The airports in Germany won’t allow you to take rented vehicles into eastern Europe. This puzzled my parents and I, because in two weeks we were about to take a road trip to Croatia. We had beenliving in Germany for three years now, and had thoroughly taken advantage of what the economically sized continent had to offer us. We’d seen everything from the leaning tower of Pisa, to Venice, to the mustard factories of Dijon, France. We knew Europe would be a brief revelation, but a revelation nonetheless. At this point the deadline for us to go back to South Carolina was creeping up on us, like a B-movie vampire, and we wanted to take one last meaningful vacation before we’d have to say our goodbyes to European living.
That’s when we found out that German rental car companies don’t insure, or sometimes even allow trips to the once dismal side of the Iron Curtain. My father asked the desk clerk why this was?
“Most cars don’t come back.” she said.
We ended up having to take our rickety, unreliable Volvo down to Croatia: the country that gave the world cucumber sauce, and men’s ties.
Croatia isn’t exactly on everyone’s top ten list of places they’d like to see before they die. That’s because back in the early nineties, traveling to Croatia meant that it would be the last place you’d see before you died. The entire region of former Yugoslavia was engulfed in violence that was at once ethnically, religiously, and nationalistically motivated. Most of the violence and genocide was in Serbia, and Bosnia, however the bloodshed did spill over into neighboring countries. As time went on though, the madness subsided and like so many other countries past and present, it was faced with the daunting task of rebuilding itself.
Croatia is now a frugal European tourist’s dream. It’s cheap, warm, sunny, and possesses a slightly ailing, discolored, crumbling, bullet-fragmented infrastructure the locals would rather describe as, rustic.
Our first three days were spent in the sea side town of Umago, were we learned the fundamental basics of staying in Croatia. The country itself isn’t very expensive for tourists, that is unless you don’t know what to do. If you’re not careful in Eastern Europe (or anywhere really) you will be ripped off.
The first rule is to never stay in a hotel. Ironically, renting out an apartment for a few days from local residents is cheaper. People do it there all the time to make some extra cash, and all one has to do is walk into a tourist bureau and ask. The only downside to this is that rates are so low that they border on the unethical, leaving one feeling guilty for obtaining such a deal. In Umago, we stayed at a place right on the green waters of the Adriatic, Hotel Krystal. It looked like the Four Seasons on the outside, but the rooms resembled a Super 8 motor lodge.
Once we had gotten the swing of things, we settled down in a small residential village where tourists seldom went, and the trip would blossom into a fruitful last glimpse of Europe. My sister went horseback riding, while my father lay listlessly on the beach. My mother would read several books (she hated it there), and I would flirt with a Croatian girl gifted in linguistics and have my first real shave. That’s what it all meant: it was time to grow up, time to return to an uncertain future for America, time to shave the hair off my face.
Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.
2 Replies to “Most Cars Don’t Come Back: A Final Trip to Croatia”
Comment on this article
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
I have been absent for some time, but now I remember why I used to love this blog. Thanks , I will try and check back more often. How frequently you update your site?
I could not resist commenting. Very well written!
Hi webmaster, commenters and everybody else !!! The blog was absolutely fantastic!
Lots of great information and inspiration, both of which we all need!b Keep em coming you all do such a great job at such Concepts
cant tell you how much I, for one appreciate all you do!
Hello!
I am student of the department of tourism at the University of Piraeus in Greece and i am excited that we are conducting a survey about Family Travel.
I would be really happy if you completed this quick survey:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1s1OjLYV6AtLcEgkaa6UsqtxjVCnLQ1NMjTGANmOqyAw/edit
Thank you very much!
Best Family Summer Vacations. Bookanyboat helps you search for boat rentals, yacht charters and sightseeing cruises in 3 exciting destinations, including: Dubai, Ibiza and Miami. bookanyboat.com
Exceptional post but I was wondering if you could write
a litte more on this topic? I’d be very thankful if you could elaborate a little bit more.
Bless you!
