Croatia

[CatNewBee]

I will avoid Croatia in the future. The daily tax is insane, on top a lot of fees, even for anchoring in a bay. This country is now on my No-Go list.

I hope, they lose significant tourism after the increase last year to come back to normal prices, it is a rip-off nowadays, especially for Yachties and RV'er.

[Gruz]

Originally Posted by CatNewBee

I will avoid Croatia in the future.

Excellent, I hope that you will have a lot of followers, not just for Croatia, but all over Mediterranean that we, who are well off can have space, peace and quiet for ourselves. do not like to mingle with skint.

[CatNewBee]

Originally Posted by Gruz

Excellent, I hope that you will have a lot of followers, not just for Croatia, but all over Mediterranean that we, who are well off can have space, peace and quiet for ourselves. do not like to mingle with skint.

Sure, have fun, and pay for anchoring, per day fees in croatian waters and let them rip you off on all corners, it's the perfect country for you!

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by CatNewBee

Sure, have fun, and pay for anchoring, per day fees in croatian waters and let them rip you off on all corners, it's the perfect country for you!

The tourism tax went up by $100 USD for the two of us for an extended stay tourist tax. Nothing to do with anchorages or yacht fees. Big deal.... you’re actually going to let $50 stand between you and seeing a wonderful country? My wife and I can’t wait to get back and pay the extra $50 each.

[CatNewBee]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

The tourism tax went up by $100 USD for the two of us for an extended stay tourist tax. Nothing to do with anchorages or yacht fees. Big deal.... you’re actually going to let $50 stand between you and seeing a wonderful country? My wife and I can’t wait to get back and pay the extra $50 each. [emoji2][emoji2]

https://mysyachting.com/sojourn-tax-...w-prices-2018/

https://www.thedubrovniktimes.com/ne...ers-in-croatia

600 EUR tax for 90 days sojourn tax plus cruising permit and light house fees plus 20EUR for anchoring in the bay, most expensive marinas in the Med...

it was an increment of 500% in one year.

I call it piracy.

Lots of restrictions too...

[Gruz]

New, lower tourist tax fees in 2019.


https://www.aci-marinas.com/en/nove-...u-2019-godini/

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by CatNewBee

https://mysyachting.com/sojourn-tax-...w-prices-2018/

https://www.thedubrovniktimes.com/ne...ers-in-croatia

600 EUR tax for 90 days sojourn tax plus cruising permit and light house fees plus 20EUR for anchoring in the bay, most expensive marinas in the Med...

it was an increment of 500% in one year.

I call it piracy.

Lots of restrictions too...

The total for our 16 meter yacht comes to €649 for an entire year, certainly nowhere near enough to consider it any more than a true bargain for what we get.

[CatNewBee]

Well, thank you for the updated price list for 2019.

It is still a huge increase compared to 2017, but a move in the right direction, it is still 300% of what we paid in 2017.
I guess I was not the only one who said good bye to Croatia last year.

I hope 2020 they come back to normal.

[GTom]

Originally Posted by CatNewBee

Well, thank you for the updated price list for 2019.

It is still a huge increase compared to 2017, but a move in the right direction, it is still 300% of what we paid in 2017.

The overall costs of cruising have to be compared here among Med destinations i.e. Turkey, Greece, etc. Greece also levies cruising taxes, the interesting part of the Western Med (Corsica, Sardinia) usually has higher berthing rates. It's not all black&white, one has to dig in the details, include berthing, taxes, restaurant costs, land and air travel costs. As for the latter, Croatia still has a huge advantage, since it's within a day's driving from most of central Europe.

The slight decrease in taxes is anyway a good indicator, that they were overly excessive. What makes a broke goverment nowadays lovering taxes on "rich" foreigners, envied by the voting folks?

[CatNewBee]

Not really, it is more a "wild west" country at the moment. Never been charged for anchoring in the Med in other places except Croatia.

Marina fees are on the upper end, but even traveling the country by RV is more expensive than in any EU country with less opportunities, overnight parking is prohibited in the whole country, there are very little RV parking opportunities and prices are similar to campgrounds.

Same for the markets, total rip-off on tourists, especially if you not calculate the exchange rates. There was one guy in Rovinje last autumn asking 10€ / kg for grapes on the market in the walking area. 2 sreets away in the supermarket the price was 1.30€/kg. They just try to trick you everywhere.

Restaurants are still OK from the price point, but have been also better in the past. I've been several times in Croatia and it becomes less attractive each year. More restrictions, regulations, fines, fees etc. Still crowded during the season, especially hot spots flooded by large cruising ships crowds (like Dubrovnik). Nature is beautiful, but more and more restricted for cruising / anchoring, more no-go areas with high fines every year, so the fun is disappearing. They try to force you to marinas and buoys for fees and restaurant eating, and even charge you at anchorages. The agenda is just to milk you as much as possible and let you very little room to escape.

