Croatia as it is
Rested in Croatia from 7 to 14 July. We didn’t plan a vacation, we bought a last-minute tour the day before departure from the Alf operator. I want to share information. Perhaps this will be useful to those who will buy a last-minute tour to Croatia.
When buying a tour, we did not know which town we would end up in. Managers (Alena and Vika) warned that it would definitely be the region of the Makarska Riviera, the city of arrival - Split. Accommodation in private apartments 150-200 m from the sea, which are equipped with everything you need: for a comfortable stay: bathroom, hot water, air conditioning, TV, kitchen area with refrigerator and stove, bedroom area. In reality, there may be surprises
In Split we were met by the host of "Panoramic travel". At first, they could not understand at all who we were and where to place us. Then, fortunately, a girl came up who had heard something about tourists in the apartments and suggested that we find ourselves on the list of arrivals on our own.
It turned out that we were going to the town of Baska Voda (a small quiet town on the Makarska Riviera at the foot of Biokovo Mountain). We were directed to the bus for transfer. It turned out that he was not going to Baska Voda and we were transferred to another ...supposedly ours Upon arrival in the town, the Panoramic travel guide handed over everyone who flew to the apartment (there were 9 people) to some local small tour agency. And they have already begun to settle in cottages. These two ladies did not speak either Russian or English.
Accommodation
The cottages where we were settled turned out to be not 150-200 meters from the beach, but much further - three times as much. The terrain is the slope of the mountain. The room was clean, spacious enough, with all the promised amenities. However, the next day, late in the evening (around 23:00), the owner of the cottage broke into us and demanded an additional payment for the use of air conditioning. Tariff - 7 euros for 1 day! We were not ready for such a turnover, since no one warned us upon check-in.
The owner said: “My house - my rules! Your voucher does not contain the word air conditioning! » The air temperature during the day reaches up to 40 degrees, naturally, without an air conditioner, you can just die and not rest. I worked for 5 years in a tour operator company and I know that nothing like this is indicated in vouchers. The number type is indicated, which implies a set of specific services. Wrote about the problem in "Alf". Girls answer - partners will solve your problem. In practice, no one has decided anything! We had to pay extra 35 euros for air conditioning so that the temperamental owner would not break into us every night before going to bed. True, they demanded from him an official check for payment.
ADVICE to all who go on vacation in apartments in Croatia: demand from the manager in Ukraine that everything that is fundamentally important to you be listed in brackets after the word apartments in your voucher.
For example: air conditioning, shower, hot water, refrigerator, stove / electric kettle, parking, etc. Preferably in English, so that there are no excuses like “I don’t understand”. This will protect you from unpleasant surprises from the Croatian travel agency.
We also witnessed an unpleasant incident with Czech tourists. In the afternoon, someone opened the door to their room and took all the electronics and money. The doors in the rooms are ordinary thin interior doors with the cheapest lock. A strong man can easily push one inward with his shoulder. There are no safes in the rooms. There was no video surveillance and security in the cottage. The owner of the cottage immediately began to run around all the rooms and shout that he was not responsible for the safety of our belongings! Oh how
The last surprise from our "hospitable" host was on the day of departure. In the memo, which was in the package of documents and on the door of the room, it was indicated: the release of the rooms until 10:00.
Our "friend" showed up at the door at 9:00 sharp and told us to vacate the room. Actually, this didn't really surprise us anymore So be prepared to face similar surprises!
There are no problems with catering. The promenade area along the beach is full of various establishments: fast food (pizza, burgers, etc. ), cafes with affordable prices, various restaurants. Estimated cost (rate 1 euro - 7.3 kunas): pizza sector - 10 kn, spaghetti a la carbonara, pasta, burgers about 39 kn, beer 0.5 - from 10 to 25 kn, fish and meat dishes from 60 to 90 kn. Ice cream cones are everywhere. There are many varieties, the cost is one - 7 Kn. If you decide to cook yourself, no problem either. There are several supermarkets in the town. Food prices are about twice as high as ours. Water min. 1.5 l - about 8 kn, tomatoes, peppers - about 12 kn / kg, eggs - 16 kn / 10 pcs. , yogurt and kefir - about 6 KN / l. Very tasty and high quality dairy products!
