Croatia photo trip report
Oct 6th, 2005, 12:15 AM
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Croatia photo trip report
Returned on Sunday from my first trip to Croatia and thought you might like to share some of my my photographs.
http://www.worldisround.com/articles/223336/index.html
We stayed in an apartment in Villa Markoc in Cavtat. I found the apartment after searching through the many to be found on www.dubrovnik-online.com and paid 280 euros for the week. The deposit was paid by Western Union Money Transfer, which I was a bit concerned about to start with. As they only wanted a 50 euro deposit, the rest to be paid on arrival, I decided to chance it and it all worked just fine. The owner, Anita was very friendly and helpful, telling us to help ourselves to the sweet juicy grapes growing in the garden and even giving us a lift back to the airport on departure. We later found that most of the apartments here are also offered through Tapestry Holidays, a UK tour company specialising in "uncommercial" holidays.
Cavtat is a lovely small resort with a pretty palm tree lined harbour, backed by restaurants and cafe-bars. As it is only 3 miles from the airport, it was realy convenient for us. We got direct flights from Manchester, that took under 3 hours and were operated by GB Airways, a subsidiary of BA.
We hired a car for 4 days, which gave us a chance to do a little exporing. As we were only there for a week, we didn't bother driving into Montenegro or Bosnia, though it would not have been a problem with the hire car. Car hire isn't particularly cheap, at 310 kuna per day, for a tiny and rather battered Fiat Seicento, though petrol is cheaper than the UK (that's not hard!). Driving isn't particularly fast, so to go much further than we did, it would have been better to fly-drive rather than stay in one base.
All in all a most enjoyable week and one I would recommend.
http://www.worldisround.com/articles/223336/index.html
We stayed in an apartment in Villa Markoc in Cavtat. I found the apartment after searching through the many to be found on www.dubrovnik-online.com and paid 280 euros for the week. The deposit was paid by Western Union Money Transfer, which I was a bit concerned about to start with. As they only wanted a 50 euro deposit, the rest to be paid on arrival, I decided to chance it and it all worked just fine. The owner, Anita was very friendly and helpful, telling us to help ourselves to the sweet juicy grapes growing in the garden and even giving us a lift back to the airport on departure. We later found that most of the apartments here are also offered through Tapestry Holidays, a UK tour company specialising in "uncommercial" holidays.
Cavtat is a lovely small resort with a pretty palm tree lined harbour, backed by restaurants and cafe-bars. As it is only 3 miles from the airport, it was realy convenient for us. We got direct flights from Manchester, that took under 3 hours and were operated by GB Airways, a subsidiary of BA.
We hired a car for 4 days, which gave us a chance to do a little exporing. As we were only there for a week, we didn't bother driving into Montenegro or Bosnia, though it would not have been a problem with the hire car. Car hire isn't particularly cheap, at 310 kuna per day, for a tiny and rather battered Fiat Seicento, though petrol is cheaper than the UK (that's not hard!). Driving isn't particularly fast, so to go much further than we did, it would have been better to fly-drive rather than stay in one base.
All in all a most enjoyable week and one I would recommend.
Oct 7th, 2005, 12:08 AM
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Hi DixieChick
We had no problem at all communicating, as most people we encountered seemed to speak English. It's always a source of embarrasment how well many Europeans speak English - we even had some German tourists approach us for directions, asking "do you speak English?".
We had no problem at all communicating, as most people we encountered seemed to speak English. It's always a source of embarrasment how well many Europeans speak English - we even had some German tourists approach us for directions, asking "do you speak English?".
Oct 7th, 2005, 09:24 AM
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Your pictures are beautiful. I know that you have given Villa Markoc a great review...but in hindsight..was it the best location? In checking the website du../online..how did you come about selecting VM.?
Oct 8th, 2005, 11:01 AM
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Hi - trying to narrow down an apartment from those on Dubrovnok-online was difficult as there are loads to choose from - we narrowed it down to about 3 in the end. One of the deciding factors was when we found Villa Markoc in the Tapestry brochure (see www.tapestryholidays.com) who have a good reputation. Most of the apartments in the block are booked through them but Anita keeps a couple of apartments for herself which I suspect she uses for family as we found personal stuff in the drawers.
Plus points, beautiful lounge/bedroom, nicely furnished, air conditioning, if needed. Beautiful views - 2 balconies, one off the lounge, another off the kitchen, both with chairs and table and big enough to eat out on. TV, DVD, etc, though we never used them. Friendly and helpful owner, Anita. A couple of mini-markets close by.
Negative points, 15 - 20 minute uphill walk from the harbour, restaurants, etc (though it was possible to get the bus for 5 kuna). The kitchen could have done with updating. There were lots of appliances, even a dishwasher but the cooker and fridge, etc, looked like they had seen better days. This didn't bother us though, as apart from breakfast, which we ate on the balcony, we ate out. Cavtat and the apartment are on the flight path - but apart from Sunday, which is very busy, there were only about 4 or 5 flights a day.
