croatia Archives - Optimise Travel

European holiday hotspots remain a popular choice among Australian travellers of all ages. From the heritage of the Renaissance era to modern and contemporary art, wonderful beaches and wild mountains, it seems that everyone can find something special in Europe.

The catch for Aussies in 2015/2016 is the currency exchange rate. The Australian dollar has been at all-time lows for the past 5 years relative to the Euro and British Pound. In November 2015, around 2 AUD will get you 1 GBP and 8 AUD receives 5 EUR. These figures highlight the extra burden travellers now face when visiting European cities meaning their hard-earned AUD won’t go as far as it once did.

Optimise Travel has done the research for you to showcase european holiday destinations that will give you more ‘bang for your buck’.

Image via xe.com

Nonetheless, European holiday destinations do not only include the UK, France, Germany, Spain or Italy.

Central and Eastern Europe

These are amazing destinations that offer unique and memorable experiences similar to the more popular regions, but at a much better price. This is the case because not every EU country has adopted the Euro as its currency, our table below explains.

Countries such as Sweden and Denmark have their own currencies and while the exchange rate might be favorable to the AUD in 2016, the services, food and travelling costs in these northern countries are almost equivalent to those practiced in Western Europe, so they do not represent great deals for Australians. To gain significantly more value for your European holiday in 2016, you can visit the following countries which are not in the Eurozone:

Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia, Romania, Bulgaria, Russia, and Turkey.

Image via http://www.economist.com

The major Eastern European capitals such as Warsaw in Poland, Budapest in Hungary or Bucharest in Romania are just as technologically advanced and up-to-date with 21^st century trends as any western city. These come with the added benefit of generally less tourists. The adventures awaiting travellers visiting this region of Europe is extremely unique, highlighted by the diversity of Serbia and Macedonia, Russian vodka tasting in Moscow or the outstanding all-inclusive offers in Turkey’s beach resorts.

The Czech Republic others coffee festivals, fantastic art collections including Andy Warhols best work, castles, caves and gorgeous Chateaux’s. Even though Prague has attained popularity in the past decade and prices have increased, it still represents high value for Australians. Architecture from the Gothic and Renaissance eras is littered throughout the capital. English speaking guided mountain bike tours are available and extremely popular along with Czech beer. This brew is known around the world for its taste, which comes from decades of brewery experience passed down from one generation to the other. The best thing about it is that you can get the finest Czech beer at excellent prices regardless of where you stay.

Religion or literature enthusiasts can follow in the footsteps of Rabbi Loew and the renowned legend of the Golem – a trip that starts in front of his statue, takes you through the Kafka square, two synagogues, and a Jewish cemetery. Just outside of Brno, in the east of the Czech Republic lies the Moravian Karst, a vast landscape of gorges, caverns, underground rivers and cave systems.

Image via https://www.ietf.org/

The next on our list is Poland and the city of our choice is Krakow, which seems to be the most accessible destination. Free walking tours of the city are available for backpackers leaving daily from the main square. This central grand square (Rynek Glowny) is the perfect people watching both day and night and is an excellent starting point when exploring the city.

Attractions such as the Wawel Royal Castle, Bunker of Modern Art and the Church of the Virgin Mary (Kosciol Mariacki) are all within walking distance and easily accessible. If walking and site seeing takes its toll then Spa and wellness resorts are also popular throughout Poland with more than 40 renowned for their affordability, modern features and tranquility.

Travel further east to a Romania to experience Medieval Castles such as Bram Stoker’s inspiration for Dracula. Located just outside of the picturesque mountain town of Brasov and just a few hours north of the capital Bucharest, this 600 year old castle is a must see for adults and children alike and with tickets no more than 30 Romanian Lei (€6).

In terms of modern scenery, the capital Bucharest is renowned for its historic beauty and with many focal points showcasing its communist times. You can learn something about Romania’s roots at the Village Museum or the Museum of the Romanian Peasant or gaze upon the 2^nd largest building in the world, the Palace of the Parliament.

Art galleries are plentiful and usually come without the crowds of its Parisian counterparts. The most interesting 21^st century galleries include the Anaid, Zorzini Gallery or H’art Gallery. Alternatively, the capital is renowned for its nightlife and entertainment scene. Low prices, plenty of underground locations and live music clubs can turn every night into a party.

Image via www.reddit.com

The Russian economy has experienced difficult times recently, with the AUD gaining as much as 60% in value when compared to the Russian Ruble since January. Services are quite pricy in Moscow, seeing as it is one of the largest capitals in Europe, but transportation, food and drinks are more than reasonable.

Visit the Kremlin, a fortress dating back to the 1100’s and renovated in the 15^th century by Italian architects and currently the seat of the Russian state power, as well as the Red Square, where you’ll be blown away by the the psychedelic onion domes of St. Basil.

Image via www.holidaystoturkey.com

Antalya, Turkey is the place for your perfect European holiday in 2016. Considerably cheaper than the capital Istanbul, Antalya is mostly known for its beach resorts. The incredible value of your vacation is powered by an exceptional currency rate between the AUD and Turkish Lira. Additionally most hotels offer ‘all inclusive’ packages meaning you can indulge in all the food and drink you that your stomach can handle. Visit our comprehensive guide to Turkey here.

