Archive for March, 2009
March 30th, 2009 | 
Author: On Saturday March 28, Croatia’s largest boat show flung open its doors in Split. The Croatia Boat Show is one of the world’s top ten nautical fairs and usually brings in 50,000 visitors annually. The show will run through April 5.
Nautical tourism (i.e. yachts and yachties) pours 800 million euros a year into Croatia’s coffers, making it an crucial part of the country’s tourism revenues. But that’s not enough! New moorings are in the works to increase capacity with the goal of bringing in two billion euros a year.
In addition to exhibiting the latest yachts and yacht technology, the Croatia Boat Show is expected to advertise Croatia as a major yachting destination. Which it is. So many of Croatia’s islands (such as the Kornati Islands National Park) are only accessible by boat or best appreciated by boat.
See more on the Croatia Boat Show and on sailing in Croatia.
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Lufthansa has always provided excellent service to Zagreb, running eight daily flights from Munich and Frankfurt to Zagreb. We can suppose these flights mainly service business travellers.
Now Germany’s national airline will service Germans coming to Croatia to relax, not just do business. Starting now there are twice-weekly flights between Split and Munich and they cost only €122.
Starting soon is a weekly service from Munich to Dubrovnik that will cost only €124.
See more on cheap flights to Croatia.
There are those that swoon over pearls and those who say that an oyster’s slippery flesh is more perfect than a pearl. Less durable, yes, but unquestionably more flavorful. Croatian devotees of oysters make regular pilgrimages to Ston, on the Peljesac Peninsula where oysters are cultivated to perfection.
Ston is 45 minutes from Dubrovnik, but residents of the walled city only needed to head downstairs to the main square this week to indulge their oyster passion. Eight thousand oysters from Ston were trucked to Dubrovnik and opened in front of St Blaise church for a special Oyster Feast. Delighted locals were able to eat three oysters for only 12 kuna (€1.75). Where I come from, that counts as an unbelievable value.
Ston oysters are at their very best right now; another good reason to spend March and April in Croatia.
Read more about Ston.
“Forget St Tropez” says writer Julia Chaplin in this month’s Conde Nast Traveller. Croatia is the place to go, says she, in this comparison of the Croatian, Turkish and Montenegrin coastline.
Croatia comes out very favourably, naturally, especially since she concentrated on luscious Hvar Island. Hvar Town, Stari Grad, and Jelsa are all part of the visit and she raves about Lopud and the Pakleni Islands. Couldn’t agree more.
Here’s my favourite part!
no one has told me no; to me, this is the purest form of luxury. I’ve had no hassles getting a restaurant reservation or hiring a boat on a moment’s notice. Not only that but everyone speaks English, there’s no visible crime or poverty, and, to top it all off, the air somehow smells of watermelon.
You can read the article here.
An interesting article in the New York Times discusses the problems facing Croatia’s tourist industry this year as the global economic crisis bites down. For a country that depends heavily on tourism to prop up a frail economy, any drop in visitors is cause for alarm. And Croatian tourist industry professionals are alarmed. In fact they’re so alarmed tourist agencies are even trying to persuade Serbs to let bygones be bygones and return to Croatia for their summer holiday.
The article also contains some interesting nuggets for others contemplating a Croatian vacation. Although frequently touted as a budget vacation because the country is “not in the eurozone”, the fact that the kuna is pegged to the euro keeps prices relatively high for Brits and Yanks dealing with a weak currency. Devalue already, I say!
Budgeteers should also note the reference to the Dubrovnik’s five-star Excelsior hotel enticing visitors with vouchers and discounts. I’m sure they’re not the only one.
See my special budget tips for visiting Croatia.
Go to the NY Times article.
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