Overall it was a good choice for us. We enjoyed Cavtat, it had a lovely relaxed atmosphere, pretty harbour and reasonable choice of restaurants. It was 3 miles from the airport, which was very convenient and there were regular boat trips or busses to Dubrovnik, if you didn't have a car.
Plus points, beautiful lounge/bedroom, nicely furnished, air conditioning, if needed. Beautiful views - 2 balconies, one off the lounge, another off the kitchen, both with chairs and table and big enough to eat out on. TV, DVD, etc, though we never used them. Friendly and helpful owner, Anita. A couple of mini-markets close by.
Negative points, 15 - 20 minute uphill walk from the harbour, restaurants, etc (though it was possible to get the bus for 5 kuna). The kitchen could have done with updating. There were lots of appliances, even a dishwasher but the cooker and fridge, etc, looked like they had seen better days. This didn't bother us though, as apart from breakfast, which we ate on the balcony, we ate out. Cavtat and the apartment are on the flight path - but apart from Sunday, which is very busy, there were only about 4 or 5 flights a day.
Overall it was a good choice for us. We enjoyed Cavtat, it had a lovely relaxed atmosphere, pretty harbour and reasonable choice of restaurants. It was 3 miles from the airport, which was very convenient and there were regular boat trips or busses to Dubrovnik, if you didn't have a car.
Oct 23rd, 2005, 02:03 PM
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julia... hey... see the post above from <i>ourjetboat</i> - - this is a couple possibly interested in a Croatia Fodorites 2006 trip (sent me an e-mail); if you are interested, e-mail me also and I'll get the (infrequent) group e-mail going, as other names express an interest.
Best wishes,
Rex
Best wishes,
Rex
Nov 6th, 2005, 10:30 AM
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Maria,After seeing your comments and wonderful photographs on Cavtat we have decided to finalise arrangements for next year and to stay at Villa Markoc !!.A bit early I know but at least its sorted and we also managed to get a reasonably priced flight anyway.Having confirmed the booking with Anita she has mailed asking to do the Western Union bit for a deposit. I have absolutely no problems in doing this but an not quite sure what to do !!. Can you please let me have some advice if it is not to much of an inconvenience.
Many thanks Les Cooper.
Many thanks Les Cooper.
Nov 7th, 2005, 03:18 AM
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Hi Les
We were a little concerned about the western Union transfer but it was fine. They have offices all over the place but you can arrange it all online:
http://www.westernunion.com/info/selectCountry.asp
You need to set up a transfer to Anita Markoc in Cavtat. This will give you a unique transfer number that she can use to pick up the deposit at an office over there. She was quite happy to have the rest of the money when we got there - well actualy a couple of days before we left! She didn't mind if we paid this in euros or kunas. Anita was very friendly and helpful. If you have any other questions, please ask. I do hope you enjoy Croatia!
We were a little concerned about the western Union transfer but it was fine. They have offices all over the place but you can arrange it all online:
http://www.westernunion.com/info/selectCountry.asp
You need to set up a transfer to Anita Markoc in Cavtat. This will give you a unique transfer number that she can use to pick up the deposit at an office over there. She was quite happy to have the rest of the money when we got there - well actualy a couple of days before we left! She didn't mind if we paid this in euros or kunas. Anita was very friendly and helpful. If you have any other questions, please ask. I do hope you enjoy Croatia!
Nov 7th, 2005, 04:29 AM
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Maria, Thanks very much for the info I really appreciate it. Just one quick point if you dont mind. Anita has asked for the deposit in euros (80). When I go to the Western site it appears that it will only allow me to pay in sterling.Do I just equate what 80 euros is into sterling and do it that way. I am assuming that the payment will go through in local currency anyway.Is this the way that you did it ?.
Nov 7th, 2005, 04:36 AM
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Hi Les - yes, I just converted euros into sterling and rounded it up. The transaction cost about £12 to arrange. I do seem to remember getting an email from Western Union asking me to phone them and confirm some details to complete everything. You need to give Anita the transaction id when you get it, then you will also get an email from Western Union confirming when she picks it up.
Nov 7th, 2005, 07:52 AM
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Maria,
Thanks for that ...its what I thought but needed to be sure.
As I said we had decided on Cavtat but your info helped us to decide on Villa Markoc....its re-assuring to know you are going somewhere that someone recommends.
Thanks again.
Thanks for that ...its what I thought but needed to be sure.
As I said we had decided on Cavtat but your info helped us to decide on Villa Markoc....its re-assuring to know you are going somewhere that someone recommends.
Thanks again.
