Preparing for your trip
| Package: | Discover Croatia, 2024 |
Print this page and refer to it as you prepare for your trip!
Printed Dec 26, 2024. Please visit https://staging.friendlyplanet.com/before-you-go/?tourId=1754 for the latest updates.
Checklist
| Item | Due | |
|---|---|---|
| ☐ | Ensure you have a current passport valid for at least six months after your return date. | ASAP |
| ☐ | Passport Pages. Ensure you have enough empty pages in your passport as per the entry requirements at your destination | ASAP |
| ☐ | Complete your registration. You'll receive a link to the registration form after you complete your booking. | Within 5 days of booking |
| ☐ | Request any additions or changes you may still want to make to your trip. (Fees and/or additional charges may apply.) | 75 days prior to travel |
| ☐ | Make your final payment, if any balance is due. | See your invoice |
| ☐ | Obtain any necessary travel visas and review any requirements for entry. | See below |
| ☐ | Print your itinerary and other final documents, which we will send you via email by 14 days prior to travel. | Prior to travel |
| ☐ | Print your policy documents, if you purchased travel insurance, and carry them with you. | Prior to travel |
| ☐ | Enroll in The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), if you're a U.S. citizen or national, so the State Dept. can locate and assist you in case of an emergency. | Prior to travel |
In addition, if you booked flights with your package:
| Item | Due | |
|---|---|---|
| ☐ | Book connecting flights to your departure city, if necessary. (Please confirm your international flight schedule first!) | After receiving your e‑tickets |
| ☐ | Make advance seat reservations for your international flight, if you have a preference. | After receiving your e‑tickets |
| ☐ | Confirm your flight times and any special meal requests with the airline, and print and carry a copy of your e-ticket. | 72 hours prior to travel |
| ☐ | Check in for your flights online and download/print your boarding passes (if available). | 24 hours prior to travel |
| ☐ | Arrive at the airport, ready for the trip of a lifetime! | 3½ hours prior to departure |
Documents & Entry Requirements
Entry requirements are provided for your convenience. However, unless otherwise stated, it is your responsibility to determine the requirements that apply to you and your trip and to comply with them, including obtaining any necessary visas or other travel documents by the required deadlines and carrying them with you. Especially with COVID-19, requirements are subject to change, so check back for the latest before you depart.
Croatia Entry Requirements
Advice from our partner Sherpa
General Requirements & Guidelines
- In general, you must have a passport to travel abroad, which should be valid for at least six months after your return date. Passports expiring before then should be renewed as soon as possible. Passports contain at least 2 blank pages for each country visited. If your passport does not have this many pages, obtain a new passport as soon as possible.
- if your passport and visa are not in order, airlines and cruise ships may deny boarding, countries may deny entry, and your trip may be disrupted. Travel insurance may not cover such losses.
- Any changes in names or passport information should be reported to us immediately. Airlines and cruise ships may deny boarding if the name on your passport does not match your tickets.
- Minors (age 17 or younger) departing and/or returning to the U.S. without parents or with only one parent may be required by U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) to present a notarized parental consent letter and/or unabridged birth certificate (more information). Many other countries have similar entry requirements, especially for minors traveling with a parent/guardian with a different surname; check with the consulates of all countries you'll be visiting to learn more.
Final Documents
Your final travel documents will be sent to you via email by 14 days prior to departure. These will include your daily itinerary, hotel and emergency contact information, and other relevant information. Please print your documents and take them with you. If you're departing in less than a week and haven't received your documents, let us know immediately!
Travel Insurance Documents
If you purchased travel insurance, please print and carry your policy documents, including contact information for emergency travel assistance and instructions on how to make a claim. If you purchased the travel protection plan we offer, we recommend you print the full policy.
Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)
We encourage all U.S. citizens and nationals traveling abroad to enroll in the Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). This free service allows you to receive important updates about safety and security issues in your destination, and makes it easier for the U.S. Embassy, as well as family & friends, to contact you in case of an emergency. To enroll or get more information, please visit the STEP website or any U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
Flights, Transfers & Arrival
Questions about your flights before you depart? Read the information below first. If you still have questions, contact our air specialists at
Tour Only Option
If you purchased this package without flights, you are responsible for booking your own flights into Zagreb and out of Dubrovnik. The touring program will begin in Zagreb on Day 2 and will end in Dubrovnik on Day 10. After you book your flights, please send us a copy of your flight itinerary for our records. Generally, hotel check-in time is at 3 PM and check-out is at 11 AM.
