A British man is warning anyone making a trip to this particular European hotspot to be aware of 10 things to avoid being caught out.
Ruben Chorlton-Owen isn’t one to get tricked into ‘tourist traps’ while abroad.
The 24-year-old, who regularly shares his travel tips and hacks with his 104,000 followers on Instagram (@rube ), is rather savvy since he jets off to multiple destinations each year.
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On his recent trip, however, he fell victim to a couple of rookie errors.
And so, he’s taken to social media, racking up over 2,000 views on a clip warning other holidaymakers to be aware of these things before they arrive if visiting Croatia this summer.
“Always check the exact location of your hotel,” the content creator, from Abersoch, North Wales, told What’s The Jam.
“It’s so important.
“So we ended up booking TUI Blue Makarska.
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“And it sounds like it’s in Makarska.
“However, it’s in Igrane, which is beautiful and quiet.
“But if you’re looking for nightlife, bars and the busy atmosphere, it’s around a four hour walk into the main town.
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“I don’t think this is something many first time visitors realise.”
Another thing that caught Ruben out were taxi fares.
He said: “Taxi prices can vary massively.
“It’s one thing that surprised me [the most].
“If you use Uber, it’s typically the cheapest and the best; but it can take a little longer to get a taxi.
“We were quoted €140 by a local taxi company for one journey – but booked the same trip with Uber for €110.”
Ruben, who follows a gluten-free diet, realised he should’ve planned meals ahead before visiting.
He said: “Especially away from the main city, I found the food choices much more limited than in the UK.
“A lot of traditional Croatian food is based around fresh bread, bakeries and local dishes.
“You can find some gluten-free options; but there’s not many.”
His fourth warning relates to the beautiful beaches.
But don’t go bare foot; as you’ll likely be hobbling back to your hotel.
Ruben said: “The beaches aren’t what people always expect.
“So Croatia has some of the clearest water in Europe, but many of the beaches are actually pebbly, rather than sandy.
“Getting some water shoes, or picking some up while here, can be a lifesaver.”
And while on the beach, be wary when hiring a sunbed.
He said: “They can be confusing.
“Before paying for sunbeds, check how the system works.
“Some do reservations, some make you pay there and especially with some popular tourist hotspot beaches, there are people selling dodgy tickets.
“So make sure to check what is going on to ensure you book a sunbed properly.”
Other tips include opting to use card over cash, as not many places accept the latter.
And if looking to book a boat trip, do your research first, as some excursions are better value for money than others.
Lastly, accessibility is limited.
He said: “If you’re visiting and you, or someone you’re with, might be disabled, it’s not very wheelchair accessible.
“During my stay, I noticed a large number of steps throughout the hotel.
“It could make getting around difficult for guests with limited mobility.
“A member of our party who can only slightly walk a short distance really struggled.
“And another thing that surprised me was that in some areas outside the main towns, there aren’t continuous footpaths.
“Walking between villages meant sharing parts of the road with traffic.
“So research where you’re going if planning to walk over using taxis.”
Ruben also notes that some public toilets, as well as beach showers, require payment, which caught him out – but, luckily, he was able to use the loo after a stranger gave him a few coins.
But, most of all, he warns one thing: don’t expect sun.
On three days of his trip, there were storms; though it didn’t stop him from having a good time.
Ruben added: “It’s an amazing country and these aren’t complaints.
“They’re just things I wish I knew before travelling.
“I hope sharing these can help other British holidaymakers avoid common mistakes this summer.”
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