Image via xe.com

Even though the AUD has lost a lot of ground in the past 5 years compared to the Euro and British Pound, Europe still remains an attractive destination for Australians. This is because tourists can experience art, history, mountains, beaches, spas, nightlife, medieval castles and architecture all on the one continent. Travellers who venture outside the more recognised european cities can stretch the AUD further, experiencing more on their European holiday adventures.

Please Share your European holiday tips, tricks and stories in the comments section so that others can benefit on their travels!

*We aim to provide up to date content and information. If any information provided is no longer correct then please email us at optimisetravelaustralia@gmail.com or post in the comments section

Optimise Travel Test – Croatia

Croatia offers plenty of options for holiday-makers, including its culture, historical buildings and national parks, as well as beautiful coastal and inland mountain resorts.

We’ve put the country through our Optimise Travel holiday destination test, and it comes up trumps.

Is now a good financial time to go?

Is there a wide variety of interesting things to see and do?

Is there a good time of year to go?

How hard is it to get to and get around when you’re there?

We’ll look at each one of these criteria in more detail in this article, offering you some practical tips and advice along the way.

A good financial time to go √

Current exchange rates between the Australian dollar and the Croatian kuna make Croatia a good value for money destination for Australian tourists.

As the graph below shows, the Australian dollar (AUD) will currently buy you approximately 5.17 Croatian kunas (HRK). Although you would have been able to get more than 6 kunas to the dollar 2 or 3 years ago, the Australian dollar has held up better against the kuna in recent years than against currencies like the United States dollar (USD) and the Euro (EUR).

Image: xe.com

A variety of interesting things to see and do √

Before we get into those, you need to get your head around the geographic layout of the country. The capital city of Croatia is Zagreb, and the country is bordered by Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. Croatian is the official language in the country, but most people speak at least a little English, so the language barrier won’t be as acute as in some other countries.

Image: http://reliefweb.int

Pula Arena

This amphitheatre was built in the first century, and is the 6^th largest surviving arena from the Roman Empire. It is also the best preserved historical building in Croatia, and hosts a variety of festivals and concert performances over the summer months.

http://www.houseofcoco.net/park-plaza-arena-hotel-pula-croatia/

Plitvice Lakes

Plitvice Lakes is a World Heritage-listed national park located near Croatia’s border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is particularly famous for its series of cascading lakes and their green, blue and azure watercolours. Its dense forests are home to unique flora and fauna species, including the European brown bear, eagles, owls, wolves and wild cats.

Image: https://acoupledetours.files.wordpress.com

Hvar

Hvar is a Croatian island town located in the Adriatic Sea, off the Dalmatian coast near the city of Split. It is home to some of Croatia’s more upmarket resorts, and is known for its sunny weather, beaches and harbour.

Image: http://www.suncanihvar.com

Zlatni Rat Beach

This much-photographed and popular beach, also off the coast of the city of Split, is surrounded by pine trees and is typically lined in summer with sunbeds. It is ideal for water sports activities such as wind-surfing and kayaking.

Image: http://stuffpoint.com

Korčula

Korčula is also an island town located off the coast of Split. There you can stroll and explore its centuries-old stone buildings, medieval walls and towers on car-free stone alleys. You can also visit Marco Polo House, the birthplace of the famous 13th-century explorer.

Image: http://i.uniline.hr

Dubrovnik

Nicknamed “the pearl of the Atlantic”, the city of Dubrovnik in the south is one of Croatia’s most prominent tourist attractions. It is a walled city, and the stunning architecture of its churches, monasteries and museums are its most striking feature. Besides walking the streets to take its history in, a great way to view the city as a whole and its neighbouring islands in the Adriatic Sea is via aerial cable car. In addition, the ‘old city’ was used in filming the HBO TV series Game of Thrones.

Image: http://www.valamar.com

A good time of year to go √

Being located in the northern hemisphere, Croatia’s seasons occur at the opposite time to Australia’s. Its weather is much cooler than in Australia, with average summer temperatures of 18°C and -3°C in winter. Coastal areas are warmer than inland areas.

You can expect holiday destinations and accommodation within Croatia to be more crowded and expensive during school holiday times. Approximate Croatian school holiday dates are as follows:

Christmas: 24 December 2015 to 8 January

Spring: 21 March 2016 to 28 March 2016

Summer: 13 June 2016 to 31 August 2016

Autumn: 5 September 2016 to 9 September 2016

Getting there and getting around while you’re there √

There are regular flights to Zagreb (the capital and largest city in Croatia) from most capital cities in Australia. It’s a long flight, taking approximately 24 hours from the east coast of Australia, based on one quick stopover at a connecting flight destination along the way (such as in Abu Dhabi, Bangkok or Dubai). Connecting flights are common for such a long journey. Your total travel time will obviously be affected by the length of any stopovers, so you should plan accordingly.

Within Croatia, there are airports in each of its major cities. Flights between cities are relatively short by Australian standards. For example, a flight between Zagreb in the north of the country and Dubrovnik (popular tourist destination in the far south) only takes about an hour.

Is it safe?

The Australian government’s official advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is that Australians should exercise normal safety precautions when travelling in Croatia. As you should in any international country, pay close attention to your personal security and belongings.

You should also talk to your doctor about appropriate vaccines and preventative medicines before you go. In addition to the routine vaccines, for Croatia, you should prevent your chances of contracting any of the following diseases –hepatitis A/B and rabies.

Please Share your Croatian tips, tricks and stories in the comments section so that others can benefit on their travels!