Mediterranean vacation not just for the rich and famous
The former European tourist magnet of Croatia is now well on its way to full recovery from the war of the 1990s, but its recent past means that you can still find affordable accommodation in Croatia even if you want to stay right at the beach or in the very city centre of historic hubs like Dubrovnik and Zagreb. You will also be able to enjoy a long row of different activities such as tours, beach sports and of the legendary nightlife without having to spend too much money.
Croatia is located on the coast of a part of the Mediterranean Sea called the Adriatic sea is located between Italy and the Balkan peninsula in southern Europe. The Croatian coast sports a pleasant Mediterranean climate but the winters can be a bit chilly. The warmest month is August with an average temperature of 21-39°C, while spring and autumn offers milder conditions and are favoured by many vacationers from northern Europe.
Most tourists that come to Croatia from abroad stay in hotels or B&B’s, but if you’re on a budget renting a villa can save you considerable amounts of money. For the price of two weeks in a mid-level hotel you can usually have your pick among everything from beach houses and Croatia villas to town houses in the centre of towns and picturesque cottages. Renting a house also gives you your own kitchen which allows you to save money by cooking your own food as well as gives you a chance to try cooking local dishes using local ingredients. Croatia is famous for its mediterranean cooking and a cook book will make a great souvenir to bring back home from Croatia.
Some very popular tourist spots along the adriatic coast include Ploe, Split, Zadar, Dubrovnik, Omi¡alj and Pula. Nicknamed “Pearl of the Adriatic”, the city of Dubrovnik is an UNESCO World Heritage Site located at the southernmost part of the country. It is one of the most prominent tourist resorts in the Mediterranean and a popular starting point for exploring the Adriatic ocean by boat. Plenty of charter agencies offer sail and motor boats with or without crew and it doesn’t have to be insanely expensive if you’re a group splitting the bill.
Dubrovnik is more expensive than other parts of Croatia, this is true both for accommodations and for dinning experinces and entertainment due to the fact that the city is popular among European tourists. Although there are a few Croatia hotels that are a good choice for a traveler on a budget but a hostel is usually the best choice if you want something cheap during high season. If you travel as a group a rented low-end property is another option.
Other towns like Omi¡alj and Pula have retained more of their village charm than Dubrovnik and is also offering far better value for you money due to lower prices. Located on an 80 meter high cliff, Omi¡alj offers stunning views of the Adriatic Sea and has a town centre filled with historical and cultural monuments, including a 13th century church as welll as the ruins of the old Roman town Fulvinium. In Pula you will also find the largest surviving Roman amphitheatres in the world, another sign of this city’s historic connection is the fact that the city plaze still is in the same place it was during the Roman rule. Pula was built by the Illyrians about 3,000 years ago and occupied by the Romans in 177 B.C. After the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, the entire Istrian peninsula was pillaged by the Ostrogoths.
