Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 21.9% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £3 per month, your representative rate is 27.7% APR (variable).
Croatia, where cultures are as diverse as geography, continues to depend on tourism as a major source of revenue. HBO’s hit Game of Thrones has spurred on an influx of tourists to gorgeous Croatia, but you’ll find so many other reasons to make your way to its sapphire shores.
To enjoy all that Croatia offers, you’ll need a combination of cash and credit cards while traveling. Plastic is accepted throughout Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik and other larger cities.
Smaller cities and establishments on the mainland and island — especially konoba or family inns sprinkled across the country — accept cash only. Some apartment owners might even insist that you secure your room with a cash deposit, especially during the country’s peak tourist season. You might even entice a discount from vendors that prefer Croatian kuna.
Cirrus/Mastercard, Visa/Plus, Maestro, and Diners Club are the most commonly accepted cards in Croatia. American Express is accepted in some places, but this is less common.
Cash machines, or “bankomats” are readily accessible in most parts of Croatia, especially in tourist centres. ATMs can be found in supermarkets, airports, post offices, train stations, and banks. You’ll need a four-digit pin to operate an ATM in Croatia.
To eliminate unpleasant surprises, carry a small amount of cash on you at all times. Smaller shops and restaurants are less likely to process cards electronically. Cash is accepted at hotels, markets, restaurants and on all forms of transportation. Get some cash exchanged before you go, and shop around for the best rate.
Find a great deal on your travel money for Croatia
Croatia has moved from magnetic-stripe to chip cards, and all banks in Croatia now issue the latter. In Europe, chip-and-PIN cards are standard. With this type of card, you enter a four-digit personal identification number to verify your identity.
If you use a chip-and-signature card, you can use it in Croatia just about everywhere you find a staffed credit card machine. If you don’t have a PIN, an attendant will collect a signature from you. However, you may run into situations where your chip-and-signature card won’t work. For example, you might be in a pickle at an unstaffed train station kiosk.
By exercising some caution when using your credit card in Croatia, you’ll have a relatively trouble-free experience.
Remain alert to street crime, especially where two or more people work in distracting victims before decamping with their valuables. Additionally, cancel your transactions if anythings unsual, as a card skinner can steal your valuable card information without you even noticing.
Credit card fees can leave a noticeable dent in your pocket when you’re travelling overseas, so know what you’re up against well in advance and choose a card with no or low fees.
British credit card issuers typically charge a fee equivalent to 1% to 3% of your transaction, so carefully review your card’s small print to avoid statement surprises. Some cards designed for travel come with no foreign transaction fees, so this could be a good time to switch.
Learn more about cards designed for overseas spending
If a retailer offers to bill your credit card in sterling, dynamic currency conversion comes into play. While this might sound like a good deal, you’ll actually end up getting a worse exchange rate, and you might also end up paying currency conversion fees. Whenever you’re presented with an option, choose to pay in local currency.
Using your credit card to withdraw money from an ATM may not make sense unless it’s a bona fide emergency. Each time you withdraw funds from an ATM, you’re likely to pay a cash advance fee. Your APR for cash advances is typically higher than your purchase APR, and you’ll typically get no grace period on interest — instead, you start paying interest immediately. Again, some cards designed for overseas spending will waive the cash advance fee.
The table below serves as an example of how much extra you may pay to use your credit card for in Croatia.
Additionally you can get an idea of costs by using these online currency conversion tools from Mastercard and Visa.
A cash advance fee is calculated (and charged) when you withdraw cash from your credit card. It’s usually the greater of a flat fee or a percentage of the transaction. For example, “2.5% of the transaction, minimum £3.00”.
Ask yourself these simple questions before you leave so your spending in Croatia does not hit any roadblocks.
When you’re in Croatia, you don’t have to worry about where and when you can use your credit card. Just keep some cash handy to pay for small purchases.
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should I get Kuna from my bank in US before going to Croatia?
or get Euros in US and wait until Croatia for Kuna?
Hi Janice,
Thanks for getting in touch with finder. I hope all is well with you. :)
It would depend on you, Janice. You can either get Kuna while you are still in the US or you’re already in Croatia. You can also get Euros in the US as well. However, there’s one advantage of getting Kuna ahead of time. Since you already have Kuna, you will be protected from currency fluctuation.
Moreover, you might also want to consider using travel money cards. This will help you lock in currency exchange rates and hold multiple currencies in your card.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua