Croatia

   ESSENTIAL TRAVEL INFORMATION

PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS

• Passports must have at least three months validity remaining beyond your planned date of departure from the Schengen Area.
• Beginning November 10, 2024, the EU Entry/Exit system (EES) will replace the physical stamping of passports when you go through passport control in the EU/Schengen area. Non-EU nationals will be required to provide their passports as well as have a photo of their face taken and their fingerprints scanned each time they cross the external borders of a country in the EU. Everyone, regardless of age, will need to go through the EES checks. Children under 12 will not need to provide fingerprints; however, they will still need to have a facial scan taken. Learn more at europa.eu/ees

VISA REQUIREMENTS

• A visa is not required for stays under 90 days.
• Please note: Beginning in mid-2025, all U.S. citizens traveling to the European Union (EU) will need to apply for ETIAS travel authorization ahead of their departure through the official ETIAS website or the ETIAS mobile app. Applications costs EUR 7, though children under 18 and adults over 70 are exempt from paying the application fee. Approval will generally be delivered via email within minutes of submission.
  • Once approved, the ETIAS travel authorization will allow you to enter the EU as often as you want for short-term stays, normally up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The authorization is linked to your passport and is valid for up to three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.

• Read more at: US Department of State Profile for Croatia

LANGUAGE

• Croatian is the official language of Croatia. However, many younger people, especially in the main cities, speak English as a second language.

CURRENCY

• The unit of currency in Croatia is the Euro (€).
• U.S. credit cards are accepted in major cities but are less commonly used in rural areas.
• While ATMS can be found in abundance in Croatia, it is best to use a bank-associated ATM to avoid excessive exchange rates and fees.

TIME ZONE:

GMT +1 (+2 in Daylight Savings Time)

VOLTAGE:

230V, 50Hz

PLUG TYPE:

EU standard types C and F are most common.

IMPORT & EXPORT RESTRICTIONS

• If arriving directly from or departing directly to a non-EU country, amounts exceeding the value of € 10,000 in foreign or local currency, including traveler’s checks, must be declared.

• For detailed import and export regulations, please consult the IATA Travel Centre.

   TRAVELERS’ HEALTH & SAFETY

REQUIRED IMMUNIZATIONS

• No vaccinations are required to visit Croatia.
• It is recommended that you are up to date on all routine vaccinations.

• Please visit the CDC.gov website for recommended immunizations to visit Croatia.

OTHER SAFETY NOTES

• Violent crime is rare and does not usually target foreigners.
• Pick pocketing in major tourist areas is common. Use common sense in protecting your valuables.
• The State Department urges U.S. citizens to avoid going to so-called ‘gentlemen’s clubs.’ A few such establishments have presented foreign customers with grossly inflated bar bills, sometimes in the thousands of dollars, and threatened those customers who refuse to pay.

LOCAL LAWS AND CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS

• You must have a valid boating license in order to drive jet skis in Croatia, including on a yacht charter.
• Be respectful and reserved if discussing the war and conflicts that occurred in the 1990’s. This is a better topic for discussion with your private guide or someone you know well.
• Avoid comparing Croats to Serbians or Bosnians.
• Do not wave or point with an extended index or middle finger.
• Handshakes are the most common form of greeting. Usually only close friends greet each other with light kisses on each cheek.

   GRATUITIES

In Croatia, tipping is preferred in Euros (EUR, €).

Please remember, there is no obligation to tip and American standards for tipping are some of the highest in the world. The following list is only a suggestion for your convenience and may vary by itinerary.

• Porter: €1 per bag
• Transfer: €5 per service
• Guide - full day: €20-25 per guide per day
• Guide - half day: €10-15 per guide per day
• Driver - full day: €10 per driver per day
• Driver - half day: €7 per driver per day
• Private host/concierge throughout trip: €50-70 per day (all guests)
• Taxi: 5% of the fare
• Day Trip Boat Skipper: €35 per day
• Yacht Charter Cruise Director: €10-20 per person per day
• Yacht Charter Staff: 5 - 10% of charter cost
• Restaurants: 10 – 20% of the bill; leave small change for bus boys

At some tourist-oriented restaurants, a 10 or 15 percent “service charge” may be added to your restaurant bill, in which case an additional tip is not necessary. If you’re not sure whether your bill includes the tip, just ask.

   WEATHER

Please refer to your personalized Vamoos app for the daily weather forcast.