Type: Alpine Boutique Hotel
Price Guide 110 - 180 euros/room Minimum nights: Single booking: 3, Itinerary booking: 2
No children
Superb views
OUR VIEW
The building was bought by Jana Biščan and her business partner a few years ago, with a view to turning it into a small, private hotel. We can varify that Jana achieved her aim, as Vila Park is easily the classiest hotel in the area. This hotel is all about serenity: sitting in a meadow by the babbling Savica brook, surrounded by woodland and just a short walk from the mighty Bohinj (pron. Bohin) lake. But it's not just the outside that's charming. The interior doesn't do that awful alpine kitsch thing - everything is very modern yet cosy... especially the small lounge with its open fireplace and a bar that serves excellent Slovene wines.
The calm is also helped somewhat by the no-kids policy - just a small bunch of adults, communing with the best that nature has to offer.
ACCOMMODATION
Vila Park comprises just eight guestrooms on two floors, which are simply yet elegantly furnished. The decor of the rooms is either smooth pale blue or lazy peach (I should sell that to Dulux). All have TV (why?), phone and internet access.
THE RESTAURANT
There is a small restaurant that serves breakfast and dinner. Note that, given that there are just the eight rooms and only one chef, the evening meal will be served at around seven o'clock. Having eaten at Vila Park a few times, I have to say that this minimal restriction on your meal time is a very small price to pay. Dinner is always three courses: our last one there featured a starter of some excellent smoked salmon, followed by roast pork and veg and a lovely fruity/creamy dessert. In fact, the half board option is a steal.
WORKING UP
AN APPETITE Go hiking (or, as we call it, walking). Around
the lake, or walking trails lead you up over mountain
passes to alpine pastures or along river valleys to
hidden waterfalls. Vogel - take the cable car up for some of the most impressive views in Slovenia - or skiing in the winter, of course. Fishing. A permit will
cost around £75 a day, which can be arranged for
you. Golf.
There is an excellent golf club in Bled, about 20km. Driving to Lake Bled
(smaller and less impressive than Bohinj), Ljubljana…
or just about anywhere in Slovenia: allow an hour to
get you just about anywhere… up to two to get you
anywhere else.
LANGUAGES Slovene, English
CHILDREN Nope.
WEATHER
Summer temperatures average around 22C, while winters
can get down to around minus 15C at night.
WHEN &
HOW LONG
Vila Park 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.
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 BOHINJ
Vila Park is 300m from Lake Bohinj. See the map indicated below for details from Bohinjska Bistrica. Ljubljana Brnik: Take the E61 motorway towards Bled and Jesenice. At Lesce, take the turning towards Bled. Drive through Bled and onwards to Bohinjska Bistrica. 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, drive past Bled and onwards to Bohinjska Bistrica. Trieste (Italy): Take the A4/E70 towards Trieste and take the exit for Slovenia at Fernetti-Sežana (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, drive past Bled and onwards to Bohinjska Bistrica.
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.
Ljubljana Brnik: