Differences in mentality

Differences in mentality between Slovenes and Germans

The Slovenes are a part of the Slavic people. And like all Slavic peoples, they are considered to be very outgoing and friendly. They are always ready to help, and you should not hesitate to ask for help, even if you are just a vacationer in this country. Slovenians will listen and either give good advice or ask someone else for help. And this is not a cliché, it is the truth. The language barrier is not a big problem, because many younger people speak English and also German is understood by many, because the Germans are popular and people not only like their cars but see them as role models in terms of diligence and reliability. Already a few Slovenian words of a traveller make a very good impression on a Slovenian. In return, they will be even nicer than they already were. In terms of hire cars, all of this means that the rental process will be smooth and pleasant. Slovenia is therefore a country where for a German there is nothing that speaks against a hire car and for a tour in it through the country. Many worldwide operating hire car companies have branches and offer the well-known international service. Of course, it is possible to reserve vehicles already from the home country. The fact that Slovenians have a great penchant for punctuality and efficiency can seem almost German. These similar mentalities facilitate every trip and every contact with the hire car companies.

One of the most striking features of the Slovenian character is patience. Should a foreigner utter a “no” in a conversation, for example, because they don’t want to respond to a generosity, Slovenians believe that a “no” is not really meant. They think that the reason why the word “no” was said is because the guest did not want to be rude. They will try to get a change of heart for that reason, and they will do it until the “no” becomes an “okay” or a laughing “yes”. Jokingly put, you can become a victim of hospitality in Slovenia. You should be prepared for this, even as a German, who is often described as serious and distant. Slovenians want to be nice above all. They want a guest to feel comfortable in their country. And most of the time they succeed.

Even though geographically they belong to Eastern Europe, Slovenians don’t like to be compared to their Eastern neighbors. They prefer to be seen as the citizens of a Western or Southern European state. So it won’t do the mood of a Slovenian interlocutor any good if the former Eastern bloc becomes a topic of discussion, or the former Yugoslavia, for that matter, as well as the disputes with Croatia. Keep this in mind as a traveller and you should be guaranteed a pleasant time in Slovenia, hire car or not.