Quality Holidays For Single Parent Families

Single Parent Holiday - Extra Information

This page contains useful information about Croatia, its history and culture that we hope you will find useful and interesting.

Destinations

Croatia Information

A Brief History
Slavic Croatian tribes settled in the area in the early 7th century (arriving from present day Poland), accepting Christianity in around 800 A.D. and soon establishing their own state ruled by princes or dukes.

In 925, Croatia became a kingdom under the rule of King Tomislav. In 1102 the country formed a union with Hungary which lasted until 1918. After the end of the First World War, Croatia joined Serbia, and Yugoslavia was formed, until its demise in 1991.

The first Yugoslavia (1918-1941) was ruled by the Serbian royal family, Karadjordjevic, which naturally favoured the Serbs and caused enormous resentment in Croatia. The country was invaded by Nazi Germany in April 1941, which gave Croatia independence under the fascist dictator Ante Pavelic.

This regime was known for its harsh rule and for committing numerous atrocities, and therefore many Croats (over 200,000) actively joined the resistance movement under Tito which liberated the country in May 1945.  (Winston Churchill was so impressed with the Croatian resistance that in 1944 he sent his son Randolph and the writer Evelyn Waugh to Croatia as his personal emissaries.)

Croatia became one of the Yugoslav republics ruled by the communist government until 1991 when Croatia declared its independence, prompting Serbian invasion. Almost all Croats rose to defend their country under the leadership of its first president, the late Franjo Tudjman (who died in December 1999), and after five years the country was liberated.

Croatia Today
The country is now a parliamentary democracy. The last general elections were held in November 2003, in which the ruling socialist SPD (and its coalition partners) lost, forcing Prime Minister Ivica Racan to resign. HDZ (the Croatian Democratic Union), under the leadership of Ivo Sanader, polled most of the votes of the electorate although they did not get an overall majority. They joined in coalition with some smaller parties and formed a government.

The initial reaction in Croatia to the new government's first moves was positive: many like Sanader's assertive action in getting Croatia into NATO and the EU as soon as possible. Croatia started negotiations to join the EU in March 2005 and most experts predict that it will join in 2008.

In January 2005, presidential elections were held. The incumbent, President Stipe Mesic, was re-elected to another five year term. Presidential powers in Croatia are limited, but he is still influential in making domestic and foreign policy issues.

Brief History of Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik has a remarkable history. An independent, merchant republic for 700 years (abolished by Napoleon in 1806), it traded with Turkey and India in the East and had trade representatives in Africa (Cape Verde Islands).

It even had diplomatic relations with the English court in the middle ages. (There is a letter from Elizabeth I on display in the City Museum in Dubrovnik). Its status was such that powerful and rich Venice was envious of this Croatian-Slav city.

The old town was completed in the 13th century and remains virtually unchanged to the present day. Tall ramparts surround it and there are only two entrances to the old town which lead to the Stradun, the city's promenade. One of the greatest pastimes for visitors is to have a drink in one of the nearby cafes and watch the world go by. 

In 1991/2, the Serbs shelled the city causing considerable damage, but thanks to local efforts and international aid, the old town has been restored to its former beauty.

General Information

Croatia is a Central European and Mediterranean country, bordering Slovenia in the west, Hungary in the north, Serbia in the east and Bosnia in the south.  The borders total 2,028 km altogether.

Croatia covers a land area of 56,690 square kilometres and has a population of about 4.5 million people (2001 census) Over 90% of the population is Croat (the majority of whom are Roman Catholics), but there are also Serbian, Bosnian, Hungarian and Italian minorities. The main population centres are Zagreb, the capital, Osijek in the northwest, and the ports of Rijeka and Split in the south. The official language is Croatian, which is written in the Latin script.

Croatia has 5,835km of coastline, 4,057km of which belongs to islands, cliffs and reefs. There are 1,185 islands in the Adriatic, but only about 50 are populated. The largest island is Krk.

Food & Drink
You get the standard fare as in many other central European or Mediterranean countries (pizza, pasta, meat dishes, fish). All food is safe to eat as restaurants are regularly inspected, and there is no problem with drinking water.  Seafood is a speciality along the Croatian coastline.

Croatian beers are of a high quality. Try Zagreb's Ozujsko pivo or Karlovacko pivo or Tuborg, brewed under license in Croatia. In Dalmatia, some red wines such as Faros or Dingac are excellent. You should also try Croatia's favourite brandy sljivovica, made from plums, or travarica, a herbal brandy.

Croatian beers are of a high quality. Try Zagreb's Ozujsko pivo or Karlovacko pivo or Tuborg, brewed under license in Croatia. In Dalmatia, some red wines such as Faros or Dingac are excellent. You should also try Croatia's favourite brandy sljivovica, made from plums, or travarica, a herbal brandy.

Money
The Croatian currency is the Kuna, which is divided into 100 lipas. (The word "Kuna" means marten, a weasel-like animal, whose fur Croats used for payment many centuries ago.  Credit cards are widely accepted in Croatia.  The Hotel Lafodia has money exchange facilities and there is an ATM in the village.

Health
The health service is of a good standard.  Great Britain has reciprocal medical arrangements with Croatia whereby, in principal, you should not have to pay for any emergency treatment.  It is recommended you show your passport first to confirm your nationality.  For non-British travellers with Small Families, additional information and conditions may apply.  You can obtain any additional medical information required at www.dh.gov.uk/travellers.

Safety
Travel is quite safe all over Croatia and mugging and thefts are not a problem. However,  in some coastal resorts, as is common all over the Mediterranean, single women may be approached or whistled at, if you say no firmly you are unlikely to be bothered further.

Climate
The climate is Mediterranean along the Adriatic coast, meaning warm dry summers and mild winters, with 2,600 hours of sunlight on average yearly - it is one of the sunniest coastlines in Europe! In the interior, the climate is continental with hot summers and cold, snowy winters.

And Finally, a few useful tips to bear in mind.

The Tourist Ten Commandments

• Thou shalt not expect to find things as thou hast left them at home, for thou hast left home to find things different
   

• Thou shalt not take anything too seriously, for a carefree attitude is the basis for a fine holiday.
   

• Thou shalt not allow other tourists to get on thy nerves, for thou art paying good money to enjoy thyself
   

• Remember to take only half the clothes thou thinkest thou needest and twice the money
   

• Know at all times where thy passport is, for a person without a passport is a person without a country.
   

• Remember that if we had been meant to stay in one place, we would have been created with roots.
   

• Thou shalt not worry, for he who worrieth hath no pleasure
   

• When in Croatia thou shalt be prepared to do somewhat as the locals.
   

• Thou shalt not judge the people of a country by one person who hath given thee grief.
   

• Remember, thou art a guest in other lands and he that treateth his host with respect, shall be honoured.

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