Quote:
Originally Posted by scroosko
slovakia or slovenia if anyone has lived in either place as well please. considering options for the summer. thanks
2 quite different countries despite the similar name :P
Maribor, Slovenia, will also comment on Ljubljana the capital
Experience: studied abroad there for one year
Cost of Living -
7 Pretty cheap.
Rent prices in Maribor are super cheap for a developed EU country, and in Ljubljana the capital are only slightly more expensive. More modern 2 bedroom flats will range from 400-600 euros to 500-700 in Ljubljana, but there are cheaper options, generally the more you veer from the city centre and the less modern the building, the cheaper.
Food is very cheap in Maribor and you can have a very nice meal for 20 euros each. Ljubljana again, slightly more expensive but still cheap. Drinks are cheap too. The internet isn't too expensive and ranges from slow to decent. Digital goods are expensive.
Recreation -
6 Good.
There isn't that much going on in Maribor compared to European capitals but there is some nice, cheap bars and cultural events happening, it was the 2012 european capital of culture. There are also strip clubs in both cities and the services are very cheap compared to the rest of Europe.
The local young people are very keen to meet people from abroad given that it is not as 'common' to visit as it is other countries.
Ljubljana is more eventful nightlife wise and there's a lot of cool alternative bars, people also tend to speak more English in Ljubljana than Maribor.
Slovenia's greatest strength IMO is its location, being within reach of so many other countries, from Italy, to Hungary, to Serbia and Austria, it can be a great cheap 'base' for the poker player that wants to travel cheaply throughout Europe.
How Scary? -
9 Not scary at all.
I'm sure there must be some crime but really I felt in no danger what so ever walking around at night in either city.
Poker Playing -
2 No real regulation online, few live options.
I couldn't really find any live games in Maribor as a foreigner. I hear there is some poker going on in Nova Gorica but couldn't find any more details.
How Easy to Get There and Stay There? 7 Easy and also easy.
The country has quite a few unregulated borders (I got there by train many times from Austria and my passport was never checked), but you are required to have a residence permit to stay for more than 1 month. If you do not you can get fined by the police even as an EU resident which is ridiculous. Also some of the officials at the permit thing didn't speak English which was weird.
Last edited by Nikiforos86; 12-31-2012 at 05:51 AM.