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Private Home Stay in Croatia

by Melissa Atienza-Petri on December 20th, 2005

Julien Marchand asks,

There are three types of home stays being offered all over Croatia. Below are my personal opinion and recommendations regarding this type of accommodations.

Private homes arranged directly with the homeowner

How to find them: Unless you know someone who knows someone, head on out to the local bus and boat stations.  Private homeowners frequent these places and offer their wares to the arriving tourists.  Best to keep your ears open for locals shouting out the word ”Sobe”.

PROS: Staying with local families is a great option for those who wouldn’t mind sharing a part of their private life since you may have to share the flat with the owner’s family.  You get the benefit of getting an insight into the local culture. You can even take advantage of this arrangement by getting tips on where to go, how much the real cost for everything is, etc. Oh yea, chances are, this option is cheaper than the other two.

CONS: Like in any other country, there will be a few who might be there to rip-off tourists. However, they are the exception not the rule.

Private homes arranged through travel agencies

Where to find them: In Dubrovnik, it is best to go to the Turisticka Zajednika (local tourist office) and ask. Before heading off to Hvar, email Mengola Travel (megola-hvar@st.tel.hr) for information. Before heading off to Korcula, get in touch with Marco Polo tours (marko-polo-tours@du.tel.hr). Basically, most travel agencies and local tourist offices can tell you where to go.

PROS: same with the first option.  This option may be the safest way, especially if you do not speak the local language, since the agencies are legit and are registered.

CONS: none. Since, imho, your safety is surely worth a couple of dollars more.

Apartments for rent, sometimes advertised as homestay

Where to find them: Online, baby!  Apartments von Bloemen and ADP Gloria are just a few of those which you can find.  You can also check out the local tourist offices and travel agencies for the availability of apartments.

PROS: You have your own apartment with a kitchen. Your schedule is yours. It’s a compromise between a hotel and a private home.

CONS: For most, there’s a minimum number of days required before you can book. You need to talk to strangers in order to befriend a local since you do not have real contact with the homeowner. Although, there are a few exceptions.
 

Some local terms worth knowing, which could help you find that private home stay that you seek:

sobe - private rooms
stan - apartment
kuca - house
mjesto - town/village
ulica - street
posrednik - estate agent
telefon agencije - telephone of agency
cijena - overall price in euros
Eu/m2 - price in euros per square metre
sob - number of rooms

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POSTED IN: Cheap Accommodations in Europe, Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean