Driving in Croatia

[Chococar]

I just got back from a 3-week vacation in Croatia, and wanted to let everyone know what a great place it is to visit! It feels a lot like Italy except that the people are very friendly, they generally speak excellent English, everything happens on time (or a little early), the cost is much lower, the food isn't quite as good (in my opinion), and they don't have the Renaissance masterpieces.

We flew into Dubrovnek on the coast at the southern end of the country, exploring the Dalmation cost by buses and ferries, then picked up a car and drove into Istria (reminiscent of Tuscany). The wine industry is still recovering from the communist era, transitioning from quantity to quality. Their table wine is excellent and inexpensive. We visited many small boutique wineries, buying at least one bottle at each. We also visited olive oil and cheese producers. There are medieval hill towns everywhere you look.

Driving was very easy, as they have built many highways since the war ended 12 years ago. They are in excellent condition and very well signed. There are no tricky blind reducing radius or off-camber turns. Unfortunately, I wasn't driving an Elise, just an Opel station wagon. If you take some of the very small old roads looking for a small village or an obscure winery, it's possible to get lost, but it is very easy to quickly get "un-lost".

Things seem to be quite safe now. Most of the country has been rebuilt completely except for scattered buildings in the Northeastern part. We walked anywhere and everywhere at night without any concerns.

And, of course, going outside the peak season makes a huge difference. There were few tourists, and very few Americans. Room prices were half of peak season rates.
Joe

[Cali]

That sounds like a blast, Joe! They don't use the Euro in Croatia do they? With the dollar not doing too well, Western Europe is quite an expense nowadays. Eastern Europe, especially the Czech Republic, has been a good alternative for years. Glad to hear that Croatia is doing well too now...

[Chococar]

Croatia is on a road map to join the EU in a few years, but it's not a certainty that they will. So, no, they don't use the Euro yet. Their currency is the kuna (~5.5=$1), which is broken into 100 lipa.

[JLSELISE]

Great to hear that. I'll be doing a 10-day bicycle tour there on the coast in the fall (after the tourist season, I hope). Good roads and friendly people are big helps when you're getting around on a bicycle .

[pip]

It is defnitely a somewhat "undiscovered area" especially after all their recent turmoil. There was a great article in the Times travel section last sunday highlighting all the things you mentioned! Welcome home!

[geezer]

I've had an office in Bosnia for almost 6 years,and the progress that entire region has made in that time alone has been incredible. When I first went over there 6 years ago, there was a fairly strong UN presence and a bit of a "Soviet bloc" feel, but last time I went there was definitely a much more obvious western (though definitely not American) presence (Austria has invested tons of money into the region)

I too find the people to be freindly, accomodating and eager to converse.

When I was last there the highway from Zagreb south had just opened the weekend before and it made for an amazing drive.. I can post a few pix if anyone is interested

[gampr]

I would like to see pictures.

[Chococar]

In case anyone is interested in reading more details (and a few photos), you can go to my travel blog: joeandkim-croatia.blogspot.com

[ZAMMY1]

a few years ago, my wife and i sponsored an 18-year-old to live with us while he went thru college. he was from zagreb and interested in electronics.
a great young man, he made top marks and was an ideal 'son'.
this was a golden experience for us all. (my wife and i each have 4 children, so we have had a bit of experience between us).
still, as a 'son', he never forgets a holiday or birthday, etc.

[Chococar]

Our connection with Croatia began with us hosting a 16 year old exchange student. She now teaches at the university in Zagreb.

JLSELISE -- have a wonderful trip. July/Aug are peak months, so if you're going in September or later, it won't be as crowded. There isn't much shoulder on the roads for a bicycle, so be careful.

[CountTracula]

Croatia is awesome. I was in Dubrovnik last summer and will stop by over there this summer as well. Being a track nut I actually made it to a local race track in Rijeka Not bad - hooked up with some friends and drove a Renault Clio Sport, a spunky little car with a very similar feel to a Civic Type R.
The food is way better (and healthier) than northern Italian food, btw. The only thing I did not like about Croatia was a very strict marine law where boats greater than certain size cannot anchor anywhere except in designated areas.

