Type: Grand Hotel
Price Guide 126 - 262 euros/room Minimum nights: Single booking: 3, Itinerary booking: 2
Children welcome
Superb views
OUR VIEW
The first hotel built on this site was the Luisenband in 1854, some time after the discovery of a thermal spring (1818). It was renamed the Toplice (pron. Toplitse) after WW1 and extensively refurbished in the 30s. It was again completely renovated in 2002. The spring is now the source of the hotel's thermal pool, while during the summer months guests can relax by the lido on the lake. There are also Finnish, Turkish and infra-red saunas, and massage and beauty parlours.
A major feature is the main hotel lounge, which has an amazing view across the lake.
During our visit in September 2006, we decided that the Toplice is rather better than we had originally thought. This is a hotel where you can pamper yourself silly... and take in one of Europe's prettiest views every single day.
Furthermore, the hotel's amenities - boats for the lake, private lido, saunas, spa pool - really are worth the cost of the room.
ACCOMMODATION
Famous guests:
Cliff Richard
King Hussein
Madelaine Albright
Michael Foot
Gari Kasparov
Clement Atlee
Anthony Eden
Us
Although we don't recognise the hotel star system, the Toplice is a true five star hotel, and many of the rooms have magnificent lake views. All rooms are en suite, and feature all the stuff you would expect for the full complement of stars. Each room is individually designed and furnished with antiques.
THE RESTAURANTS Grand Restaurant
The hotel restaurant, which has a wonderful view of the lake, serves local and international dishes as well as many Slovenian wines.
Juliana Restaurant
A la carte restaurant: has a summer terrace.
The main lounge is outstanding: snacks, cakes and coffee with one of Slovenia's great views.
There are also two bars.
WORKING UP
AN APPETITE Go hiking. Around
the lake, or walking trails lead you up over mountain
passes to alpine pastures or along river valleys to
hidden waterfalls. Fishing. A permit will
cost around £75 a day, which can be arranged for
you. Golf.
There is an excellent golf club nearby. Driving to Lake Bohinj
(larger and more primeval than Bled), Ljubljana…
or just about anywhere in Slovenia: allow an hour to
get you just about anywhere… up to two to get you
anywhere else. Water Sports: White water
rafting and kayaking can be arranged from a number of
expert companies - charges are around £25.
LANGUAGES Slovene, English
CHILDREN More than welcome.
WEATHER
Summer temperatures average around 22C, while winters
can get down to around minus 15C at night.
Winter - As low as -20C at night. Wrap up.
WHEN &
HOW LONG
Hotel Toplice is open all year.
TO TAKE WITH YOU Late spring, summer, early autumn:
shorts, T-shirts, sturdy shoes or boots, something warm
for the evenings and something waterproof in case it
rains, for daytime adventures.
Late autumn, winter, early spring: warmer clothing -
especially during January and February.
CAR HIRE AVIS - click on this link and you will open a new window for the Avis Slovenia website, from where you can book your car.
HOW TO GET THERE
Closest destination airports are in this colour.
Click on the airline name to open their web page in a new window. From Gatwick: Ljubljana with Adria (the national airline).
From Stansted: Ljubljana or Rijeka with EasyJet. Trieste, Klagenfurt, Graz or Balaton with Ryanair. From Luton: Zagreb with Wizz. From Manchester: Ljubljana with Adria (summer months only). From Bristol:
Venice with EasyJet. From Birmingham: Trieste with Ryanair, Wednesday and Sunday only.
Buffet breakfast, Daily cleaning,
daily linen/towel change. Thermal swimming pool. Lido. Boat rental (one hour/day). Tourist tax at 1.01.
Children:
0 - 3: free. 4 - 12 sharing adult's room: 50%
Third person/extra bed:
41.00
Half board:
27 euros per person
Open:
All year
Minimum stay, nights:
Single booking: 3, Itinerary booking: 2
Deposit:
A deposit of between 10% and 25% will be required at the time of booking. The remainder will be payable directly to the hotel by you upon your arrival. Note that we do not add an extra margin to the hotel's prices: the price you pay by booking through us is exactly the same as the hotel's.
DRIVING FROM THE AIRPORT TO LAKE BLED
Hotel Toplice is in the centre of Bled, next to the lake. Ljubljana Brnik: Take the E61 motorway towards Bled and Jesenice. At Lesce, take the turning towards Bled. Klagenfurt (Austria): Take the A2 motorway and then the A11/E61 towards the Karavanke tunnel. At the exit from the tunnel at Jesenice in Slovenia, take the E61 motorway towards Ljubljana and Bled. Take the exit at Lesce for Bled. Trieste (Italy): Take the A4/E70 towards Trieste and take the exit for Slovenia at Sezana (do not drive into Trieste itself). Take the A3 and then the A1/E61 towards Ljubljana. At Ljubljana, follow the A1/E61 to Ljubljana Sever and then towards Kranj, then onwards to Bled.
NOTE: there is now a vinjeta system on Slovenian motorways for collecting tolls. You can buy a vinjeta at any petrol station near the motorway or the airport. For 95/30/15 euros per year/month/week, you will receive a sticker that must be displayed on the front windscreen of your car.
Go hiking.
