This summer is about enjoying and having fun after having waited for so many months for your long-awaited days in Croatia. We would like to be able to tell you that there is nothing to fear ahead of your holidays, but it would be irresponsible not to warn you about some unfortunate practices that, if you are not careful, could cause some unpleasant moments. Croatia is one of the safest countries in Europe, and that is not an overstatement. The overall feeling of tourists in Croatia is that of tranquility and security, and year after year this fact continues to be confirmed.
Therefore, if we talk about some things that you should be careful with, it is not something that happens so often and they are usually very specific cases. Either way, it’s better to be safe than sorry. We review some scams in Croatia that you should avoid.
Ghost accommodation
In recent years it has become more frequent to read on social networks the unfortunate experiences of tourists who, upon arriving in Croatia, realized that their accommodation did not exist at all. Sites like Booking or Airbnb present a large number and variety of verified accommodations, but it is likely that at some point you have been tempted by an accommodation offer on Facebook that displayed dreamy pictures of the facilities and the views, and that was also rented at a fairly cheap price. And just like on any trusted website for renting accommodation, it is normal to make an advance payment to make your reservation.
It has happened and continues to happen, that when you arrive at the specified address, there is not a single building that resembles what you saw in the photos. Therefore, we recommend that you avoid making reservations on portals or platforms with few guarantees, or in any case, verify the reliability of these accommodations in advance.
Last-minute cancellations
Unfortunately, ghost accommodations are not the only thing to worry about when staying in Croatia. There are some accommodations that, although in this case they are real, usually cancel your reservations just a few weeks or even days before your arrival. Why? The reasons may vary, but in general, most tend to raise their prices higher at the last minute compared to what they were when you made your reservation, leaving you with no choice but to pay the difference so as not to lose your accommodation.
This is unlikely to happen with reputable hosts, and it is very likely that these practices have been in place for a long time. Therefore, it is a good idea to carefully read the reviews of those properties, or to make sure that they have visible reviews in the first place. Likewise, we recommend not only following the most positive reviews but also reading the negative or more critical comments.
Street taxis
During the summer season, many of the most common complaints are from tourists who were charged extortionate rates by some taxi drivers. Most of these rates are applied to passengers who need a transfer to or from the airport or those who leave bars or nightclubs at dawn. Usually, these are taxi drivers who take advantage of a passenger’s urgency to not miss their flight or to arrive at their accommodation as soon as possible.
It’s been a while since companies like Uber entered the market to revolutionize the taxi industry. If there is one piece of advice that I give very often, it is that it is better to use a taxi app than to ask for one on the street. In my opinion, it is better to have detailed information about the driver, affiliated with a company that you can complain to if necessary, and most importantly, know the fare range in advance.
For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.
