Dubrovnik

• European country found east of Italy

• Zagreb is the capital as well as the largest city

• Geographically, there are 3 distinct zones: the Mountain region, the Coastal region and the Pannonian region
• Dinara is the highest point in Croatia, with a height of 1,830 m
• Croatian is the language spoken, but English is often spoken as a second language. Italian and German are also very popular languages spoken as well. Croats like when foreign travellers speak Croatian for basic greeting and thanking

HISTORY

• When the Croats settled in the 7^th century, two principalities were formed: Croatia and Pannonia
• In 1918, the Slovenes , Serbs, and Croats formed a kingdom known after the late 1920s as Yugoslavia
• In 1991, Croatia declared independence from Yugoslavia
• The Serbian minority in Croatia was made up of around 11% of the overall population prior to the war of independence
• Today, relations between Croats and Serbs are gradually improving

FACTS

Town Omis

• Croatian stone from the island of Brac was used to build The White House
• The Kuna (Croatian currency) was named after a small rodent, known in English as a Marten
• Croatia has been a country since the early 1990s
• The official language of Croatia is Croatian and consists of the Latin alphabet
• The necktie was invented in Croatia and is known as a “cravat”, derived from the word “Croat”
• At age 16, Croatians can vote if they are employed; if unemployed, adolescents must wait until the age of 18
• Croatia’s coast is 5,835km in length
• The Croatian coat of arms resembles the Snake’s Head and Leper Lily
• In 2001, Croatian tennis player Groan Ivanisevic won Wimbledon after entering the tournament on a wild card

In high season, expect to pay around:

• € 300-400 for a double in a luxury five-star hotel,
• € 150-350 in a four-star hotel,
• € 55-140 for three star hotels
• € 40-55 in the two-star places.

• Private accommodation is a most affordable option with prices running €15-25 per person.
• Youth hostels cost about €15-€20 per person. It’s a good deal if you’re travelling alone since private accommodation is usually doubles only.
• Backpackers who stay in one place can plan on spending about 200 HRK/day.

• You can get a pizza for 35-40 HRK
• Simple plate of pasta or risotto costs 40-50 HRK
• Simple meat dishes cost around 60-80 HRK.
• Fish is much more expensive and priced by the kilo. It can run from 350-450 HRK/kilo.

• Getting around Croatia by bus is highly economical; the average inter-city bus fare is 20-30 HRK/hour.
• Local ferries are cheap for passengers with 20-30 HRK being the average fare

• Concert and theatre tickets run from about 60-200 HRK and museums are about 15 HRK, except in Zagreb where they are slightly more expensive

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Motovun

• Croatia is an all-around safe country to travel across; one can safely walk in any town at night
• Mugging and theft are not a problem

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Plitivice Lakes

• Northern Croatia has a temperate continental climate
• The central and upland regions have a mountainous climate
• Along the coast, spring and autumn are mild, while in the northern and central regions, the winter is cold and snowy
• In the summer months, the average temperature along the coast is between 24°C and 26°C
• The driest season along the coast is summer while the rainiest season is winter, with twice as much precipitation as summer
• Average temperatures in January: a low of 4°C and a high of 11°C
• Average temperatures in May: a low of 13°C and a high of 22°C
• Average temperatures in August: a low of 19°C and a high of 29°C

Storm Over Village

• The capital of Croatia, Zagreb, is a new European metropolis and the country’s economic, intellectual, political and cultural center

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• Istria, being Croatia’s most developed tourist region, comprises of many vineyards and picturesque towns scattered throughout the interior of the peninsula

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• Porec, the most visited resort in Istria, is the islet of St. Nicolas in the vicinity and is well known for its hotel settlements. In the town are preserved Roman urban pattern and many unique Ancient Roman and Medieval buildings

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• Rovinj is another famous resort in Croatia with many historical buildings and Renaissance palaces

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• Known for its 2,000 year old amphitheatre, Pula is an ancient city on the southern tip of Istria and is also the largest city in Istria. This amphitheatre is one of the world’s best preserved buildings of its kind. On average, Pula has 2,350 hours of sunshine a year

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• Dalmatia, which is further south in Croatia, consists of many colours, fragrances, shapes, and an incredible experience of nature. Long beaches and pine woods comprise of this region. It is also well known for its wines and friendly people

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• Opatija is a very popular resort in Croatia, known for its small botanical gardens, cozy restaurants and elegant yet modern hotels

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Country Customary Information:
• Duty and customs
– 200Cigarettes or 50 cigars
– 100 Cigarillos or 250g of tobacco
– 2L of wine and 1L of spirits and 2L of liqueur
– 250ml of Perfume

Communication Etiquette:
• Handshake and direct eye contact – tend to be formal greetings
• Address people by their titles and surname
• They appreciate straightforward and direct communication
– Also value to choose words wisely
• Diplomacy is valued – may find they aren’t always willing to speak their minds

Business Etiquette:
• Business is formal and reserved at first
– Handshake and direct eye contact with a smile
– When meeting a female wait until she extends her hand first
– Use professional business titles when addressing
– Business cards are exchanged informally
• Building a business relationship should be primary focus
– Small talk at the beginning of meetings will be more important as relationships are built
• Be prepared for lengthy meetings
– Time is never a factor
– Meeting schedule is never very rigid – serves as guidelines