Showing posts with label Useful information. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Useful information. Show all posts

Mar 27, 2009

Buy a Villa in Croatia on the island of Solta for 22 € (30 US$)

Would you like to own a beautiful villa with a pool situated on a beautiful Croatian island? The one you see on the photo below? For only 161 Croatian Kuna? That's about 22€ or 30US$! The house was built in 2007 and it is fully equipped, fully furnished, with a complete kitchen, two AC units, a fireplace and an 18m² pool. No, it is not a joke. As Croatian media are reporting, one of the lucky buyers of „Book about Dalmatia“ for the price of 160 Croatian Kuna could become a happy owner of a villa on the island of Šolta for only 1 additional Croatian Kuna. So all together that is only 161 Croatian Kuna.



"Operation Croatian Villa”, as it is called, is a clever marketing move, modeled according to the well-tried international pattern, by a Split based company „Profiniti“.

Rules are pretty straight forward. Profiniti Company is selling threelingual “Book about Dalmatia” (Croatian, English and German) in digital form (CD) for 160 Kuna. Each book has a code and at the end of “Operation Croatian Villa”, after 50.000 books will be sold, one of buyers, whose code will be randomly retrieved under a supervision of a three-member commission and a public notary, will get an incredible chance to buy a real villa in Croatia for only 1 Kuna.

The estimated end of Operation "Villa-Croatia" is 30 September 2009. If the required number of participants is reached before that, Operation "Villa-Croatia" will end earlier. If there are not enough participants until then, the management of Profiniti d.o.o. can postpone the end for 15 days. There is always the possibility that there will not be enough participants. Of course Profiniti says that they cannot give the house away in that case, so in case of such scenario they have created a table with substitute products ranging from mobile phones to luxury apartment, depending on the final number of buyers of the book.

The book itself, if anybody is interested, is dedicated to Dalmatia and it’s beauty, its charms but also its problems. It is dedicated to the people that live there, the tourists that go there and the ones seeking a better life somewhere else! As they say, authors will introduce you to chosen places, locations, events, traditions, food and the way of life in the Croatian south. The book is written in three languages: Croatian, English and German.



And for those who are more interested in the villa itself, the villa is situated on the island of Šolta, only 15 km (9 nautical miles) from the second biggest town of Croatia – Split. The house is located in Maslinica village, on the southwest part of the island.
The size of the plot is 401m² (4320 sq ft), the size of the house 140m² (1500 sq ft) (70+70 m² each floor). It was built in 2007. The house is like a luxury two-floor apartment.

Overview of the villa:
  • Three bedrooms
  • Two bathrooms
  • Kitchen incl. fridge and dish washer
  • Broom closet
  • LCD TV
  • Satellite receiver
  • Pool
  • 2 AC units
  • Two parking lots
  • Outdoor fire/grill place
The house has all papers and permits. It even has a permit for renting and a three star categorization.

Maslinica is the only Solta’s village situated in the cove of the western part of the island. It has beautiful scenery of picturesque cove and pinewood in the southern side and also of its well-protected cove of Sesul and archipelago of seven islands. On the largest of them in the 5th and 6th century an old Christian church with monastery was built and today there are a lot of remains of it. The natural meaning of olive scenery complete historical-architectonic and environmental values of baroque castle and picturesque local houses. Maslinica was made in 1703 when an aristocratic family Marchi asked from a Venetian “providur” permission to found a new settlement and to build a castle with towers for defense of frequent pirate attacks. Today the castle is turned into an attractive and a very famous restaurant "Conte Alberti". Today Maslinica is very attractive for tourists who want a complete peace during day and night. Since Maslinica is a traditional village, a modern beach with tourist attractions doesn’t exist here. In the cove of Tepli Bok there is a smaller beach, but the main beauty of this village is that in any cove you can find a solitary place for swimming.





Feb 8, 2009

Seasonal Croatia

Best time to visit Croatia? When to go to Croatia?



Croatia for the most part is a seasonal destination with more or less a six month period within which we recommend (JayWay) guests to travel. This period runs from the beginning of April until the end of October. Although we believe Croatia can be enjoyed any time of year it is really at its best when it is warm and the sun is shining. Below I have broken down the year month by month starting with April to provide some advice for planning when to take your next Croatia trip.

April

Typically around Easter time is when the cities in Croatia wake up from their winter rest and start to come to life. This is a very affordable time to go and especially good if you want to avoid the crowds. The weather can be quite pleasant and comfortable reaching t-shirt weather during the day but too early to take a dip in the sea. We would probably suggest spending more time on the coast with maybe a quick trip to sea for a taste of the islands. It is not the month to spend an extended period of time there because the island locations are especially dependent on warmer weather. Basing yourself in a place like Dubrovnik and making day trips would be our suggestion at this time of year.

May

Value for money wise maybe the best month to travel to Croatia. The crowds have not yet started to appear in masses but you will find most tourist services should be operational at this time or least starting to get their act together. Generally you will get your first taste of hotter weather in May so some time in the water is definitely a possibility. May is just out of what is deemed the peak season in Croatia from June to September so you can still find very reasonable rates for on services such as accommodations. For those looking for a more relaxed time of year to visit while still being able to enjoy the total Croatia experience May is a safe bet.

June

The unofficial opening to the summer season occurs around the middle of the month. From the first of June the summer transport schedules take effect providing visitors with a lot more options for ferries and buses. Also a number of the low cost European airline providers tend to start their Croatia routes in June so you will start to notice the crowds appearing from European countries. With the crowds comes an increase in pricing so you will see a fair jump in pricing from April and May. June is a good month for those who want a taste of the summer Croatian atmosphere but without the sometimes craziness of July and August.

July

July is the opening act for the headliner that is the month of August. If I had to pick between the two I would probably suggest guests travel in July rather than August. Make sure to be aware this is when the highest prices for services appear, restaurant owners will even change their menus and jack up the prices at this time. You also have to be more choosey with your restaurant selections as it is harder to come by freshest food choices due to the high demand in the peak months. However having said all this Croatia is really at its best in many ways during July in terms of weather, events and atmosphere so definitely a great month to enjoy the best of the Croatian summer.

August

The busiest month in Croatia and especially on the islands as all of Europe is on holiday. This is when the locals hope to cash in so don’t expect any discounts. If you like action and a happening scene August is just right for you. You can expect very hot temperatures so for those who want to take advantage of the crystal clear blue waters of the Adriatic and the various water activities there is no better month. In August it is more difficult to hop around locations for a night or two as most accommodation owners have minimum stay policies at this time. Having said that August is a good time for an extended stay in one location and for those looking to enjoy some sun and fun.

September

Probably my favorite travel month in Croatia. The crowds have died down and people are generally more relaxed at this time as they have weathered the storm of August. All of the services are still in full swing but there is a bit of calmness in the air. The weather is generally very nice, still hot but not a blazing heat and the water is very comfortable after having been warmed throughout the summer. You will see flight and accommodation prices drop significantly along with other tourist services. September is a transition month but for those who want the steak and not the sizzle September will definitely not disappoint.

October

This is the final month of the “season” and you will find a lot of services have already shut their doors by this time. In the last couple of years the weather in October has more than cooperated with very comfortable temperatures and it is not uncommon to find people enjoying the water well into October. A very affordable month to travel as the peak season pricing has officially come to a close. For those who enjoy a quiet holiday and don’t mind the inconvenience of not having certain services available October can be a very nice option.

November- March

I decided to combine these months as they all make up the off season in Croatia. We would probably not recommend traveling at this time although the first couple weeks of November and the last couple weeks of March might work in a warmer year. When visiting at this time I must say a lot of places have the feeling of a ghost town. I have made a few trips within these months and some of these destinations were difficult to recognize compared to the “season”. If you want extremely cheap prices then you will find it at this time as many services provide local pricing so certainly a benefit of traveling in this period.

This article provided by JayWay Travel. Feel free to contact the experts at JayWay Travel anytime at info@jaywaytravel.com, through our website at http://www.jaywaytravel.com, within the US at 914 595 4540 or within Europe at +44 20 8133 7150 and we are glad to provide you with advice on what solution is best for you.

Jan 26, 2009

Croatia Travel Tips

Below I have listed a few of the JayWay Travel tips that we pass on to our clients to help them prepare for their stay in Croatia.



Money
The local currency in Croatia is the Croatian Kuna. (Exchange rate) Croatia will probably not be on the Euro in the near future. Cash machines are everywhere so this is the most convenient way to get money and will give you the best exchange rates. Credit cards are not accepted everywhere so be prepared.

Tipping
Customary to tip around 10% at restaurants but for bars and taxis it is not expected

Water
The water from the tap is safe for drinking.

Safety
The cities are very safe for this region of the world. It is no problem walking the city streets late at night.

Internet
You should be able to find at least one internet café in the tourist cities so staying in touch with home is easy.

Taxis
When taking a taxi from the street always ask how much the trip will be and make sure they are using their taxi meter. Taxi drivers in Croatia for the most part are quite honest.

People
You will find the people very friendly and welcoming as they are accustomed to tourists. They are also a very proud of their country and especially their home towns.

Food
One of the highlights of Croatia is the food. You will find Mediterranean style cuisine consisting of lighter foods fresh caught from the sea with an emphasis on cooking with olive oil and fresh ingredients. Grilled meat dishes are also popular.

Drink
Croatia produces very good wines due to the favorable climate and are certainly worth a try. The local beers are light and have a refreshing taste for hot Croatian days. No trip is complete without trying a shot of the local liquor known as Rakija, a good way to digest a big dinner.

Smoking
Croatian government adopted in September 2008 the law on the limitation of the use o tobacco products, according to which smoking will be banned in all public areas from May 2009. That includes bars & restaurants. The law also envisages fines for those who violate the law. Persons who serve food and drinks in a restaurant or café and do not warn guests about the smoking ban will be fined with 500 to 1,000 kuna. Smokers caught by inspectors smoking in areas where smoking is forbidden will have to pay a 1,000 kuna fine on the spot. (Exchange rate)

Electric Voltage
The electric current is 220V, 50 Hz and standard two pronged plugs are used. For American appliances a converter will be required.
This article provided by JayWay Travel. Feel free to contact the experts at JayWay Travel anytime at info@jaywaytravel.com, through our website at http://www.jaywaytravel.com, within the US at 914 595 4540 or within Europe at +44 20 8133 7150 and we are glad to provide you with advice on what solution is best for you.

Apr 15, 2008

Travel weather forecast for Croatia

Weather forecast for Croatia for today:




Weather forecast for Croatia for tomorrow:




More forecasts on Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service including:

Weather Underground
has also a good weather forecast and current weather conditions for many places in Croatia. See their information on Zagreb and Dubrovnik.






Have a nice weather!