Dubrovnik and Dalmacija travel guide

View from the Excelsior, Dubrovnik (see p110)
Accommodation Tips
Price and Location
Annoyingly, the closer
it is to the Old Town, the
more expensive the room.
A good compromise is to
stay outside the centre
where transport links are
good (as in Split and
Dubrovnik) and splash
out on old-town rooms
the rest of the time.
A Room with
a View
Dalmatia is brimming
with hotels that overlook
the sea. Rooms with a
sea view come at a small
extra cost, but when
the choice is between
looking out onto the sea
or car park, it is worth
finding the extra funds.
Specify at the time of
booking that you want a
sea view, to avoid being
disappointed on arrival.
Beware of Noise
At the height of the
tourist season hotels
located next to cafés
and bars can suddenly
become noisy, when
stereos pump out tunes
until the small hours. If
you are uncertain about
the hotel’s location ask
about possible disturbances
before booking.
Grading Systems
Croatian hotels are
classified from basic
1-star up to luxurious
5-star. In 1- and 2-star
hotels, some rooms may
have shared bathrooms.
This grading system can
also broadly be applied to
private accommodation.
A renovation programme
is gradually bringing all
Dalmatian hotels up to
3-star standard or above.
Lighthouses
For a break with
a difference consider
staying in one of seven
historic stone lighthouses
located on Dalmatia’s
most remote islands
and islets (see p115).
Choosing the lighthouse
carefully can save on the
cost of private transfers,
with Veli Rat (Dugi Otok),
Struga (Lastovo) and Sv
Petar (on the mainland
near Makarska) accessible
by public transport or car.
Renting is usually by the
week, but between mid-
September and early May
you may be able to book
two-day stays. Contact
Plovput for more details.
www.plovput.hr
Rural Hotels
The agritourism
concept of farm holidays
is slowly emerging here.
Villagers in the likes of
Šibenik-Knin county, close
to Krka National Park, are
opening their doors to
tourists. Properties are
usually simple and clean,
with many retaining
rustic elements. Prices
are roughly equivalent to
that of a private room in
a coastal town or city.
Children
Self-contained apartments
arranged through
local and national travel
agencies can be good
value for families (see
p116–17). Most hotels
will provide a baby’s cot
for a small daily charge.
Peak Season
Hotels, apartments,
rooms and camp sites
are in high demand, and
at their most expensive
from June to September
(see p107); some places
hike up their prices
even further in July
and August. It is easier,
and cheaper, to secure
accommodation without
a reservation in April and
October. From November
to March rates are at
their lowest, but many
hotels, and most camp
sites, are closed.
Internet Booking
The Internet can be a
useful tool when choosing
accommodation, allowing
you to view photographs,
read reviews submitted
by previous guests and
compare prices, before
making a booking. Some
hotels and one-stop
booking sites discount
rates, particularly when
there is late availability.
Breakfast,
Half-board and
Full-board
Most hotel rates include
breakfast. Even upmarket
hotels often offer halfboard,
but full-board is
rarer. Dalmatia has an
abundance of fine and
inexpensive eateries,
so unless budget is your
prime concern think
twice about committing
to dining in the hotel.
Streetsmart
109