Croatia on a Budget: Top Tips

Hotel Sumratin, Dubrovnik:
Doubles from €32


Budget Split guesthouse:
Doubles from €50



Croatia holidays from £341/week/half-board

Destinations

Avoid staying in the most expensive destinations.
Dubrovnik and Zagreb are the most expensive cities while Hvar is the most expensive island. The villages around Dubrovnik are cheaper than Dubrovnik and Jelsa is cheaper than Hvar Town.

Dare to be different.
Visiting the less-touristed regions can save a bundle and offer more authenticity. Take a look at Karlovac, Paklenica National Park, Kopacki Rit Nature Park, Cres Island, Vis Island, Pag Island or Dugi Otok. Or visit the islands of the Sibenik archipelago.

Flights

Save on flights by flying into a cheap gateway city.
Rather than flying directly to Zagreb, Split or Dubrovnik, you may get a better deal on a flight to Bratislava, Milan, Prague and Vienna. From there, you may be able to get a cheap flight to Zadar, Split or Dubrovnik. Can you get a good deal on a flight to Hannover, Stuttgart or Cologne? Then Tuifly can get you to Rijeka or Dubrovnik. See more on cheap flights to Croatia.

Accommodation

Stay in private accommodation.
Croatians have been in the practice of renting out rooms and apartments for decades. You'll usually have more space than in a hotel plus you'll have a kitchen which will save money on meals. See more on private accommodation.

Arrange four-night stays.
Owners of private accommodation in Croatia are in the habit of dropping the price the longer you stay. Many impose a 30% surcharge on short stays which helps them defray the costs of the extra cleaning and laundry.

Consider a flight/hotel package.
If you need at least three-star comfort from your hotel, you should check out the deals offered by package operators. From the UK, it's hard to beat Thomson Holidays . From North America, try BookingWIZ which compares results from Orbitz, Expedia, Travelocity, CheapTickets and Priceline to get the best fares. See more on Croatia package holidays.

Look for an all-inclusive resort.
There's nothing like knowing in advance what your Croatia holiday will cost. There are a few all-inclusive resorts in Croatia and they provide excellent value for money, especially for families. With a variety of activities to keep you busy, you won't need to rent a car to enjoy your stay. See more on all-inclusive holidays in Croatia.

Transport

Take public transport.
The bus system in Croatia is great; buses are fast, reliable, comfortable and frequent. See more about buses in Croatia. And to get out to Croatia's islands, you may have even more options when you factor in passenger boats. See more about ferries in Croatia.

Otherwise, rent a car through Autoeurope, the market leader in affordable car hire.

Dining

Limit fish dinners.
The Adriatic is getting fished-out. Fishermen have to travel further to catch the fish which burns up fuel. The result is sticker-shock when you see the price of your fish. Save your fish dinner for the occasional splurge but feast on Croatia's scrumptious pizzas, pastas and risottos for your everyday fare. See more on dining in Croatia.

Take half-board.
Not all owners of private accommodation offer half-board, but if they do you should take it. Their home-cooked meals washed down by their own wine will offer excellent value for money. Many hotels also offer half-board which may well be cheaper than the local restaurants. See more on Croatia hotels.

Timing

Travel off season.
Prices are at their peak in July and August and fall off rapidly before and after the summer season. Everything from accommodation to ferry prices to car rental costs more. Plus, Croatia is great in spring and autumn! Even if you travel to Croatia in the winter, you can get great deals on spas and wellness centres.

Currency

One way to save money is to pre-order your foreign currency online and pick up at the airport before you depart. Try Travelex for the best rates and no commission. More.

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