Bled Philosophical Conferences

Bled Philosophical Conferences
(Applied) Ethics
June 7 - June 11, 2010

FAQ - INFO FOR PARTICIPANTS

BLED 2009: Epistemic Virtue and Value, June 1 – 6, 2009

Travel Information

The information immediately below derives from a combination of my own experience and research together with the lore passed on to me by previous conference organizers, including Mylan Engel and, through him, Gene Mills. (It has, therefore, a largely American perspective. I apologize to those coming from other countries.) At the very bottom is a numbered list of FAQs that I have copied from the www.slovenia.info site. It also has some very useful information.

Please send questions, comments, and corrections to me, Wayne Riggs, at wriggs@ou.edu.

Q: Where can I stay in Bled?

A: As we all know, the costs of international travel have gone up significantly in the last couple of years. Consequently, many of you may be looking for ways to cut some costs on your trip to Bled. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to do this. The main thing you can do is to stay somewhere besides the conference Hotel, Hotel Kompas (http://www.kompashotel.com/conference.php). It is nice, but it is also expensive: In 2008, the cost was 123 Euros per night for single occupancy; 67.80 Euros each for double occupancy. Fortunately, Bled is full of inexpensive but comfortable pensions and apartments for rent. These range from a simple room with a bed and closet to full apartments with a small kitchen and separate living area. Prices will, of course, vary accordingly. However, you can find comfortable lodgings in Bled for as low as 35 Euros for one person, with breakfast included.

I recommend that you go to www.bled.si to search for a place to stay in Bled. There are links there to quite a few hotels and pensions in Bled, and most have web sites with pictures and lists of current room rates. But even better, many of the listings tell you where they are located on a map of Bled. You click on the text telling you which grid location they are in, and the map pops up. To help you get your bearings, the conference hotel is in grid F5. Any place in the nearer half of an adjacent grid is easy walking distance to the hotel. (My own feeling is that everywhere in or near downtown Bled is walking distance to the conference hotel, but not everyone is as happy to walk as I am.)

Bear in mind that many of these places do not accept credit cards. You may need to plan to have enough cash when you leave to pay your room bill. In my experience, the proprietors of these places are happy to communicate with you via email, so feel free to email them if you have any questions about the accommodations.

Another web site I recommend is http://www.3glav-adventures.com/index.html. If you go there, you may find my recommendation strange at first. This is the web site of a company that sells “adventure tours” in sites around Slovenia. However, they have a link on their front page to “Accommodations.” This takes you to a “room locator” application. Just type in “Bled” where it asks for “Hostel/City/Country” and you will get a list of a few hostels and pensions in Bled.

They also have a page of external links from their site, and some of them are very helpful. If you scroll down to the bottom of this document, you will see on the right a list of links to local pensions. Back at the top are some other useful links for those who are trying to travel cheaply. For example, there is a link to Easyjet, which offers cheap flights to Ljubljana, from which Bled is a relatively short bus ride. There are also links to sites at which you can look up train schedules for trains throughout most of Europe, and even buy tickets online in some cases.

The company, 3glav Adventures, has an office in downtown Bled. It is easy to get to, and the people there are extremely helpful and knowledgeable about the local accommodations. If you are having trouble finding a low-cost place to stay during the conference, I recommend contacting them. And for what it’s worth, their Emerald River adventure is fantastic!

Q: Where do I get information on Slovenia?

A: There are now quite a few English‑language guidebooks dedicated to Slovenia. A quick search of “travel Slovenia” on Amazon.com yields at least half a dozen. I cannot offer any personal recommendation, other than that I have found Rick Steves’ Slovenia and Crotia extremely helpful in the past. As you would expect, there is also lots of information about Slovenia, and about Bled, online. One obvious place to start would be http://www.slovenia.info/. But, again, a quick google search on “travel Slovenia” will give you more websites about Slovenia than you could look at in a year. For information about Bled specifically, you can look here: http://www.bled.si/en/.

Q: How do I get to Slovenia?

A: You have several options.

Option 1. Fly to Ljubljana. The only true international airport in the country is the Ljubljana airport, which is not in Ljubljana proper but in Brnik, 21 km away. You won't be able to fly directly to Ljubljana from the U.S. There are direct flights of varying frequency between Ljubljana and the following cities: Amsterdam, Budapest, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Helsinki, Istanbul, London, Moscow, Munich, Paris, Skopje, Tirana, Vienna, and Zurich. Many but by no means all of these are with Adria Airways (http://www.adria-airways.com/en/index.cp2), the Slovenian national airline.

Air travel has become much more expensive in recent months, so I recommend shopping around to find the best fares, especially for those people flying from the U.S. When I last checked on http://kayak.com (12/5/2008), flights to Ljubljana from Chicago were around $1500, from LA were around $1400, and from NYC were around $1500.

Option 2. Fly to another European city and rent a car.

