Travel Safety Hub - WorldNomads.com

Travel Advice And Travel Safety. Stay informed on the road.

5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Going to Croatia

CROATIA | Monday, 17 August 2009 | Views [1628] | Comments [5]

So we’ve all been there, you’ve read the guide books and done everything you think you could to prepare for your trip overseas. Then you arrive on your spectacular holiday and realize you should have brought your sweater, some sunscreen, extra cash... you get the idea.

We combed our network of adventure travel operators and asked them for their expert opinions on Croatia. Below are a couple tips to keep you traveling safe in Croatia and help you prepare for your vacation (and hopefully avoid the ‘oh no!’ moment).

Korcula, Croatia, Photo by [vacation2], Flickr.com

1. Think twice about renting a car.

The Balkan drivers definitely don’t take their time when they’re on the road and driving yourself might end up being more of a rollercoaster than a scenic drive. The bus system works well as does the train system, plus you’ll be able to meet some local friends by taking public transport!

2. Bring water shoes.

Maggie Soladay from Salaam Garage comments, “I wish I had known that the coast was rocky and that most beautiful water for swimming is hard to get to because if you jump in you can't get back out because sea urchins patrol the whole rocky stinging coast. I wish I would have brought water shoes, I would have worn them every day.”

3. Sunscreen is a must!

Our own Christy McCarthy from WorldNomads.com comments, “The sun can be very strong, so don’t underestimate the cloud cover – put on a sunscreen with a high SPF and don’t totally bake yourself.”

4. Save Money, Don’t Travel in Summer.

Our friends at Lonely Planet advise: Croatia is more expensive in the summer than it is from September to May. Accommodation, boat fares, car rental and anything else relating to tourism skyrockets in summer, reaching a peak in July and August.

5. Shake, Rattle & Roll.

Dubrovnik is in an earthquake zone and gets shaken up every so often. Buildings in the Old Town look old and crumbly but in fact the city government has been rigorous in implementing modern reinforcement techniques to stabilize the ancient structures so don’t worry too much but be prepared if you feel some tremors.

Want to learn a bit more about Croatia? Check out these great sites:

Lonely Planet Croatia

Croatia Tourism Board

Why Croatia?

What did you learn in Croatia and wish you knew before you went? Leave us a comment...

Beach at Tucepi Croatia, Photo by [vacation2], Flickr.com

Tags: croatia, safety tips, sun safety, croatia itinerary, what to pack, croatia car rental, 5 things

Comments

1

I'm about ready to head back to Croatia for the 4th time in the past year and a half.

Here are some tips:

Swimming and Snorkeling: the water can be cool in the fall so take a light surf shirt or shorty websuite

Food: most of the food is "organic" as Croatia has never been exposed to the pesticides due to the fact that farmers couldn't afford it.

Smoking: smoking is part of the culture and, though it is supposed to be prohibited in many restaurants and hotels soon, at last visit in the fall the smoke is quite bad in all restaurants and unbareable in clubs.

Kathy Dragon Aug 25, 2009 3:44 AM

2

I spent the month of May in the Balkans and would have loved to know these tips before heading into Dubrovnik. The coast was phenomenal, but after my first jump in the water and a cut on my foot from the barnacles I was not a very happy person. Next time I will definitely be going with water shoes.

Alyssa at United Planet Sep 5, 2009 12:07 AM

3

The best part of Croatia is the coastline and the coastal towns, so jump on a boat/yaught and hop along the coast and small islands. The water's amazing and if you travel during the summer months, you'll be spending a whole lot of time in it! (however, as mentioned above, beware of the spikey urchins)

Clem Robin Sep 18, 2009 12:14 PM

4

In all croatian camping doesn’t exist a security service during the night, so noise could be a problem. If your idea is to relax and to sleep on the night, take care when you have to choice a place for the tent. You could find a beach party on the night inside camping, or your neighbors could be a group of young guys coming from a country where be completely drunk is the only reason for living, so shout is the only way to communicate regardless people are sleeping. In these cases anybody from camping staff will do something because you can receive answers like “there are on holidays”.

If you plan holiday cost, consider in summer 2009 an amount of 30 euros for 2 persons in tent, while renting an apartment has almost the same cost.

Andrea Barbieri Sep 18, 2009 8:01 PM

5

Try taking the ferry ride from Split to Korcula and you will get a fantastic view of the island of Croatia. If you continue on to Vela Luka you will can visit this lovely small city. I have friends in Vela Luka and always look forward to a visit to Croatia.
I live in Anacortes, WA and Vela Luka is our sister city and we have many Croatians living here, including myself. There is an active Croatian culture club and a Vela Luka Dance troop.

Diane Greene Sep 19, 2009 12:07 AM