JUL.
On July 19th
2021, Croatia was placed on the UK’s green ‘watch list’, meaning those
passengers returning from their trip would avoid isolation.
Like with
all countries that are categorised according to the UK’s current travel traffic
light system, we must remember to check the entry requirements of the country
in question, as each individual one has its on set of rules for those travellers
from the United Kingdom.
Entry
requirements into Croatia for UK travellers
UK nationals
travelling to Croatia must present one of the following:
· a negative COVID-19 private antigen
test not older than 48 hours
· OR a negative PCR test result not older
than 72 hours
· OR proof of vaccination
· OR a doctor’s certificate of recovery
following a positive COVID-19 test result between 11 and 180 days prior
Children
under 12 are exempt from the entry requirements above if travelling with an
adult that meets one of the criteria.
If you fail
to present one of the documents, on arrival, and are not exempt, you will be
required to undertake a rapid antigen / PCR test and placed into isolation until
a negative result is confirmed. If you decide to take the rapid antigen test
and are planning to stay in Croatia for more than 10 days you will be required
to repeat the test again after the 10 days expires.
In addition
to producing test results / vaccination status passengers are also required to
complete an online entry form
In addition,
it is recommended that you carry the details of your accommodation booking / ownership
of holiday home/boat. If you are arriving in Croatia on business, again proof
of business meeting / invitation is advised at this time.
Demonstrating
your COVID-19 vaccination status
To gain
entry into Croatia you will need to provide certificate of a two-dose vaccine
course from the following providers:
· Pfizer
· Moderna
· AstraZeneca
· Gamaleya
· Sinopharm
Alternatively,
receipt of one dose of Johnson & Johnson & Janssen will be accepted.
In both
cases vaccination must have completed 14 days prior to arriving in Croatia.
Croatia will
accept the UK’s solutions to demonstrate
your COVID vaccination status.
Please note
that your NHS vaccination card will not be accepted as proof of vaccination
status.
Where
to visit in Croatia?
Here we look
at some tips and facts ahead of your trip to the Adriatic.
Fast
becoming one of the most desired places to visit in Europe, Croatia is sat at
the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, on the Adriatic Sea.
With
stunning walled cities, delicious local cuisine, and an extraordinarily
beautiful coastline, Croatia is sure to dazzle its visitors.
CROATIA’S
CITIES
Dubrovnik
Arguably
Croatia’s most popular attraction to visit, Dubrovnik is a UNESCO World
Heritage Site. Despite being relentlessly shelled in the 1990s during Croatia’s
Homeland War, its mighty walls, sturdy towers, medieval monasteries, baroque
churches, graceful squares and fascinating residential quarters all look
magnificent again. For the ultimate view of the city, take the cable car up Srd
to appreciate the amazing back drop the city has to offer. Alternatively, for
all you die-hard Game of Thrones fans, take a themed tour of the city to take
in the sights.
Zagreb
Zagreb is
the capital and largest city in Croatia. It is also called the city of museums
as there are more of them per square foot than any other city in the world.
Having said that there is more to do than just browse around these historical
places of interest. With a combination of small traditional shops, larger
contemporary boutiques, markets and malls, it provides something for everyone.
Take in the city surroundings at one of the many cafes or enjoy some of the
delicious local cuisine on offer. Not quite on the same scale as the London
Eye, the Zagreb Eye is an observation deck located on the 16th floor
of a skyscraper situated in the corner of the main square to give a full
overview of the terracotta rooftops over the city.
Hvar
The 4th
largest of Croatia’s islands, Hvar has a growing reputation of being the more
upmarket destination in the country. Visited by many celebrities, this island
benefits from over 2800 hours of sunshine making it popular with those looking
for that sun drenched break. There is also the bonus that local hoteliers will
give you a reduction on your stay if you have more than 4 hours rain a day and
if it snows, your stay is free! This is how confident the locals are in the
weather here!
In its 20th
anniversary, Carpe Diem is far and out the night hotspot of Hvar, popular with
the rich and famous. Dance the night away here while enjoying a cocktail or 2!