A previous organizer, Mylan Engel, preferred to fly into Munich and rent a car to drive to Bled. Mylan had this to say about this means of travel in 2007:

“It is a beautiful drive, and it gives one the freedom to check out Slovenia during conference downtimes. But be forewarned: Renting a car is not cheap! And rates have gone up even more in 2008. If you do elect to rent a car (outside Slovenia), you must let the car rental company know in advance that you intend to take the car into slovenia. You must have papers authorizing you to take the rental car into Slovenia in order to cross the border [Car rental companies still consider Slovenia an “Eastern Bloc” country. It isn’t—it’s a part of the EU, but they use this classification to justify charging more for the rental car.] Also, if you are driving a rental car on the Autobahn in Austria, you must purchase a “Vignette” and affix it to your windshield. Failure to properly display the vignette will get you a sizeable fine. Vignettes may be purchased at any gas station and probably at the car rental desk if renting a car in Austria.”

(2009 update: One now needs a vignette to drive in Slovenia as well. See FAQ items #1 & #13 below)

Option 3. Fly to another European city and take the train to Slovenia.

On my own previous trip (2007), I flew to Munich and took a train from there to the Jesenice train station in Slovenia. It is very easy and convenient to get from the Munich airport to the main train station (Hauptbahnhof) by train. The S1 train (S-Bahn) goes directly from the airport to the Hauptbahnhof. From there you can get a train to Jesenice, and it is a short bus ride from Jesenice to Bled. The train ride is beautiful, going through a section of the Alps. It has the added advantage of freeing you from having to navigate and drive in an unfamiliar place (if, indeed, Germany and Slovenia are unfamiliar places to you).

For more information about the train connection between the Munich airport and the Hauptbahnhof, go to the Munich airport website here: http://www.munich-airport.de/en/consumer/anab/bahn1/index.jsp.

You can get more information about the train from Munich to Jesenice, and possibly even book your tickets, here: http://www.bahn.de/international/view/en/index.shtml

Obviously, there are other European cities that you can use as an intermediate destination and from which you can either drive or catch a train to Slovenia. Munich simply happens to be the city that two of us have used.

Q: Once I’m in Slovenia, how do I get to Bled?

A: TO REACH BLED FROM THE AIRPORT, DO NOT go into Ljubljana: it's out of the way. (I do recommend a sightseeing visit to Ljubljana, though, before or after the conference.) From the airport, you can reach Bled by bus, train, or taxi (the distance is approximately 50 km). The bus is more convenient than the train and cheaper than a taxi. If you value comfort and convenience, take a taxi. Buses are generally clean, punctual, and cheap. Whether they're comfortable depends on whether you get a big tourmobile or a short-haul city-style bus. The distances in Slovenia are short enough that both kinds of bus make the run to Bled. There's sometimes a small extra charge for checked luggage.

FROM AIRPORT TO BLED BY BUS OR TRAIN: The trip has 2 legs: one from the airport to Kranj (pronounced roughly 'Krahn') and one from Kranj to Bled.

BY BUS: Catch a bus in front of the terminal for the short trip to Kranj and get off at the Kranj bus station—not at one of the local stops. From Kranj, catch the bus to Bled. Buses run from Kranj to Bled at least once an hour.

BY TRAIN: If you prefer trains to buses, you can indulge yourself—but you'll have to sandwich your train ride between two bus- or taxi-rides. Take a bus or taxi from the airport to the Kranj train-station. Take a train from Kranj to the Lesce-Bled station. Then take another bus or taxi the remaining 4 km to Bled.

For specific information about timetables and prices for bus and train tickets or taxi rides to and from the airport, see FAQ items #2 and #16 below.

Q: Do I need a visa to enter Slovenia?

A: See FAQ item #11 below. If you have an American passport, no. If you're not traveling on an American passport, check with the Slovenian embassy or consulate in your country.

Q: What should I do about money?

A: The Slovenian currency is the euro. For current exchange rates, go to www.xe.com.

Credit cards are accepted widely in Slovenia, and you can generally count on being able to use them in most shops and restaurants, at least in Bled and Ljubljana. ATMs are also widespread, and there are several in easy walking distance of the conference hotel in Bled. (For more, see FAQ item #9 below.)

Important: If you plan to make extensive use of your credit card in Slovenia, it is a very good idea to let your credit card company know in advance, so that they don’t freeze your card while you are there.

Even if you plan to use credit cards for most purchases, you'll want some local currency for in-country transportation, small items and the occasional business that doesn't take credit cards. If you fly in, you may wish to change a fairly substantial amount at the airport bank, since it typically has some of the best exchange rates in the country. Be sure to go to the bank and not to the sundries-store, where rates are worse. If the bank is closed when you arrive, the store may be your only choice, in which case I recommend changing only enough for a day or two. Bank rates in Bled are only marginally (if at all) worse than those at the airport bank. [You can also typically purchase euros at your own bank before you leave the US, but some banks require at least a week’s advance notice for such a purchase. You probably will get a more favorable exchange rate in Europe, but you might want to have a few euros with you just in case the exchange offices are closed when you arrive in Bled.]