Thanks for finally writing about > How To Chhoose a Dude Ranch When Therre Are
So Manny Chhoices – My Family Travels
Summer is the best time to visit Alaska because the days are longer as well as the temperature were warmer.
As ones luxury cruise ship glides past creaking blue-white glacier and lush woodland, rest on you private veranda.
The Last Frontier is a nature lover’s dream, with places like Production of essential which you can see big cats fishing trout or Queenstown with which you can witness humpback whales breaching on a whale-watching cruise.
In Icy Strait Point, soar over the trees on the a zipline, and learn about the history of the Gold Rush in Skagway.
Thanks for sharing informative post.
San Diego vacation rentals with private pool
Very superb information can be found on web site.
Fantastic site. Lots of useful information here.
I am sending it to some buddies ans additionally sharing.
Lovely just what I was looking for.Thanks to the author for taking his time on this one.
Awsome info and straight to the point. I am not sure if this is really the best place to ask but do you guys have any ideea where to get some professional writers? Thanks in advance 🙂
Hey very interesting blog!
Ahaa, its fastidious conversation regarding this post at this place at this web
site, I have read all that, so now me also commenting here.
I think that what you published was very logical. However,
what about this? what if you typed a catchier post title?
I ain’t suggesting your content is not good, but suppose you
added something that grabbed people’s attention? I mean How To Choose a
Dude Ranch When There Are So Many Choices – My Family Travels is
kinda plain. You ought to look at Yahoo’s home
page and see how they create news headlines to grab viewers
interested. You might add a video or a related pic or two to get readers interested about what you’ve written. Just my opinion, it could bring your blog a little
bit more interesting.
Everything is very open and very clear explanation of issues. was truly information. Your website is very useful. Thanks for sharing.
It’s actually a cool and useful piece of info. I am glad that you shared this useful info with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
Wow, this post is good, my sister is analyzing these things,
so I am going to convey her.
You have brought up a very good points, regards for the post.
I truly appreciate this post. I have been looking everywhere for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You have made my day! Thanks again!
Howdy! Someone in my Myspace group shared this website with us so I came
to look it over. I’m definitely loving the information. I’m bookmarking and will be tweeting this to my followers!
Wonderful blog and terrific design and style.
After going over a few of the blog posts on your web page, I seriously like your technique of writing a blog. I saved as a favorite it to my bookmark site list and will be checking back soon. Please check out my web site as well and let me know what you think.
Your site is very good, I liked the information. Grateful. 10070690
I’m no longer sure where you’re getting your info, however good topic.
I must spend a while finding out much more or understanding more. Thanks for wonderful info I was looking for this information for my mission.
Have you ever thought about creating an e-book or guest authoring on other websites? I have a blog centered on the same subjects you discuss and would really like to have you share some stories/information. I know my readers would value your work. If you’re even remotely interested, feel free to send me an e-mail.
Hello there! I could have sworn I’ve been to this site before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Nonetheless, I’m definitely delighted I found it and I’ll be book-marking and checking back often!
Do you have at least some idea how to cancel Hawaiian airlines flight? Booked tickets can be dropped online by Visiting Hawaiian Airlines’ actual webpage. explorers don’t have even the remotest clue how to drop the trip on the web, they can contact flight chiefs at Hawaiian Airlines drop ticket
Hi there! I just wish to give a huge thumbs up for the great information you will have here on this post. I will be coming back to your weblog for more soon.
Its excellent as your other posts : D, regards for posting.
Great Post ! I have read your other posts which are really informative for any family traveler. Thanks for sharing such a beautiful informative information.
Exactly what I was searching for, thank you for posting.
very nice publish, i certainly love this website, keep on it
Many years ago, I did study Spanish in Barcelona, with a school called CIEE. I loved every minute of my month there, stayed with an older woman who ran a boarding house for students. She made us all speak Spanish at every meal. I remember eating a lot of patates fritas at her house, but I did learn a lot of Spanish (a little Catalan too) and I fell in love with Barcelona.
I was just telling my friend about that.