Croatia flights and travel guide

Language

The official language is Croat.

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Money

The official unit of currency is the Kuna (HRK). One Kuna is divided into 100 Lipa. ATMs are plentiful throughout the country and banks, authorised bureaux de change, post offices or most hotels will exchange foreign currency or travellers cheques. Banks open Monday to Saturday and some banks also open on Sundays in the main cities. Major credit cards are widely accepted at the main hotels and restaurants, and may be used to draw cash from ATMs, which are widely available in Zagreb.

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Communications

The international access code for Croatia is +385. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). The city code for Zagreb is (0)1 and (0)20 for Dubrovnik. Public phones take phone cards, which can be bought in post offices and hotels. GSM operators have active roamingagreements with most international networks, and cover most of the country. Internet cafes are available in the larger towns and cities.

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Tipping

In tourist or upmarket restaurants a tip of 10 per cent will be appreciated, but otherwise it is usual to round up the bill if the service has been good unless a service charge has already been added. Tour guides expect to be tipped. Most services receive a small tip by rounding up the bill.

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Safety

Most visits to Croatia are trouble-free, and there is no particular threat of terrorism. Busy tourist areas are prone to petty theft. Outside the normal tourist routes travellers should be aware that unexploded mines may remain, particularly in Eastern Slavonia and the former Krajina.

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Health

No vaccinations are required, however, there is a risk of tick-borne encephalitis for those travelling in forested areas or who consume unpasteurised dairy products. Typhoid and Hepatitis A vaccinations are also recommended. The bird flu virus was found in dead migratory swans and stringent measures have been taken by the Croatian authorities to contain the virus. Travellers to Croatiaare unlikely to be affected, but should avoid any contact with live birds and ensure poultry and egg dishes are well cooked. Hospitals and medical treatment are fairly good, with free emergency medical care available to UK citizens with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), though some medicines are in short supply in publicfacilities. Non-UK nationals are advised to invest in health insurance.

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Electricity

Electrical current is 230 volts, 50Hz. European-style round, two-pin plugs are standard.

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