Croatia travel insurance FAQs

What is the top Croatia travel insurance company?

With 22 trusted travel insurance providers to choose from, there’s no one-size-fits-all best option. You can use a comparison website to find the travel plan that best suits your needs. I recommend TravelInsurance.com since their listings only include policies from the most reputable companies in the industry. They also have user-friendly filter features and offer world-class support.

Will my US medical insurance policy cover my bills if I’m hospitalized in Croatia?

Most US medical insurance policies do not cover any medical bills you may incur in Croatia or any other foreign country. Some of the most costly plans may offer partial coverage, but Medicare provides none. However, a Croatia travel insurance plan will include medical and emergency evacuation coverage. Just be sure to purchase a policy as soon as you book your trip so that you can make the most of your pre-departure benefits.

How can I get the cheapest Croatia travel insurance?

The best thing you can do is use a comparison site, employ all the necessary filters, and see which plans meet your criteria. Then, you can sort your search results by price from lowest to highest. I suggest using TravelInsurance.com since they list policies from only the top travel insurance providers.

How do I go about filing a travel insurance claim?

Most travel insurance providers will have an online portal that you can access via their websites. You will likely see a link at the bottom of your provider’s website that says “Claims” or “File a Claim.” Many will still have a paper claim option that you send in by mail.

How long will it take for my travel insurance company to process a claim?

To ensure the speediest processing times, submit all the relevant documentation with your claim and follow appropriate procedures. Once you submit your claim, your provider should process reimbursements within 6 and 8 weeks.

What should I do if my travel insurance claim gets rejected?

If your insurer rejects your claim, they will advise you as to any recourse you may have. Remember that claims can be rejected for several reasons, including not following filing procedures, your claim not falling under your policy’s coverage or total trip costs not being accurately stated when the claim was purchased.

What are trip delay expenses?

Trip delay benefits extend to expenses, such as hotels/accommodation, meals, internet access, and local ground transportation. Your policy will state a daily maximum per insured traveler for these benefits and can be reimbursed up to your policy’s limit.

Will my insurer compensate me for a 2-hour flight delay?

Some travel insurance companies have a minimum 3-hour flight delay before you become eligible for trip delay benefits. Others may require a 6-12 hour delay before your benefits kick in. Also, the delays must be covered for reasons such as inclement weather, aircraft maintenance, and air traffic issues. Details will vary from one policy and provider to another, so be sure that you understand a policy’s benefits clearly before purchasing it.

Most common problems while traveling in Croatia and how to avoid them:

Illnesses

As with the rest of Southern Europe, you don’t have to worry about coming down with exotic illnesses like malaria or dengue fever while in Croatia. Instead, your biggest concern will be avoiding sunstroke (aka heatstroke). Summers in Croatia are stunning, especially if you venture out to some of the islands along the Dalmatian Coast, but temperatures can get well into the 90s.

Therefore, it’s a good idea to avoid the sun during the mid-afternoon hours when the sun’s heat is at its peak and keep yourself hydrated. Should you start to experience unusual sweating, delirium or disorientation, headaches, an increased heart rate, nausea, vomiting, etc. or a combination of some or all of these symptoms, seek medical treatment immediately, as sunstroke can be fatal.

Accidents

When it comes to accidents, there’s nothing out of the norm tourists might experience in Croatia that they wouldn’t back in the United States. Simple things like tripping and falling are the most common reasons for injuries, leading to twisted or broken wrists and ankles as well as cuts and scrapes. Of course, if you decide to participate in adventure sports and activities, your risk of having an accident may increase. You can minimize that risk by only booking excursions with tour operators with solid reputations and spotless safety records.

Muggings

While muggings are a rarity in Croatia, pickpocketing often happens at outdoor markets and other highly crowded areas, particularly those frequented by tourists, including beaches. You should be fine if you keep your valuables close to your body in a money belt or a body purse or carry your backpack on your chest whenever you’re in such places. Exercising basic street smarts goes a long way, especially in a safe country like Croatia.

Emergency resources for Croatia

Phone numbers

As in the rest of Europe, dial 112 to reach general emergency services. If you prefer to directly connect with a particular service, dial 192 for the police, 193 for the fire department, 194 for emergency medical services, and 195 for sea rescues. Additionally, emergency roadside services (HAK) are available at 1987. You can dial these numbers free from any phone, including public pay phones.

