Croatia
 

My wife and I are considering a trip to Croatia in Mid September or mid October.

We have previously visited Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic so we are familiar with visiting countries outside the usual Western European area.

However, I'm a bit leery of Croatia.

Is there any reason to be?

Is it it a place that one would like to visit...i.e. good food, castles, scenery etc?

And is it safe?

Is it also reasonably priced?

Thanks for your replys.

We have been to Croatia twice, the most recent in May 09. There is absolutely no reason to be reluctant to travel there, especially since you are familiar with other nearby countries. Croatia has historical sites, lovely beaches, and some of the friendliest folks anywhere. English is spoken by nearly everyone. We were told that English is required from 2nd grade through high school, so language will be no problem. Are you going on a tour or on your own? We drove on both trips and had no problems. Don't miss Dubrovnik and Plitvice National Park. Accommodations range from simple sobes (b & b's) to apartments to 5-star hotels; all that we stayed in were squeaky clean. I think you'll love Croatia.

We felt very safe in Croatia - there were tonnes of other tourists. Its definately not a secret any more. There is a reason everyone is flocking though - Croatia is great to visit in terms of scenery and a wealth of great towns to visit. As far as price...it was OKAY - not cheap but decent, a less expensive then Western European destinations - More expensive than the Czech Republic though.

We visited in late August, through September. I will say that we hit the very last weekend of the "season" which was packed in Dubrovnik....had beautiful weather in Hvar the second week in September, then the weather took a turn and it was clear that the "season" was over. In fact we were sitting at a restaurant in Zadar when an downpour started - the waiter sat down in a huff next to us and exclaimed aloud - "thats it summers over!" He was pretty much right. We had a bit more swim weather but it was definately on its way out. We like swimming and snorkelling and when on the coast lots of activities are geared for good weather so its something to keep in mind. I personally would not go in mid October - for weather but also because opening hours and tours on offer are reduced or closed altogether.

Our highlights were Hvar, Split, Rovinj and Plitvice National Waterfall Park. We regretted not having a car - we strongly recommend you arrange one. In particular the scenery around Plitvice was lovely we would have enjoyed seeing more of what inland areas had to offer. We also passed through Opatija in the north and wish we had made that a stop - lovely buildings.

We enjoyed Croatia and as with everywhere we go - would like to have seen even more.

Cheers,
Naxos

We were in Croatia in October 2009. Yes, it's safe, beautiful, lots of good food and wine, especially in the area called Istria. We rented a car for part of the trip. After touring Plitvice area, Rovinj and interior of Istrian Peninsula, etc., we dropped the car in Rijeka and took the overnight ferry south along the coast.

Here are some photos, if you're interested:
Plitvice: http://jmstudio.fotopic.net/p61923471.html and http://jmstudio.fotopic.net/p61923474.html

Rovinj, stunningly beautiful town jutting into the Adriatic: http://jmstudio.fotopic.net/p61923403.html and http://jmstudio.fotopic.net/p61923406.html

Motovun, wonderful food, glorious at daybreak while mist fills the valleys below: http://jmstudio.fotopic.net/p61923480.html and http://jmstudio.fotopic.net/p61923483.html

Spent 2 nights on Rabb Island, which was particularly lovely, flat, and fun to explore on bicycles:
http://jmstudio.fotopic.net/p61923536.html and http://jmstudio.fotopic.net/p61923540.html

Ended up in Dubrovnik the middle of October, where we encountered our first and only rain - locals said it meant summer was over.

Adding a definite YES to the above posters.

As to safe, I am a woman who traveled alone w/no
problems.

We've been to Croatia twice. I can't add much more to what the previous posters have said except that it's heaven on earth. The Adriatic Coast is one of the most beautiful places on earth. It's a very tourist-friendly country and as Naxos said, not dirt cheap, but also not as expensive as Western Europe. The Balkans are very safe. We rented a car and drove with no problem. I don't know about the weather during the fall, but the hoards of tourists should be gone by then.

I'd suggest reading some trip reports on this forum for more information. You'll be happy you chose it!

ellen and julia. May I ask where you made arrangements to rent your car. Which company?

Agree with the others. The only thing I ever found expensive was seafood--but I think that high quality seafood should be priced accordingly.
The opportunity to rent your own apartment or even stay in people's homes helps with the budget. Also, the scenery is free! (Only rentals in Dubrovnik are pricey.)
In the north you will find castles, more of an Austro-Hungarian vibe--the coast is more Italian in feel. These are generalizations of course.
For the possibility of swimming, I would go in mid September and to the south coast first.
Once you do your own reading up on the country, return here for specifics, as you can see there are many Croatia fans here!

Here's confirmation of everyone's responses . . . very safe, very friendly, very beautiful.

We are two senior ladies, budget travelers . . . we rented a car through Autoeurope, picked it up when we were leaving Dubrovnik, visited Split, Trogir, Zadar, Plitvice, and turned it in in Zagreb. Driving was easy, highways well signed and in good condition.

I typed up our travelog and would be happy to email it, let me know at [email protected] if interested.

Have a great trip,
Sandy (in Denton)

Sher, we rented through Autoeurope. Picked up the car in Lake Bled. Returned it in Rijecka. They were the only firm which allowed us to pick up in Slovenia and drop off in Croatia.

Ellen mentioned hordes of tourists...

In October, the only place we ran into that was Dubrovnik, which was over-run with people off the cruise ships during the day, but they all disappeared by about 4 p.m. and then we had the place to ourselves.

I, too, found it stunningly beautiful and completely safe to visit. Wonderful foods; very helpful and generally English-speaking people; not as inexpensive as it apparently used to be, but more affordable than much of Europe. I was in Croatia in 2009, and found it easier to visit than Poland (Warsaw, Krakow) or Budapest, but then it has been many years since I visited ose cities, so the comparison may not be accurate today.

Another vote for you to proceed with your trip to Croatia! Like some of the other posters, we've visited twice and loved both trips. The country is absolutely beautiful and we found everyone to be very friendly and more than helpful. You'll have a wide variety of food to choose from and will enjoy some of the most jaw dropping beautiful scenery anywhere, especially along the coastline.

You didn't specifically mention what your concerns were about visiting, just that you had some. Curious as to what they are?

I want to note, for those who are interested, that the overnight Jadrolinija ferry from Rijeka was a fun and easy way to travel south along the coast. The cabins were small but quiet, the beds comfortable, and the shower was great. The food in the large dining room wasn't bad, the wines were good, the breakfast was good, the waiters were friendly and helpful and the ferry ran on schedule. I'd do it again - but then I'm a ferry nut!

We rented from National - and I must say they were great. I loved our Croatia trip- it's a stunning country and we always felt safe, and we went all over. You'll love it. I posted a long response to another question earlier. Click on my name and you should find it.

We had the same worries, after all, this is a country that was at war not too long ago. But, after spending several weeks in this beautiful country, I can say our worries were completely unfounded. I am in the process of writing about our trip last March -- it's getting much longer than I ever imagined. You can click on my name and it should be near the top of the list. Enjoy your planning!

--Annie