SLOVENIA: Portoroz
Take a pinch of the French Riviera, add a dash of seaside chic, mix in spas to rival Thailand and you've got all the ingredients for a great getaway. And as well as being the country's premier beach resort, you'll discover waterfront restaurants, buzzing bars and discos to be seen in. Bang up-to-the-minute, unashamedly contemporary and sparkling with energy – you'll have a ball in Portoroz.
Its year-round health business revolves round a host of thermal pools and a bewildering variety of health and beauty treatments, with the largest Thai massage and beauty centre outside of Thailand.
Beaches
Beach after beach is one of Portoroz's big attractions and it's easy to see why. Stretching up and down the coast from the town known to locals as the 'Port of Roses', no matter where you're staying, the soft sandy beach will be close by - so it'll be hard to stay away for long!
Eating out
You could never go hungry here. Portoroz has a fantastic selection of cuisine, ranging from top class international restaurants to scores of eateries where the main dish of the day is seafood, though there are plenty of other specialities, including prsut, a smoked ham dish with olives. Wash it all down with some outstanding Slovenian wine such as Teran, Refosk, Barbera and Malvazija. If you like to be seen, the nightlife in Portoroz is right up your street and you can party far into the night. It's not all swanky clubs though - you'll also find buzzing bars and cafes that cater to an international clientele out to have a good time.
Nightlife
When it comes to nightlife Portoroz is probably the best place in Slovenia for the young and beautiful to let their hair down and party as far into the night as they like. Not too much in the way of the traditional and staid, but discos, dance halls and lively bars and cafes catering to an international clientele out to have a good time.
Shopping
As a well-dressed seaside town, Portoroz has all the shops you'd expect from an upmarket resort. Don't look for any particular bargains, although prices are generally lower than in Western Europe and pretty much the same variety of goods are on offer. So what are you waiting for?
Local information
Attractions galore await you on Portoroz's doorstep. For a start, the town is known internationally for its health and beauty treatments, which date back to the last century, so make sure you take the time out to try at least one of the spas out while you're here. The Secovlje salt pans, for years a staple of the local economy, are a botanists' paradise, as well as being a glorious location for a relaxing walk. Not far inland, you can explore sleepy Istrian villages, practise your swing at a number of golf courses or for something a bit different, visit Lipica, the home of the famous Lipizzaner white horses, or the magical caves at Skocjan and Postojna. And if you're feeling in the mood for romance, Venice is only a catamaran ride away for a laid-back day trip.
Location
2km east of Piran