The hotel will also change money. You can change money at any post office, almost any bank or hotel, at bus and train stations, and at private shops; look for signs saying "Menjalnica" or "Wechsel".

Banks offer the best rates, post offices only slightly worse. Hotels and commercial money-changers are often substantially worse but have much longer hours. Don't be fooled by a promise of "no commission": this just means that the commission is included in the exchange rate.

You'll pay double fees, of course, if you change dollars to euros and then back again, so try to avoid changing more than you'll need.

Q: How much should I plan to spend?

A: The 2008 rates for the conference-hotel, which has roughly the same amenities as a rather nice mid-level American hotel, were around 123 euros for a single room, and about half that per person for a double. However, you can rent comfortable “private rooms” and “apartments” in pensions for considerably less. Many of these private rooms are within easy walking distance to the conference hotel. (See “Where Can I Stay in Bled,” above.)

When I was last in Bled (2007), it was easy to have a large restaurant meal for under $10, a sumptuous one with good wine for under $25, a tasty and nourishing one for as little as $3 to $5. If you're really strapped—we've had a couple of grad students come—you can buy prepared foods from the local markets and eat quite satisfactorily for $5 per day or even less. (For more up-to-date information, see FAQ item #10 below.)

Q: How will I communicate?

A: Communication is seldom a problem, even if you haven't a word of Slovene. English is widely spoken, especially by young people. In the unlikely event of a desperate linguistic bind, latch onto the nearest high‑schooler to interpret for you. A bit of German or Italian may be useful but isn't essential. Bus conductors seem to know more German than English, but in any case you can get by with nothing more than place-names and gestures. In hotels, restaurants, and other businesses, you can almost always use English. (Also see FAQ item #17 below.)

Q: What sort of weather should I expect?

A: Unpredictable. The weather in June might typically be as follows: warm, clear mornings, followed by a brief, cooling afternoon rain, with skies clearing again by late afternoon. Temperatures are usually pleasant during the day but often nippy in the morning and evening. I advise bringing a warm sweater or jacket. If you plan to hike in the nearby mountains, bring warmer clothing.

Like all weather forecasts, this one should be taken with a heap of salt. One year the whole week passed in rainless heat; another year we had chilly rain almost all day, every day. So, to be on the safe side, bring clothes for chilly weather and clothes for very hot weather. A compact travel umbrella is also a good idea.

Q: Is Internet access available?

A: The conference hotel does provide wireless access to the Internet. It is free for everyone affiliated with the conference, whether you stay at the hotel or not. You may have to ask at the desk to get a login and password.

Q: What is there to do in and around Bled?

A: Bled and its surroundings are beautiful. The area is an alpine hiker's paradise; not far from Bled is what's alleged to be some of the best hiking in Europe. There are charming villages to explore nearby. There's a castle and a church worth exploring, both medieval, right in Bled, and more of each are in nearby towns. Ljubljana, about an hour away by bus, has wonderful architecture from medieval to modern, art galleries, and cultural events of all kinds, as well as a thriving cafe scene.

Also within an hour of Bled—and in some cases right in the town—you can rent mountain bikes, canoes and kayaks for either flat- or whitewater, and even paragliders (along with instruction in their use). For more information, I recommend the website of a local “adventure tour” company in Bled itself: http://www.3glav-adventures.com/index.html. They run a bunch of guided walking/biking/canoeing/etc. tours. Even if you do not want to take one of their tours, they will have lots of helpful information about how to do this sort of thing on your own.

There’s also a casino in town, for all you game theorists.

I always try to schedule one afternoon off in the middle of the conference week so that participants can explore Bled and surrounding environs, though you can see and do a lot more by arriving early or by staying an extra day or two after the conference. Many past participants have expressed regret, after seeing a bit of what the area holds, that they didn't schedule free time before or after the conference to explore. Plan accordingly, and don't say I didn't warn you. If you want specific recommendations, let me know what interests you.

Q: How's the local cuisine? Will vegetarians starve?

A: Omnivores will find plenty to eat—flesh of every sort, good breads and a variety of cheeses. Fresh salads are ubiquitous. Vegetarians and vegans will have fewer options, but will typically find a few dishes they can eat in almost any restaurant. One restaurant in Bled, the Okarina, provides a welcome exception to this rule with an impressive selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes, though the service at Okarina can leave a bit to be desired, especially for large parties. (Don’t go to Okarina if you are in a hurry!! But do go, if you want a delicious, relaxing, unhurried meal.)

FAQ from www.slovenia.info

Vignette - Toll Stickers

How can I travel around Slovenia by public transport?

Schengen area in Slovenia

Slovenian take-over of the Euro as of the year 2007

How do I get from Italian airports (Trieste, Venice) to the Slovenian coast?

How do I get from Airport Jože Pučnik to Ljubljana or Kranj?

How do I get from the Austrian airports (Klagenfurt, Graz) to Slovenia?

How do I get from the Croatian airports (Zagreb, Pula) to Slovenia?

How can I pay in Slovenia?

What are the average prices of some basic foods in shops or restaurants in Slovenia?

I am interested in your border formalities