Find out what to do in case of arrival complications.
Flights & Tickets
If you selected flights with your package, we generally book your flights and issue tickets after your final payment due date.
If you requested flights from another city, our air specialists will research the best options and send you a tentative flight schedule and quote for your approval within 5 business days of your booking (or approximately 330 days prior to travel, if you booked further out than that).
Once we have issued your tickets, we'll send you an "e-ticket receipt" which contains all of your flight information, including times, carriers, an airline booking reference number, and an e-ticket number. If you have not received this, or have questions about the flights we booked for you, please contact our air department. You will not receive paper tickets. We recommend you print and carry a copy of your flight details, including the airline booking reference number and e-ticket number, as some airports require this to enter the terminal. You do not need to reconfirm your flights with the airline prior to your departure, as we will handle this for you.
Toll-free numbers for airline assistance
- United Airlines (UA): 800 864-8331
- American Airlines (AA): 800 433-7300
- British Airways (BA): 800 247-9297
- Delta Airlines (DL): 800 428-4322
- Brussels Airlines (SN): 866 308-2233
- Air France (AF): 800 237-2747
- Swiss Air (LX): 877 359-7947
- Lufthansa (LH): 800 645-3880
Flight Schedule
If you selected flights with your package, you will receive your flight schedule by email once we issue your tickets.
If you requested flights from another city, our air specialists will research the best options and send you a tentative flight schedule for your approval, and a confirmed schedule once we issue your tickets.
Airlines may change schedules at any time, even after flights have been confirmed, and we are not responsible for such changes. Please check for updates to your flight schedule prior to booking any connecting flights and again 72 hours prior to departure.
Connecting Flights
If you need to fly from (and/or return to) a different U.S. or Canadian city, we suggest you request those flights from us. If feasible, we will try to book all your flights together with a single carrier or a partner network on a single ticket. This ensures that your luggage will be transferred between flights for you, and more importantly, that if there are any schedule changes, flight cancellations, or delays that affect your trip, the airline(s) will adjust your flights to ensure you have sufficient time to make your connections and/or make alternate arrangements to get you to your destination. Besides offering the most peace of mind, this often yields lower fares than purchasing separate connecting flights.
If you plan to purchase connecting flights to your departure city, we strongly suggest waiting until after your final payment due date and after you receive the e-tickets for your international flights, to reduce the chances that that your departure might be cancelled or rescheduled or that your international flight times might change. Before purchasing connecting flights, verify the times for your international flights. Leave at least 3½ hours connecting time between flights, and if you're traveling within a few weeks of Daylight Savings Time changes (in March and November, when flight schedules may change even more dramatically), allow 5–5½ hours between flights. Nobody likes waiting around the airport, but missing your flight is far worse!
Airport Transfers
Scheduled airport transfers at the destination are included with this package. When you exit customs, please look for our representative holding a sign with your name, who will escort you to your transfer vehicle and assist with your luggage.
If you purchased the tour without flights and you submitted your flight itinerary no later than 30 days before your departure date, airport transfers will be provided. If you did not submit your flight itinerary, you’ll need to arrange your own ground transportation to the package start and end points. Note that there is no discount for any unused included transfers. Please send us your independent flight itinerary no later than 30 days prior to your departure date from the U.S. so that we can arrange your arrival and departure transfers accordingly.
Arrival Complications
We make every effort to ensure our tours run smoothly and trouble-free. We don't expect any problems, and nor should you. But when things don't go as planned, here's what to do:
- You miss your flights, or your flights are cancelled: Please call us immediately. If it's outside our normal business hours, leave a message in our emergency mailbox, with a phone number at which to reach you, and we'll get right back to you.
- Your flights are delayed and you're worried about missing your included transfers: Please contact us to let us know about the delay, and we will notify our partners in destination. If you are arriving on one of our group flights, or booked your own flights and supplied us with the details, our partners will be tracking your arrival and will plan accordingly.
- Your package includes transfers, but you can't find our representative at your destination: Don't panic—they may have been unexpectedly delayed. Wait up to 30 minutes. Then contact our local partners in destination, listed on the emergency contact page of your final documents. If you can't reach them, call us. If it's outside our normal business hours, leave a message in our emergency mailbox. If all else fails, make your own way to the starting hotel (or cruise port), and we'll refund you the cost of your transfer.
