Croatia - has it always been “expensive”?

[Boxster5]

We’re off to Croatia in 3 weeks time and just looking at restaurants & bars on Trip Advisor, it’s not exactly “cheap”.
Now I don’t mind paying what it is but I don’t like getting ripped off.
We had initially combined our trip with a 5 night stay in Montenegro but checking again on car hire, the cross border charge has now gone up to €125 (I’m sure when I last checked it was only €50) - also Montenegro (Kotor) was expensive from an eating & drinking perspective. Sadly we’ve cancelled that leg of our holiday.
We’re staying in Zadar (7 nights) then Cavtat (5 nights) & Trogir for our final 2 nights.
Something that rang out when looking at TA reviews was how many were 5 star ratings & the people rating them had only ever done 1 TA review - that’s set the alarm bells ringing thinking it’s staff putting the reviews on - I also noticed there were quite a few reviews mentioning food poisoning but of course that could just someone posting a malicious review.
I suspect changing from the Kuno to Euro has pushed prices up or is the cruise ship factor?
Rather than looking forward to it, I’m now thinking this is going to be expensive. It makes France look like a bargain (which it is if you know where to go!)

[Evanivitch]

Montenegro isn't Croatia.

I liked Zadar. I don't remember it being cheap particularly. Dubrovnik and Split were certainly more expensive but Zadar tends to avoid all that.

[Boxster5]

Evanivitch said:

Montenegro isn't Croatia.

I liked Zadar. I don't remember it being cheap particularly. Dubrovnik and Split were certainly more expensive but Zadar tends to avoid all that.

I know Montenegro isn’t Croatia - that’s why there’s a border!!
We visited Hvar & Dubrovnik in Croatia & Kotor, Montenegro on a cruise (we don’t do cruises!) but certainly thought Dubrovnik was expensive even then around 10 years ago.
I’m not looking for cheap but thought it would be something similar to Greek prices.
Having said that everywhere is expensive now (just look at the US).

[craig1912]

Went to Split, Dubrovnik Hvar and Korcula last year and thought it was quite reasonable.

It certainly wasn’t expensive even in the old town of Dubrovnik and I would say not too different to Greece.

Seems to confirm my thoughts

http://hikersbay.com/prices/croatia?lang=en#num-pr...

Edited by craig1912 on Wednesday 16th August 20:38

[scooby1994]

i stayed in Cavtat in June, some nice little restaurants around the harbour,they weren't cheap but they were reasonably priced for very good meals

[Alex Z]

We went to Dubrovnik 5 years ago, Split last year, and then Dubrovnik again in May.

It definitely feels like there’s been quite a jump in prices for the last trip, with a large beer now being 8 or 9 euros as a minimum in the old town. I expect that’s the same causes as our price rises in 22/23 rather than just the euro as menus still had prices shown in Kuna alongside.

By comparison, Bosnia & Hercegovina was a bargain. In Dubrovnik you’d pay about 15-18 euros for a cevapi and fries in an average restaurant. At the edge of Mostar old town it was 3.5 euros, and in a riverside bar right next to the bridge, 7.

[globaltraveller]

Food and drink is rocketing all over Europe. I’ve been on the continent for the last few months and everything seems to be approaching 2x pre Covid prices.

[CloudStuff]

Arrived in Korcula yesterday for a week.

It’s expensive, typically so for any Euro destination. Meal for four easily reaches 100 euros. We knew this in advance.

Absolutely stunning though.

[some bloke]

We were in Dubrovnik last September and yes, it was expensive. Some nice food but more expensive than expected, and I live in the tourist hell that is Edinburgh.

[elise2000]

It has been creeping up for years, but there has been a more noticeable jump in prices this year since they’ve joined the euro.

That said, if you venture beyond the touristy restaurants to more local establishments, particularly in villages, prices are still very reasonable.

[Boxster5]

elise2000 said:

It has been creeping up for years, but there has been a more noticeable jump in prices this year since they’ve joined the euro.

That said, if you venture beyond the touristy restaurants to more local establishments, particularly in villages, prices are still very reasonable.

I remember Greece joining the Euro and prices jumped from when it was the Dracma so sort of expected that.
As you say keep away from the touristy restaurants & prices generally are more reasonable.
We love the Tabac’s in France for mixing with the locals whilst having a cheeky beer or calvados!

[ecsrobin]

Prices have gone up in Croatia but we still found prices reasonable in Trogir, Split and surrounding islands back in May. Although I believe prices do increase as the warmer weather arrives.

[Antony Moxey]

Went to Dubrovnik in the 80s before the Balkan wars and it was cheap as chips - 12p for a packet of 20 fags I think. So no, it hasn’t always been expensive.

[Sheetmaself]

Not what i wanted to see, going to Brac Island (Milna) next week!

[Kerniki]

Nice rural restaurant (non michelin) here in france is now 150-180 for lunch if you want 3 courses and two drinks each, just sayin..

[Boxster5]

Kerniki said:

Nice rural restaurant (non michelin) here in france is now 150-180 for lunch if you want 3 courses and two drinks each, just sayin..

Depends on the region I think - we found a great restaurant in the Dordogne - €17 for a 3 course “formule” which was superb (no skimpy portions & top quality) - we couldn’t believe how they did it - around €50-65 with wine for 2 - so yes you can pay more and there are many places like that (we went to a ferme auberge that was highly rated - €130 with one drink & it was crap!). It’s normally the drinks that bump the cost up.
That applies to everywhere in Europe as well as the UK.

[Kerniki]

Boxster5 said:

Kerniki said:

Nice rural restaurant (non michelin) here in france is now 150-180 for lunch if you want 3 courses and two drinks each, just sayin..

Depends on the region I think - we found a great restaurant in the Dordogne - €17 for a 3 course “formule” which was superb (no skimpy portions & top quality) - we couldn’t believe how they did it - around €50-65 with wine for 2 - so yes you can pay more and there are many places like that (we went to a ferme auberge that was highly rated - €130 with one drink & it was crap!). It’s normally the drinks that bump the cost up.
That applies to everywhere in Europe as well as the UK.

Thats where we are i'm not talking about places that do ‘plat de jour’ menus

L’atelier in issigeac, chateau vigiers bistro (not their gastro restaurant), chateau merles bistro, all are nice food and nice settings but not michelin and their prices are as stated.

Last year they were all 120-130 max, so 170-180 is a huge hike

[Boxster5]

Kerniki said:

Boxster5 said:

Kerniki said:

Nice rural restaurant (non michelin) here in france is now 150-180 for lunch if you want 3 courses and two drinks each, just sayin..

Depends on the region I think - we found a great restaurant in the Dordogne - €17 for a 3 course “formule” which was superb (no skimpy portions & top quality) - we couldn’t believe how they did it - around €50-65 with wine for 2 - so yes you can pay more and there are many places like that (we went to a ferme auberge that was highly rated - €130 with one drink & it was crap!). It’s normally the drinks that bump the cost up.
That applies to everywhere in Europe as well as the UK.

Thats where we are i'm not talking about places that do ‘plat de jour’ menus

L’atelier in issigeac, chateau vigiers bistro (not their gastro restaurant), chateau merles bistro, all are nice food and nice settings but not michelin and their prices are as stated.

Last year they were all 120-130 max, so 170-180 is a huge hike

That does look VERY nice - the French really know how to present food. Prices don’t look too bad but it soon adds up.