holiday.

Thanks – Montenegro looks interesting. Transfer time is a bit grim.
Slovakia – checking that out as we speak as well. Thanks for all the info!

Montenegro looks interesting. Transfer time is a bit grim.

In what way? We are flying Manchester to Tivat. Our accommodation in the hills is about a 30 min drive

Ah we were looking at flights to Dubrovnik. Now I see you fly somewhere closer. Right will get back on that later..