Packing & Luggage
Baggage allowance: In general, our tours & packages allow per person: one checked bag, not to exceed 50 pounds; one personal item such as a purse or camera bag; and one carry-on bag, which should fit under your seat or in the overhead compartment. If your trip includes domestic flights within your destination and/or travel by motor coach, your carry-on should also fit should also fit under your seat or in the overhead bins on those flights or coaches.
Many airlines now charge a fee for checked luggage. Often, these fees must be paid directly to the airline. Once the flights are finalized for your departure and tickets are written, we will send you instructions on how to prepay for luggage if not included in the cost of your ticket.
We recommend that you bring your own personal toiletries. Although there are drugstores and pharmacies throughout Croatia where you may purchase snacks, medicine, cosmetics, and toiletries, in the event of an emergency, these stores do not usually carry an extensive range of products commonly available to which you are accustomed in the U.S. There are two main climates in Croatia, which are strongly influenced by their geographic locations. In general, the weather along the coast is warmer than in the interior of the country. We recommend packing a small folding umbrella, a sweater, sunscreen, and closed toe non-skid shoes. If you plan to visit the beach, be sure to bring a swimsuit and a cover-up.
What to Wear: We recommend bringing closed toe non-skid shoes for walking around the towns and in Plitvice Lakes National Park. If traveling during the warmer months, June through September, we suggest light colored cotton clothes to keep you cool and a wide brimmed hat to cover your face and the back of your neck. A light jacket or cardigan will come in handy for the cool summer nights. April, May and October generally have warm days. But the evenings can be cold. We suggest packing to dress in layers to prepare for a variety of weather conditions. Finally, remember that comfort and convenience should dictate your wardrobe for the tour, and casual clothes are in order for most every occasion as you travel.
Learn more about Baggage Allowances on your international flights. Note that our baggage allowances may be less than those for your international flights. If you exceed the baggage limits, you may be subject to excess baggage charges levied by the airlines and/or by Friendly Planet.
Regardless of the limits—we recommend a smaller size and weight for both your checked and carry-on bags. It's so much easier and faster for you to get around when you have fewer, lighter bags! For your carry-on, consider a soft-sided bag such as a duffel rather than a hard clamshell-type case, which may not fit as easily into overhead compartments or under your seat, especially on buses. For your protection, we suggest your checked luggage have a TSA-approved lock.
Luggage tags: For your safety, we are no longer mailing Friendly Planet luggage tags to you. We encourage you to use your own. Fill in the luggage tags with your name and contact information and attach to each bag, including carry-ons and camera cases, so that your luggage can be identified should it get misplaced during your trip.
What to pack: Check out our list of top 10 must-haves for international travel, as well as what not to pack. Pack smart: put your travel documents, medications, one change of clothing, and other essentials in your carry-on, in case your checked baggage is misplaced. And pack light, for your own comfort and convenience. For clothing, we suggest packing a variety of separates with climate and comfort in mind.
What not to pack: U.S. law forbids you to carry hazardous materials aboard aircraft in your checked or carry-on baggage or on your person, including explosives, compressed gases, flammable liquids & solids, loaded firearms, poisons, corrosives and radioactive materials. Common examples include paints, lighter fluid, fireworks, mace/tear gas and oxygen bottles. Restricted materials may vary by airline and destination. Some items, in quantities of no more than 70 ounces total, may be carried within baggage, including medicinal or toilet articles such as hairspray, perfume and certain medicines that are necessary during your journey. Please check with the airline and/or visit the FAA website prior to travel if you have any questions.
While on Tour
What to Expect
This moderately-paced, escorted tour involves a significant amount of walking or hiking, often on uneven terrain, requiring a high level of physical fitness to fully enjoy the trip.
This is a Value Vacation tour operated by our carefully selected partners. The group size may be slightly larger than our Small Group Tours and will be shared with other English-speaking passengers, ensuring guaranteed departures.
Your tour is operated in partnership with Katarina Line, an established, well-respected Croatian tour operator with many years of experience operating travel programs in Croatia. Katarina Line operates this program under the name “Croatian Rhapsody.” Please be assured that all arrangements have been made to ensure a wonderful experience.
