We are planning a trip in Croatia next September. My first idea was to stay in sobe (sobas?) most of the time. But as I look into this more closely, I find most places demand a deposit in the form of a bank transfer. This is expensive for Americans, too expensive to consider when staying several places.

Will soba owners accept a check in US dollars, a personal check, a travelers' check or a cashier check? I would plan to pay in cash at the time of our stay.

Now that I look at this question, I realize nobody can answer for all soba owners. I'd just like to get an idea if a check -- of some kind -- might be acceptable.

I ran into this problem last year. In the end I did it through Western Union. The soba owner I dealt with wouldn't accept anything else! Yes, I think it's a problem when going to Croatia, didn't find it anywhere else.

Last year my Dubrovnik apartment wanted a check in euros. My Wells Fargo person got on the phone with the WF international banking department, and she printed a check (in euros) on a French bank check at my branch while I waited.

Wells Fargo charged me $15 for this, but their effort was well worth it.

Sending a deposit by Western Union is OK if you are staying somewhere longer than 3 or 4 days.

If you are only staying somewhere for just one night then it costs more to send it than the night's rental (OK, I stay in cheap places but still...)

With one owner in Trogir I emailed her and explained as simply as I could that for 45 euros it was not worth the cost of the deposit. I suggested that I send her a cheque in GBP to cover the cost of the night's rental, plus a bit rounded up. I dated it for the night of my stay, and the agreement was that if I didn't turn up with euros in my hot little hand then she could cash the cheque. On my arrival and the handing over of cash she returned the cheque to me which I then tore up.

I am going back to Dubrovnik in October for the 3rd time (YAY!) and need to pay a 50 euro deposit. To be honest I think I am just going to pop a 50 euro note in an envelope and send it as signed-for mail. I will have the record of posting at my end, so if the apartment owner says he hasn't received it I will be able to trace it back as to whether it was signed for. Postage seems to be good to Croatia from England, so I think I will risk it!

Good luck and post back if you come up with any other solution to this problem which many of us will continue to be faced with until more places start to use Paypal.

When going to Croatia I have never had to pay a deposit in advance. I mention I am from Canada and they waive it for some reason! It doesn't hurt to ask nicely. If it would be a problem I definitely would go the deposit route. Sometimes I give my credit card number instead.

I got a deposit waived as well. I told the owner a wire transfer would cost me $50, so they said I didn't have to send the deposit, but just to keep in touch by email and reconfirm closer to the date. It never hurts to ask!

I think it depends where you are staying. This is a fairly new business for many people and they only want to protect themselves, especially if their rates are lower than hotels.... People will book, and then "find something else".... Perhaps negotiate your deposit if it is on a place not rated in trip advisor or some other reliable source. Sobes are small, family run businesses... When you get there, you will be surprised by their graciousness... In the end, your adventure will be most marked by the people you meet.

When we went to Korcula, we "drove by" our reserved location.... I was not impressed and I was hungry. We went across the little bay and had lunch, and wine. 3 hours later, we went back to the waterfront "sobe", where the proprietors told us they had given our room to the couple that had been staying there for three days. I was bummed, because this "cove" had really grown on me. This was a place that did not take deposits. Anyway, the proprietor immediately found us an apartment, just two doors down... and extended to us all of his amenities... breakfast on the terrace, bike rental, boat rental, and candle-lit dinners on his terrace, etc. They were wonderful people, and I don't blame them a bit that they gave our room away. The location turned out to be extraordinary, and though we were there only 2 nights, it felt like a lifetime. A lifetime of good stuff....

Negotiate a deposit you are comfortable with....

I have an account with Morgan Stanley. It is no problem and no cost to make a transfer. I did lose a deposit one year when our plans changed. The company, Rose of Dubrovnik, said that they would honor our deposit "the next time". That hasn't happened yet, but I think they would work with us today. We cancelled two weeks prior to our trip in the midst of high season.

Trip insurance is a good idea.

I'm following this thread as I too am in the midst of planning a trip to Croatia in September and will probably run into the same issue.

I've done a wire transfer before,and they are quite expensive.

Two thoughts. First, some of the travel agency sites (adriaticonline.com comes to mind) seem to suggest that credit cards can be used for the deposit. I wonder though if they jack up the price for the use of their service.

A second idea is one I got from a very bright fodorite. I actually used this to send money to family in Germany at Christmas. Open a free checking account and get an ATM card (not a debit card) on the account. Deposit the equivalent funds required and then mail the card. E-mail the pin number and the sobe owner can then withdraw the funds from the account.

Now granted, this second option has drawbacks. It takes a bit of time, but is pretty much free.

On a side note, Travelots, can you tell me where that cove/sobe are in Korcula?

h

I just checked and I goofed on the website. I truly thought I'd seen references to deposits with credit cards on that site. Maybe some do, but the ones I just checked don't.

I do believe adriatica.net accepts credit cards, but their selection seems smaller, at least in the areas I've been searching.

Sorry!

Yes, the agencies such as Adriaticonline (whom I have used with no complaints) do get a convenience fee, so it is better to deal directly with the apartment owners when possible.
It will be different in all situations, but as others said, work with the owners to come up with a workable solution. It is so worth it to get an apartment with a kitchen and balcony for much less than what you would pay for a dingy hotel room! This is one of the things I love about traveling in Croatia. Just wanted to offer encouragement.

I have rented two different apts. in Dubrovnik, and I was able to work with both owners so I did not have to send a deposit. I also was able to work it out with both owners so I could bring the total amount of apt. rental in US dollars, which certainly makes life so much easier. I think most of the owners are very eager to work with you if you just ask.