Hire a campervan, motorhome or RV and take off into the interior of Slovenia for the European holiday of a lifetime.

Slovenia is a Republic which joined the EU on May 1st 2004, so there is no funny money here as the country uses the Euro. It has an area of 20,273 km2 and a population just short of 2 million.

This little country lies at the heart of Europe, where the Alps and the Mediterranean meet the Pannonian plains and the mysterious Karst, and it shares borders with Austria in the north, with Hungary to the east, Croatia in the south and Italy to the west.

Language? Well surely we Brits are well used to visiting countries where English is not the first language, and so it must be said of Slovenia whose main languages are Slovene, Hungarian and Italian - but at least you have a choice! All language barriers come down on 25 June anyway - Independence day you see, and everyone will be well stewed and talking gobbledygook!

And the country itself? Beautiful, in a word. For first timers though it appears pretty similar to the alpine regions of Austria and Italy than Yugoslavia which it was formerly. There are mountains covered in forests, there are glacial lakes and lush farming areas, and generally the scenery is fresh and very natural, just the sort of place you would tale a look at and say,"I want to hire a campervan or a motorhome and chill out for a few weeks here."

The capital of Slovenia of course is Ljubljana, probably slightly easier to pronounce than to spell. A smallish city, it is both prosperous and uniquely pretty, and has a large student population which adds a youthful touch to all the historic buildings there. The Ljubljana River cuts through the city, and it's banks lined with promenades, cafés and small shops.

The whole country is clean, scenic, and safe which makes it an ideal holiday venue for families and couples, especially those who enjoy outdoor activities.

All the following outdoor activities are on offer throughout the country: cycling, hiking, paragliding, white-water rafting, caving and mountaineering.