Dubrovnik and Dalmacija travel guide

Left Multi-lingual accommodation sign Right Food market
Dalmatia on a Budget
Charter Flights
In season, there are
charter flights from all
over Europe to Dalmatia.
A local travel agent will
be able to give details.
Budget Flights
There are currently
no budget airlines flying
direct to Croatia. Indirect
options include flying from
London Stansted to Bari
or Ancona with Ryanair,
then travelling on to Split,
Hvar or Dubrovnik by ferry
or catamaran (see p103).
You can travel overland to
Dalmatia from Ljubljana
(Slovenia) and Trieste
(Italy), but journey times
are long (about 16 hours).
Check the logistics and
cost of transfer before
booking budget flights on
this basis. WhichBudget
has the details of most
European budget airline
routes. www.ryanair.com
• www.whichbudget.com
Packages
The Croatian National
Tourist Office can provide
a list of travel agents that
organize package holidays
in Dalmatia. A package
can often be cheaper than
standard room rates and
flight costs, especially if
booked at the last minute.
Croatian National Tourist
Office: www.croatia.hr
Accommodation
To secure the best
deals, book well ahead
and compare rates on
the Internet with quotes
taken over the telephone.
Share a room if possible,
as additional beds can
often be added at little
extra cost. Touts who
solicit for guests at bus
and ferry terminals offer
cheap private rooms;
before agreeing, always
check the location. Book
private accommodation
for three days or more,
as a 30 per cent surcharge
is often levied for shorter
stays. Local travel agents
can also arrange affordable
rooms or apartments.
Visit out of Season
Most hotels operate
three seasonal pricebands:
June to September
are the peak months, and
so the most expensive;
in April, May and October,
the rates are slightly
reduced; in November
and March, prices can
be significantly cheaper,
even in Dubrovnik.
Food
Using self-catering
accommodation equipped
with a fridge and cooker
is one way to save money
on food. Many camp sites
also have electrical points,
where appliances can be
plugged in. Produce from
local shops and markets
is generally cheaper than
that in supermarkets.
Many restaurants in the
region are good value.
Markets
As well as cheap fresh
fruit, vegetables, fish and
other groceries, markets
in tourist areas often sell
some souvenirs and
foodstuffs such as honey,
spirits and olive oil, which
make good gifts. Try them
also for clothing, leather
goods or a tasty snack.
Transport
Long-distance bus
fares and foot passenger
rates on boats are both
reasonable. For families
and larger groups, the
convenience of hiring
a car (see p103) may
outweigh the savings to
be made after purchasing
multiple tickets. On local
bus services buy tickets
in advance as this is often
cheaper than obtaining
them from the driver.
Internal Flights
Flying from the
capital Zagreb to Split,
Dubrovnik, Zadar or (in
the peak season only)
the island of Bra saves
valuable time. Once in
Croatia, foreigners can
book Croatia Airlines
flights at their offices at
discounted local rates.
www.croatiaairlines.hr
Sightseeing
Dalmatia offers plenty
of free activities: visiting
churches, exploring the
narrow lanes of the old
towns, walking and
swimming (from most
beaches). Galleries
exhibiting the work of
Croatian and international
artists also welcome
visitors without charge.
There is usually a nominal
fee to visit museums,
with discounts given for
children and family tickets
sometimes available.
Streetsmart
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