US embassy or consulate details

You can find the US Embassy in Croatia’s capital Zagreb. Visit the official website for the Embassy’s address, phone number, opening hours, and information on citizen services.

Travelers who want to be extra cautious when they travel register their Croatia trip itineraries with the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. Once you list your trip with STEP, the State Department will send you travel alerts related to Croatia. Doing so will also make it easier for the Embassy to relay important information to you or your loved ones in an emergency.

Other local knowledge that is helpful for travelers

Communication

You have several options if you need to stay connected with friends and family back home while you’re in Croatia. The first, and the cheapest, is to keep your phone on airplane mode and connect to the internet using WiFi. Since free WiFi is widely available throughout the country, including in hotels, restaurants, cafes, bars, and town and city squares, you can regularly get online to use messaging and calling apps or research the best restaurants and sites to visit. This website lists many of Croatia’s free WiFi hotspots.

A second option is to get a local SIM card upon your arrival in Croatia. This will be the best choice for those who need to be connected 24/7 for work or personal reasons and plan to use a significant amount of data. You can buy a regular prepaid SIM that includes calls, SMS (texts), and data or only data. Major mobile carriers in Croatia include A-1, T-Mobile, Airalo, and Telemach, and they have retail shops nationwide. To use a Croatian SIM card, you must ensure your phone is unlocked before you leave the United States. To do this, contact your mobile phone service carrier, and they can help you.

The third and most expensive option is to add an international roaming package to your US mobile phone plan that covers Croatia. Most mobile carriers will have roaming packages covering the entire European Union, including Croatia. If you prefer this route, know that these packages usually provide very little data coverage. To prevent yourself from ringing up an astonishingly expensive phone bill, turn off the background data for most of your apps and keep your phone on airplane mode whenever you don’t need to use it.

Currency

Croatia is a member of the eurozone area, which means they use the euro (€). The euro notes come in denominations of €200, €100, €50, €20, €10, and €5. The coins include €2, €1, 50 cents, 20 cents, 10 cents, 5 cents, 2 cents, and 1 cent.

You do not need to bring euros with you. Instead, you will get a better exchange rate if you wait until you arrive in Croatia. You will get the best exchange rates, even with bank fees included, by using local ATMs and not swapping US dollars at currency exchange businesses. Remember to notify your US bank of your travel plans and dates so you can use your card abroad without getting flagged as fraudulent.

When you pay by credit or debit card, you may be asked whether you want to pay in US dollars or euros. This is known as DCC (dynamic currency conversion) and is presented as a “service.” Always choose the local currency, which, in this case, is euros. If you select any currency other than the local one, you’ll be charged a fee to see your total in US dollars. And you won’t know that you’ve been charged a fee because it will be included in the dollar amount the card processing machine shows you.

While many businesses, large hotels and supermarkets, national parks, toll booths, and public transport accept credit and debit cards, most small businesses, especially outside Zagreb (the capital), accept only cash. Therefore, should you travel to more remote areas of the country or the smaller, lesser-known islands, be sure to bring plenty of cash.

Getting Around

Croatia is very easy to get around. All parts of the country are well-linked through a dynamic bus, train, and ferry network. Domestic flights are also an option. While a rental car may give you the most freedom, it will also come with the hassle of finding parking, which can be a significant challenge during the busy months of July and October.

Croatian buses are clean and inexpensive, and bus stations are almost always centrally located in towns and cities. The only exception is Dubrovnik’s, approximately 3 miles from the old town. However, you can always hop on a local bus or hire one of the taxis waiting nearby to take you into town. Several bus companies operate along the same routes, including Čazmatrans, Arriva, and FlixBus. In larger towns or cities, you need to purchase your tickets at the station in larger towns and cities. In small towns, you can buy them onboard directly from the driver. If you check any bags into the under-bus storage, you’ll need to pay a small fee, typically no more than €2 per bag. Always have your passport ready, as some routes may cross over into Bosnian territory to shorten the trip.

The islands off Croatia’s Adriatic coast are easily accessible year-round by two different types of boats: ferries and catamarans. The latter refers to passenger boats, including fast boats, and the former carry cars and passengers. You will find plenty of seating onboard, both inside and on deck. Larger ferries usually have food and drink concessions, but bringing some drinks and snacks never hurts. While Jadrolinija operates most of the boat services and offers online booking, arriving early at the port is best to guarantee you snag a seat on the boat at your preferred time. Main ports include Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar, Rijeka and Šibenik.