[John]

I fell in love with Hravška many years ago and have been back several times since. As you described, like Italy, but less well known and less spoiled. If you have the chance to go back, be sure to visit Montenegro, a little more of a rugged version of Croatia.

I may do my honeymoon there next year if my g/f doesn't want to delay out honeymoon until Dec in NZ or Chile.

Photo across the fjord over Kotor, Crno Gorska (Montenegro):

[fitfan]

Tesla was from the region of Croatia... so it has got to be awesome! One of my destinations i have allways wanted to get to - and go cycling from Slovenia south a long the coast maybe next year

[Chococar]

I heard that there is a Tesla museum in his home town, but we had left the region by the time I heard that. I'll visit it on my next trip. Speaking of famous people from Croatia, Mario Andretti was born in Istria -- then Italy, now Croatia.

We did spend a day in Montenegro, but didn't like it as much as Croatia, perhaps because of the areas we visited. We took a one-day bus tour from Dubrovnek. There is 45% unemployment rate in Montenegro now and the Russian mafia is moving in. We didn't find the people anywhere near as friendly in Croatia.

[JLSELISE]

Originally Posted by John

I fell in love with Hravška many years ago and have been back several times since. As you described, like Italy, but less well known and less spoiled. If you have the chance to go back, be sure to visit Montenegro, a little more of a rugged version of Croatia.

I may do my honeymoon there next year if my g/f doesn't want to delay out honeymoon until Dec in NZ or Chile.

Photo across the fjord over Kotor, Crno Gorska (Montenegro):

Could certainly be challanging on a bicycle .

[dstevens]

Went there 4 years ago and found it to be great.

Was your rental car like this one?

[John]

Originally Posted by Chococar

We did spend a day in Montenegro, but didn't like it as much as Croatia, perhaps because of the areas we visited. We took a one-day bus tour from Dubrovnek. There is 45% unemployment rate in Montenegro now and the Russian mafia is moving in. We didn't find the people anywhere near as friendly in Croatia.

Yes, unemployment was indeed quite high - didn't realize it was at the state it was though. I was there in 2005, and the Europeans were the primary tourist revenue (although unemployment was still in a poor state then too) - I'm suprised the Russian Mafia is moving in. When I was in Riga last year, the evidence of the Russian Mafia was overpowering (S-classes, Ferraris, Porsches, Land Rovers, BMW Ms everywhere)...

Where were you exactly? Kotor? Bar? Bari?

[Chococar]

Hi John,

Here's the description of our excursion into Montenegro from Dubrovnik:

Full day tour - Pearls of Montenegrian coast
Gospa od Škrpjela, Kotor, Sv. stefan, Budva
There are very few places to be compared with natural beauties of the Bay of Kotor, very often compared to Norwegian fiords. Numerous small towns, each one full of historical and cultural monuments, come one after another. Countinuing along the gulf coast, we shall visit a small town called Perast, and then take a small boat to reach the islet called "Our Lady of Škrpjel". Next one on the list of pearls is Kotor, a town well-known for its nautical tradition and
We make a stop at the belvedere above Sveti Stefan.The view offered is beyond description over this unique town connected to the land by a bridge and converted into a deluxe town-hotel, attracting a great number of tourists for its exclusivity. We continue towards Budva, one of the most ancient urban centres on the Adriatic Coast. There we go for an orientation city tour and a lunch.

[climb4fun]

Originally Posted by JLSELISE

Great to hear that. I'll be doing a 10-day bicycle tour there on the coast in the fall (after the tourist season, I hope). Good roads and friendly people are big helps when you're getting around on a bicycle .

Very excited to hear there are bike tourers in our forum!

I'm planning a 10-day bike tour in Europe _after doing the Etalk group trip in the UK this summer_ starting in London September 1st, then Paris and will finish in Geneve. It's about 1000 kilometer ride and we try to pedal on average +100km a day on touring bike.

We welcome teammates or/and any suggestions or advices for this trip.

[ms355]

Originally Posted by climb4fun

We welcome teammates or/and any suggestions or advices for this trip.

We are going to meet during the ET trip to Hethel. I can bring a map of France and some suggestions.