Remember that you're a guest in someone else's homeland, and that you're traveling to experience their country and culture. Be sensitive to local customs and manners, as many things may be done differently than what you're used to. And while we have made every effort to secure modern and comfortable accommodations and transportation, please note that the standards in other countries may be different from those you are accustomed to at home. Overall, you will find a polite, positive, patient, and open-minded approach generally yields the best travel experience!
Please keep in mind that you'll be traveling with a group. Sharing your explorations with like-minded folks can often be a source of joy, and some of our travelers become lifelong friends. But traveling with strangers can also sometimes be challenging, especially in a foreign country. We ask that you be patient and respectful with your fellow travelers, including their needs and preferences. Also remember that you have responsibilities to the group—please be prompt for group activities so you don't keep everyone else waiting. Lastly, please defer to your tour leader, guide or manager. They are there for your safety and wellbeing, and to ensure the journey goes smoothly for everyone. If you have a problem with one of our tour guides or managers, please let us know, either while you're on tour or after you return, and we'll make sure your concerns are addressed.
Accommodations
Hotels throughout the country vary from brand name chains to small, boutique style hotels. They are clean and comfortable and offer modern amenities. The water in the hotel tap system is probably potable, but it is always prudent to drink bottled water to avoid any problems. Hotels will normally provide bottled water, but it may not be replenished daily. Remember that any water that you consume from the hotel mini bar will be charged to your room, and you will be responsible for payment. Electrical current is 230v. and you will need C and F plug types. Wall sockets will vary. Take a travel converter/adapter kit with you, as these are not readily available.
Eating & Drinking
The meals included with your package are listed in the itinerary.
The food in Croatia varies by region and is strongly influenced by Greek, Italian, Turkish, and Hungarian cuisine. Fish and all types of seafood cooked with olive oil and other fresh ingredients is prominent in the cuisine along the coastal towns. While hearty meat stews are favored in Zagreb.
'Ja ne jedem meso' ('I don’t eat meat') is a useful phrase for vegetarians and vegans. Although some restaurants in Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik offer vegetarian and vegan options, don’t be surprised to find a piece of meat in your “vegetarian” dish or your “vegetarian” dish was cooked with fish or meat stock.
Croatia is famous for grappa, brandy, liqueurs and desert wine. And the local wines are gaining international recognition. Like its cuisine, Croatian wine is influenced by the region. You’ll have opportunities to try the local wine on the included wine tasting near Split and Dubrovnik. Be sure to pair your meal with one of the many selections of local wine or spirits.
Non-Included Meals: Your hotels on tour will typically have a restaurant and a bar/lounge. Several restaurants and cafes offering variety of cuisines are located near your hotels. Indulge in traditional dishes such as crni rižot (black risotto), štrukli (dough with filling), and the famous truffle. Average cost for lunch (not including drinks) in the local shops and cafes is about $15 - $25 per person, per meal. Average cost for dinner is about $25 - $35 per person, per meal excluding drinks. Your hotels accept credit card payments for non-included meals. Ask your guide for restaurant recommendations if you wish to explore options outside of your hotel.
Please see above for special meal requests.
Tipping
You will be traveling through Croatia in the company of professionals who are very committed to making your tour the dream vacation you are counting on. These people feel great pride in having a chance to show foreign visitors their country. If your guide, driver and others with whom you are traveling are doing a good job, please take our suggestions for tipping seriously. As always, gratuities are an individual expression of thanks and should be based on the level of service provided. The recommended amounts are as follows:
- Local guide: EUR 4 per person per day
- Excursion driver guide: EUR 2 per person per day
- Transfer drivers: EUR 2 per person per way
- Restaurant and beverage staff per meal (for not-included meals): 10% of the total bill
- Restaurant staff at the hotel: EUR1-2 per person per meal
- Housekeeping: EUR1-2 per person per day
- Hotel/lodge porters: EUR1 per bag per lift upon arrival and departure
Independent Activities
This is a moderately-paced, escorted tour that involves a significant amount of walking or hiking, often on uneven terrain, requiring a high level of physical fitness to fully enjoy the trip. You can leave the group and explore on your own at any time; however, there is no refund for unused group arrangements or tours. Be sure to take with you the name, address, and phone number - written in the local language and in English - so that you can communicate with taxi drivers. Your hotel staff will gladly assist you with these translations.