The
National Parks
Almost 10%
of Croatia is made up of its national parks, offering spectacular waterfalls
and luscious forests to explore. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site,
Plitvice National Park is home to 16, interconnected lakes, famous for their
breath-taking colours.
Looking for
something more active? Head to Mljet National Park for kayaking, hiking, and
swimming set to a backdrop of stunning scenery.
HOW TO
GET TO CROATIA
Flights to
Croatia are offered all year round, with the budget airlines in the summer
months offering a wide selection of flights to both Zagreb & Dubrovnik. Flight
times from London to Dubrovnik are around 2 hrs 40mins, from Manchester just
under 3hrs. Head over to Skyscanner or Jetcost
to do a comparison on the best flights available.
There is the
option to reach Croatia via ferry/catamaran from Italy, if needed.
HOTEL
RECOMMENDATION
Hotel
Esplanade, Zagreb - Built
in 1925 as a suitably glamorous stopover for passengers on the Orient Express,
the five-star Esplanade is unquestionably Zagreb’s most upmarket hotel.
Restored to its fabulous former glory in 2004, it offers a level of opulence
you’ll find nowhere else in Croatia.
Prices start
from £109 per night for room only.
Head over to
Trivago to compare the best prices available on this hotel
Which
Currency?
The national
currency of Croatia is the Croatian Kuna, sub-divided into 100 Lipa.
One pound is
currently worth 8.4997 Kuna (as @ 21st July 2021 Currency Online Group)
Your money
will go a long way in Croatia, another reason it proves a popular city break
destination.
Head over to
Croatia Wise
for more insight into the prices per city visited within the country.
For the best
rates on your Croatian Kuna head over to www.currencyonlinegroup.com. We offer
free next day delivery on orders over £750 (order by 12pm). Your currency is
delivered to your door via Royal
Mail Special Delivery.
Prefer to go
cashless? Currency Online Group
offers their multi-currency card and app which allows you to take complete
control of your currency conversion with the click of a button. Load you card
up with GBP and convert to your required currency using live rates.
Used all the
funds on the card? … no problem just instantly top-up via the app.
Currency
Online Group’s multi-currency card is accepted free of charge at all Mastercard
locations worldwide.
©
Currency Online Group
21st
July 2021
JUL.
GUIDE
TO TRAVELLING TO IBIZA
With Ibiza
now added to the UK’s green list this has quickly become a highly searched
destination in recent days with those looking to get away, escaping the dreaded
isolation period on return to the UK.
When you
think of this lively Balearic Island, for most, they will associate it with all
night partying! Ibiza has so much more to offer than this.
Firstly, let’s
talk travelling to Ibiza during Covid-19 (the pandemic can not be avoided at
this time!)
On July 2nd
2021 Spain changed its rules on Brits entering the country due to the rising infection
rates of the Delta variant here in the UK. Those travellers over 12, looking to
enter the island of Ibiza, are now required to either produce proof of vaccination
(must have had both jabs, with the second being done 14 days before arrival) or
a negative certificate of an active infection diagnostic test or as we
recognise it these days a RT-PCR, RT-LAMP or TMA. In addition to this a health
check form must be completed before you arrive. For more information on the
entry requirements follow this link to the Balearics Tourist Board.
On return to
the UK, you will be required to produce a negative covid-19 test result. The UK
border control will accept the private rapid antigen tests which can be
performed online in the comfort of your hotel or accommodation by companies
such as Breathe Assured or Qured. These tests are cheaper than the PCR ones.
You are then required to do another test on or before Day 2 of you arriving
back in the UK, and lastly complete a passenger
locator form.
With your entry and return conditions taken care of now let’s talk about this beautiful island in the
Mediterranean.
Family
Friendly
Ibiza is a
great option for a short haul family holiday. With its short flight time of two
and a half hours from London, if you are travelling with toddlers this makes
for a great option to avoid the long flying time with small children. High
season here is between April and October with plenty of scheduled flights offered
via budget airlines to choose from.
