Planning my trip to Poland Slovakia
“I’m thinking of heading to Slovakia after my conference in November,” I say to my friend, Gayle at her 4th of July party. “I mean, it’s so close to where I’ll be in Poland!”
She nods, knowingly. “Ha! Mission Creep! Like our New Zealand side trip” She uses air quotes when she says “side trip”, referring to the 10-day itinerary to New Zealand that I booked for her and her husband to do after they toured Australia.
Mission Creep: You have a trip but as you start to plan it, you find a bunch of extra places “nearby” that you MUST explore.
Which is how I found myself (instead of booking flights to Warsaw) on AllTrails researching hikes in the High Tatras, a mountain range divided by the southern border of Poland and the northern border of Slovakia.
The High Tatras may be Europe’s smallest alpine range, but they deliver some of the continent’s most dramatic scenery. Jagged granite peaks, emerald mountain lakes all within a pristine protected national park – it’s a paradise for outdoors enthusiasts.
My plan is to leave Krakow and head to the magnificent Grand Hotel Kempinski High Tatras in Štrbské Pleso, one of Slovakia’s most picturesque alpine villages and the perfect gateway to High Tatras National Park. While it’s known for hiking, I’m going in November so I’ll have to play it by ear. There are plenty of things to see and do, maybe even ski! Of course, if the weather drives me indoors, you can find me at the spa.
Speaking of spa hotels, my obsession just keeps growing and always try to incorporate one into each trip I do. They are great for getting over jet lag, stopping to recharge mid-itinerary or make a perfect ending to any trip allowing you to relax and digest all the wonderful things you’ve just experienced. Even Adam robed up and tested the cold and hot colored showers at the Grand Victoria Hotel in Lake Como last year!
The spa at Grand Hotel Victoria Lake Como
Volcanic heated pools at the Hotel Salus Terme in Vitterbo, Italy
I remember my grandmother going every summer to Baden Baden, Germany, a UNESCO heritage and world-renown spa town. I never understood why. However, in 2018, on a family trip to Prague, we drove to Northern Czechia to Karlovy Vary, a picturesque spa town that Prussian Royalty had visited for over 650 years.
The town is famous for its public fountains found along the town promenade. Upon arrival, as instructed, I purchased a porcelain spa cup that has a straw handle at one of the souvenir shops.
Then we walked the promenade stopping and sipping the mineral-rich thermal springs from each water source. Each tasted differend due to the various levels of minerals.
Adam and the kids were good sports about it, although I was the only one who could stomach the mineral water. I thought it tasted great!
Local folklore says that if your body doesn’t need the minerals, the water tastes unpleasant—almost as if it’s rejecting it for you. Considering I seem to run at full speed all the time, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if my body was happily soaking up every last mineral.
Of course, a good beer does wonders too!
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