You simply do not feel welcome anymore.

If you are not a live aboard on a tight budget, but a vacation cruiser or charter guest with "money is not an issue" mindset, and you are into marina hopping and eating in fancy restaurants in over-crowded towns every evening - Croatia may be for you.

[Gruz]

Originally Posted by CatNewBee

Not really, it is more a "wild west" country at the moment. Never been charged for anchoring in the Med in other places except Croatia.

Marina fees are on the upper end, but even traveling the country by RV is more expensive than in any EU country with less opportunities, overnight parking is prohibited in the whole country, there are very little RV parking opportunities and prices are similar to campgrounds.

Same for the markets, total rip-off on tourists, especially if you not calculate the exchange rates. There was one guy in Rovinje last autumn asking 10€ / kg for grapes on the market in the walking area. 2 sreets away in the supermarket the price was 1.30€/kg. They just try to trick you everywhere.

Restaurants are still OK from the price point, but have been also better in the past. I've been several times in Croatia and it becomes less attractive each year. More restrictions, regulations, fines, fees etc. Still crowded during the season, especially hot spots flooded by large cruising ships crowds (like Dubrovnik). Nature is beautiful, but more and more restricted for cruising / anchoring, more no-go areas with high fines every year, so the fun is disappearing. They try to force you to marinas and buoys for fees and restaurant eating, and even charge you at anchorages. The agenda is just to milk you as much as possible and let you very little room to escape.

You simply do not feel welcome anymore.

If you are not a live aboard on a tight budget, but a vacation cruiser or charter guest with "money is not an issue" mindset, and you are into marina hopping and eating in fancy restaurants in over-crowded towns every evening - Croatia may be for you.

I am not Croat, actually I am not even cruising there, last time I went to Croatia was 7 years ago so I do not have any reason to defend them but I have to say this to you and any other free loaders out there even if I will get ban. If you people are not happy wherever you are going or do not meet your expectations than stay home, cruise in your own country and have free lunch. they (Croatia) have enough own poor people, they do not need rest of the world "drop outs". if you can not afford cruising than you should not bought boat, you should stay home (I hope you had one) take gardening, take dog for walk, chase squirrels or buy Airfix models and do that for "hobby", simply, do not go there and problem solved. no more wild west Croatia, or Turkey or Greece or whatever, let them drown in their own crap.

[CatNewBee]

Originally Posted by Gruz

I am not Croat, actually I am not even cruising there, last time I went to Croatia was 7 years ago so I do not have any reason to defend them but I have to say this to you and any other free loaders out there even if I will get ban. If you people are not happy wherever you are going or do not meet your expectations than stay home, cruise in your own country and have free lunch. they (Croatia) have enough own poor people, they do not need rest of the world "drop outs". if you can not afford cruising than you should not bought boat, you should stay home (I hope you had one) take gardening, take dog for walk, chase squirrels or buy Airfix models and do that for "hobby", simply, do not go there and problem solved. no more wild west Croatia, or Turkey or Greece or whatever, let them drown in their own crap.

That's what I am saying, bye bye Croatia, spent already enough on you!
There are more nice places out there to explore in the Med.

I don't know what you mean with freeloaders, an increase of taxes and fees over 500% in one year is usury, and the recent reduction to 60% is still an increase of 300% compared to 2017, so I did a decision for my future cruising grounds and I am probably not alone, otherwise they would not have revised the tax after few months I guess.

Feel free to donate to Croatia any amount of money if you feel so.

[yeloya]

I am not criticising Croatia; there is a huge demand for sailing in this country and they want to get the maximum out of them. If people like you stop going there, I am sure their attitude against cruiser (not very friendly to be honest..) and the taxes they are charging will change pretty soon.
In the meantime you can go to Turkey, Tunisia, Greece, Montenegro, etc.. There are plenty of alternatives around for everyones' taste and budget..

Cheers

Yeloya

[GTom]

Originally Posted by CatNewBee

That's what I am saying, bye bye Croatia, spent already enough on you!
There are more nice places out there to explore in the Med.

I don't know what you mean with freeloaders, an increase of taxes and fees over 500% in one year is usury, and the recent reduction to 60% is still an increase of 300% compared to 2017, so I did a decision for my future cruising grounds and I am probably not alone, otherwise they would not have revised the tax after few months I guess.

Feel free to donate to Croatia any amount of money if you feel so.

Short answer: Greece+Turkey. Better attitude towards visitors, somewhat more sane regulations, longer season(!). Even at the same price point I'd go with them...

Anyway, I find this thread quite useful, the "dark side" is never advertised, noonsite usually has a decent package of information, but there are always smaller bits in the puzzle.