Special Needs & Requests
Please see above for special meal requests and seat requests. If you have any other special requests, including wheelchair or electric cart assistance, please mention your request when you book with an agent, or in the special requests section when you book online. We will do our best to accommodate them!
Country FAQs
Croatia Fast Facts
| Overview | Capital: Zagreb |
| Health Precautions & Vaccinations | According to the World Health Organization, immunizations are NOT currently required for travel to Croatia. However, you may wish to consult your personal physician or local public health authorities regarding other recommendations. |
| Weather | Croatia’s climate has two basic seasons - a mild continental climate inland, with average daytime temperatures in the 70’s and 80’s during the summer and 30’s-40’s during winter, and a Mediterranean climate in the coastal region, with average daytime temperatures in the 60’s and mid 70’s during the summer and mid 40’s-50’s during winter. Summers are generally dry and sunny with occasional rain or even a thunderstorm. Evening temperatures will be 15-30 degrees cooler depending on your location. This tour does not operate from November through the middle of March to avoid the winter season. |
| What to wear | We suggest casual clothes, a wide-brimmed hat to cover your face and back of your neck, sunglasses, light shawl, or a scarf for visiting religious sites, and a lightweight jacket or sweater for cool and windy nights. Bring a smart casual outfit for evenings out at restaurants and nightclubs. If you have two pairs of comfortable (broken in, not brand new) walking shoes, take both pairs. For hiking, pack lightweight clothes that can be layered. Since weather can be unpredictable anywhere in the world and to be sure you are comfortable during your trip and prepared for all types of weather possibilities, we suggest that you carry a small folding umbrella. Remember that comfort and convenience should dictate your wardrobe for the tour, and casual clothes are in order for most every occasion as you travel. |
| Money & Credit Cards | The local currency is the Euro. Hotels and many shops do accept credit cards. While Visa and Mastercard are most accepted, some establishments also accept AMEX and Discover. If possible, use a credit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. Be sure to call your credit card providers to let them know you will be traveling abroad, the places you’ll be visiting, and the dates of your trip. This is important for your own protection. However, smaller stores, souvenir places, and some art galleries will accept cash only in local currency. Your hotels will generally exchange your cash for local currency, and you’ll find ATM machines where you can get additional cash as needed. Traveler’s checks are not accepted. Always notify your bank prior to departure to avoid any problems using your credit or debit card abroad. |
| Shopping | You will certainly have time for shopping, and you’ll find a great variety of goods to satisfy different tastes and price ranges. A good rule of thumb when shopping abroad is to choose items that you love and that will remind you of the destination. If you want to shop for high value items, unless they are very specific to the destination, better do so from a trusted merchant at home unless the pleasure of the happy memory of your trip will keep you from regretting your purchase. While we take great care in arranging the components of your tour, we have no relationship with the shopping venues you’ll encounter, and we cannot be liable for any purchases you make. Your guides may have some favorite shopping places, where the vendors are known, provide good quality merchandise and probably pay a commission from sales to the guide. This should not surprise or offend you. This is how business is done throughout the world. Please keep in mind that many, if not most stores outside the U.S. will not allow exchanges or refunds for your purchased items. You, as the buyer, assume the full risk in the purchases you make. |
| Electricity & Power Adapters | 230 volts. Plugs C & F. You will need a voltage converter and plug adapter in order to use U.S. appliances. We recommend getting a universal adapter and converter kit. Learn more about electrical standards around the world. |
| Cell Phones & Internet | Want to take your cell phone, tablet or laptop, but not sure how to get cell service or wifi? Read up on using your cell phone abroad and the 5 ways to get Internet abroad. |
| Photography | Cameras and video recorders are generally allowed almost everywhere in, and you will want to take plenty of pictures of the magnificent panoramas you’ll encounter as you travel. Photography is generally permitted everywhere except at airports and military installations. Always ask for permission to photograph the locals, and make sure you have some small change in exchange for the photo opportunity. Memory cards for digital cameras will be available in major cities, but you might end up paying a premium. It’s better to bring a spare memory card, saving both time and money. |
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Fine Print
Terms & Conditions: Please review our terms & conditions for this package.
Cancellations: If something comes up and you need to cancel your trip, please let us know as soon as possible. All cancellations must be made in writing. Cancellation fees vary by package; please see the cancellation fees for this package.