Opposite the port there is a shop "Rybarnitsa", which sells freshly caught fish, shrimp, squid. It only works early in the morning (we came at 6-7). They will help you choose a fish and clean it right away. For meat lovers, there is a butcher's shop, where the desired piece is ground into minced meat in front of you. Fruits and vegetables can be bought at the fruit market or in stalls on the waterfront. Nectarine, peaches, figs - 25 kn / kg, watermelons - 8 kn / kg (watermelons are sold in quarters). Bread and a variety of pastries were bought in private bakeries, which are numerous on the waterfront. Loved the cornbread. On the beach they also carry various donuts, corn, a fruit boat floats. But the prices are correspondingly higher. You can also buy food on the spot in some boarding houses.
It's worth coming here for the sake of the sea! The water is clean-clean turquoise-emerald color. Even at depth you can see the bottom.
It is not for nothing that the Makarska Riviera region is considered one of the cleanest places in the world and has earned the Blue Flag. The beach is medium to large pebbles. The entrance to the water is smooth. For those with sensitive feet, swimming shoes may come in handy. Pine trees grow along the beach. They then give a saving shadow somewhere until 12-14:00 (depending on where you were able to settle down). You need to take a place where the shadow lingers longer, early in the morning at 6 o’clock. Sun loungers and umbrellas can be rented (30 Kn/day for a sun lounger and 20 Kn/day for an umbrella), or you can buy a rug once for 60-70 Kn. City beach, wasashi system . There are a lot of people: sometimes the maximum distance between the rugs is 10 cm). The whole of Europe is resting, relations are democratic and friendly. In such close quarters, no one is outraged that someone stepped on his rug, walked on his legs or smokes nearby. And merchants and sellers of excursions now and then step over the bodies of sunbathers.
On the beach there are changing rooms and fresh showers, the latter is really paid (2 Kn). Garbage is removed every evening.
There is something to see in Croatia! From the Makarska Riviera region, it is convenient to go to the Krka National Park, Dubrovnik, climb Mount Biokovo, raft down the mountain river Cetina, sail to the island of Brac or to the fortified city of Korcula (Marco Polo's birthplace). The famous park "Plitvice Lakes" is far away (about 300 km), but ...Do not rush to buy excursions from the host operator. Prices are significantly higher than you can buy in any city agency. For example: rafting from the operator 400 Kn, from locals - 150 Kn, a trip to Dubrovnik from the operator 400 Kn, from locals - 300 Kn, etc.
ADVICE If you still decide to go to Plitvice Lakes, it is better to rent a car for a day.
Firstly, it is more profitable financially (this tour costs 590 KN/person from the operator), secondly, you will avoid a tiring long bus ride (we reached the park by car on the autobahn in 3 hours) and thirdly, you will be able to fully see the park (groups go on the shortest 2-3 hour route). There are several rental shops in the town. To rent a car you need an international driver's license. It is advisable to reserve it in advance. We wanted "for tomorrow", so we had to take a free car of the middle price category. The simplest (Toyota Yaris) costs 45 euros/day. A brand new Toyota Avensis cost us 68 euros + 15 euros full insurance. The car is given with a full tank of gas and they take 100 euros as a deposit that you will return it with a full tank too. Parking in Croatia is paid - 8 Kn / hour (this is where it can be useful to have it in your cottage). The fare on the autobahn from Baska Voda to Plitvice Lakes is 99 Kn (one way). Gasoline - 10.2 KN / l.
Entrance to the park for adults - 110 Books. , parking - 7 Kn/h. At the entrance to the park, you can choose a route for yourself, depending on the time you have. The shortest is A (2-3 hours), the longest is K (6-8 hours). Then follow the signs with the letter of your route and enjoy the beauty of nature It is advisable to grab a bottle of water and wear comfortable sports shoes. There are no mosquitoes in the park! You don't need warm clothes in summer either.
In the port there are many boats from small to large, which offer various boat trips, code-named "Fish Picnic". The cost of such a day trip is about 30 euros / person. Most of them sail on about. Brach. Or you can just rent a motorboat and sail along the riviera on your own (200 Kn/h). If you sail in the direction of Split, the panorama of the coast is more diverse and picturesque, in the direction of Makarska - just the same beaches.