With average
temperatures reaching low to high twenties, it makes for a more comfortable
break when getting away with the children.
The island
has idyllic beaches to relax on and views to saviour. Suggested resorts to stay
in with the family include Santa Eulalia, Cala Tarida, Es Cana, and Portinatx.
Suggested hotels
to stay at include Insotel Tarida Beach Sensatori Resort in Cala Tarida, Grand
Palladium White Island Resort & Spa in Playa D’En Bossa. Both offer a 5* all-inclusive option
for guests to enjoy.
Nightlife
There is no
getting away from Ibiza being one of Europe’s premier partying scenes. World
famous DJs flock to this island in the height of the season to entertain the
ever-growing crowds.
San Antonio
is renowned for being the clubbing capital of the island. Here you will find a
whole mix of places to sample; from the real laid back to the more hardcore
venues you will not be short of nightlife options to choose from. For the
ultimate sunset viewing on the island be sure to visit Café Mambo. Enjoy dinner
or a drink or 2 while taking in the sun going down with a background of chilled
Ibiza tunes. This is always very popular around the time of sunset so be sure
to prebook on arrival.
Over the
years Ibiza Town has grown in stature and is proving to be the hotbed of
late-night revelry. Close to Ibiza airport, here you will find the iconic
Pascha and Amnesia. In recent times Ibiza Town has seen the emergence of
glitzy, upmarket venues attracting big celebrities to the area. Be prepared to
break the budget to make a visit to Lío but the experience is second to none. Another place
to note is Heart which fuses gastronomy, music and art all under one roof. Be sure to
check these out for the alternative to all night raving!
For those
who prefer to party during the day the island has several beach and pool
parties to sample. O Beach (owned by
the famous Wayne Lineker) is described as the ultimate day club experience and has
recently added to its portfolio Bam-Bu-Ku,
a family friendly day club for adults and children alike to enjoy. For anyone
lucky enough to have been and seen O Beach you will know it lives up to its
description! Other day parties available include Ibiza Rocks , Blue Marlin, and for a more laid-back
vibe head up to Santa Eulalia where you will find Nikki Beach situated next to the very
swanky W Hotel.
Other Things
to Do
It is highly
recommended if you don’t mind travelling by boat to venture over to the
neighbouring island of Formentera. It takes approximately 40 mins and there are
multiple crossings a day making it very accessible. Once in Formentera the
popular way to explore the island is by bicycle, although if this is not
feasible there are other options. The island itself is only 20km tip to toe so
can all be done in the one day. Es Pujols is the most built-up area on the
island, with a variety of little bars, restaurants, hippy stalls and shops to roam
around.
Ibiza offers
numerous excursions. In addition to trekking, you can get to know the island
via kayaking, hot air balloon or even quad bike.
Ibiza is
also proving popular for diving enthusiasts. More than 200 kilometres of Ibiza
has a spectacular seabed, including the Posidonia prairies, which have great
ecological value and were recognised as a World Heritage Site in 1999.
Hotel
Recommendation – HOTEL TORRE DEL MAR (4*SUPERIOR)
This luxury
hotel is based in Playa d’en Bossa and is within walking distance of Ushuaia
and Bora Bora beach.
This hotel
offers spacious, modern and opulent facilities and is within the heart of some
of the best nightlife on the island. The view when having breakfast is a real
treat!
Prices start
from approx £260 per night including breakfast (Based on stay on Sep 4th 2021 –
checked on July 6th 2021). For the best price go direct to the hotel’s website where
it will also offer you free use of the spa facilities as part of your package.
TRAVEL
MONEY
For all your
travel money needs for your trip to Ibiza head over to Currency
Online Group to get
the most competitive rates on the market for your Euros.
We offer
next day delivery on your travel money to your home address for all orders over
£750.
Alternatively,
if you would prefer to go cashless to Ibiza then why not check out one of our
new prepaid multicurrency
cards. Download the app now on Apple Store or Google Play to see how easy
it is to control your currency with instant top up and live conversion rates.
© Currency Online Group
6th
July 2021