Croatian currency
 

We're (my OH and I) are planning a road trip of Northern Italy, Croatia and Slovenia in September. Croatia is the only one of the 3 countries that does not have the euro. How easy is getting local cash (HRK or Kuna) while there? We will have a Travelcard loaded with euros, but that's not going to be much help at a Croatian ATM. We can get some HRK before leaving home, but we don't want to be carrying too much cash with us; and we can draw out lots of euros before leaving Italy and exchange them for HRK at a local bank once we're over the border. But we'll be in Croatia for 10 days - long before which I imagine we'll need more cash but will have no way of accessing either HRK or euros to exchange for HRK.

We'll have a credit card which we could use for big-ticket items like accommodation (although we'd prefer not to because of fees etc). How do people usually manage in this situation? Thanks in advance...

I had no problems with ATMs in Croatia.

Yes, my ATM card also worked in in Croatia wherever I tried to use it, to get Kuna.

And it's pretty easy nowadays to get credit cards that charge no currency conversion fees. However, I think you should have Kuna on hand in case certain places won't take credit cards.

You will get a better rate using an ATM than trying to exchange cash.

<< Travelcard loaded with euros >>

Normally you get a very bad exchange rate when using travel cards. Have you checked the exchange rate before buying one of these?

Use ATM cards in all countries to get cash when you need it.

Are you sure a bank will exchange Euros for HRK? Most likely they will direct you to a currency exchange, again for a bad rate.

Banks will exchange euros for HRK, but you may have to take a number and wait.

My BOA ATM card was accepted at some Croatian bank ATM's but not at others. I would suggest getting cash in larger towns where there is a choice of banks.

Thanks everyone. What I like about Travel Cards is that you pre-load them with a set amount of, say, euros, so you know what your maximum budget/outlay is going to be. Plus, while you're away your everday bank account is not being used and is hopefully accumulating funds for when you return (as well as coping with automatic payments of bills, direct debits etc).
Using your normal ATM card that's linked to your everyday bank account back home (which is what I assume people mean by "ATM card") doesn't have the same "limit control" and if not constantly checked (who wants to bother with that while on holiday?) could deplete funds and jeopardise automatic bill payments.
I do watch the exchange rates in the months leading up to a trip, and try to load my travel card when the rates are most favourable. Unfortunately, however, my cards won't load Croatian kuna - hence my question. It's good to know there should be no problem.

twoflower: <i>Using your normal ATM card that's linked to your everyday bank account back home (which is what I assume people mean by "ATM card") doesn't have the same "limit control" and if not constantly checked (who wants to bother with that while on holiday?) could deplete funds and jeopardise automatic bill payments.</i>

I've got a separate credit union account I use just for overseas travel, so I get all the same benefits you do by loading a travel card, but I can use my ATM card to get currency at the best rate in any country I visit. I use my "regular" account's ATM card as my backup in case travel ATM card isn't accepted, but I've never needed it so far.

Two questions:

1. What will you do if you exceed the funds on your travel card? Do you have a backup plan for getting small amounts of cash?

2. What about applying for a checking overdraft in case you deplete your funds? You can pay back the overdraft upon your return from vacation.

Hi adrienne - my backup is a credit card which I use solely for foreign currency transactions: buying online from Amazon, for example, and hotel bills when my travelcard funds might be getting low. Also, on the occasions when I prebook a hotel before travelling (very rare, except maybe for the first dew nights of a trip), I'll use that same credit card to secure the booking, and generally pay the bill with it as well.

In a couple of countries that I tend to visit more frequently than others, I have opened bank accounts with accompanying ATM cards. I try to maintain the balances of these accounts at a level to cover one holiday of 2-3 months. Unfortunately our upcoming trip is not to either of these countries.

In Australia we get a good deal with the loaded travel cards so NZ may be the same. I know that for most Americans they aren't a good option.