Even though train service is much more limited in Croatia than in other European countries, it’s a good option for exploring the interior parts of the country or traveling to other European countries such as Slovenia, Serbia, and Austria. You can also catch quick domestic flights from Zagreb to Dubrovnik and Pula via Croatia Airlines.

Renting a car will give you more freedom in terms of time and squeezing in several destinations in a short period of time. You can usually get the cheapest rates via local car rental companies, but international companies may offer you more flexibility. Note that most cars come with standard transmissions (stick), so you’ll likely pay more if you need an automatic.

You will need your US driver’s license and an International Driver’s Permit to get through AAA in the States before leaving home to rent a car. If you don’t have a AAA office near you and need to apply for your permit via mail, be sure to allow from 3-6 weeks. If you apply in person, you can get it within 30 minutes to an hour.

Language

Croats tend to be bilingual or trilingual, all speaking Croatian plus either English, Italian, or German. Croatian, also known as Hvratski, is a South Slavic language. The good news is that Croatian is also spoken in Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina should your travels take you to these neighboring countries.

Even though you can get around this stunning Adriatic country only speaking English, Croats will appreciate it if you take the initiative to learn a few words and phrases.

• good day – dobar dan (doh-bar-dahn)
• hello – bok (bohk)
• goodbye – dovinđenja (doh-vee-jen-yah)
• please – molim (moh-leem)
• thank you –hvala (hvah-lah)
• excuse me – oprostite (o-proh-stee-teh)
• sorry – žao mi je (zha-oh-me-yeh)
• yes – da (dah)
• no – ne (nay)

Local Customs & Etiquette

A significant contrast between Croatian and American cultures is that in Croatia, people are less relaxed about their appearances than in the US. Croatians generally only go out of the house after getting well dressed and coiffed (makeup included), even to run the briefest of errands. Therefore, if you want to blend in, dress in presentable, modest clothes, avoiding sweatpants or extra short skirts or shorts. Croatian men seem to have an affinity for tracksuits, but you won’t see local women in them.

More important, though, is to adhere to the Croatian dress code for sacred sites and churches. Make sure your skirt or shorts are at least knee-length and that your shoulders are covered. If you find yourself walking beyond the beach, put on a shirt and shorts or a skirt at the very least. Many places throughout Croatia are passing laws that ban walking in public without them, including the famous island of Hvar.

Another thing to remember is that it’s pretty normal to find nude beaches throughout Croatia. Such beaches will have a sign that reads FKK, German for Frei Körper Kultur, or “free body culture” in English. That said, you will find that many Croatian women go topless, regardless of the beach they’re at.

Don’t be surprised if you see a lot of PDA (public displays of affection). Couples in Croatia tend to be quite open and expressive about their feelings and affection, probably more than we’re used to in the US. That said, you won’t likely see Croatians doing anything obscene or too risqué.

If you befriend a Croatian and they invite you to their home, remember to bring along a small gift, such as chocolate, wine or flowers (only an amount, though, as even numbers of flowers signify a death). Also, be aware that removing your shoes is customary upon entering. This is to avoid tracking outside dirt into the home. Your host will likely offer a pair of slippers they reserve for guests.

Should you dine out with Croatians during your trip, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, always wait to see if your local hosts say a prayer before eating. Croatia is a predominantly Catholic country and giving thanks for the food or making a cross symbol across the chest and head with one’s hands is not atypical. Secondly, remember to keep your hands above the table (visible), as keeping them in your lap is rudedly, only order what you can eat. Croatians are highly averse to wasting food, but doggy bags aren’t as common as in the States. Finally, should your Croatian friends insist on picking up the check, allow them pleasure. It means they want to and are not just making an empty offer to appear polite.

Restrooms

Like in much of Europe, bathrooms, or “toilets,” as Croatians call them, are few and far between, even in larger cities like Zagreb. Bus, train, and petrol (gas) stations usually have public toilets. However, don’t be surprised if they are staffed with bathroom attendants and you must pay €0.50 or €1 to use them. Your best bet is to use the bathroom whenever you stop in a cafe or restaurant for a drink or a meal.

Tipping

Like in the US, service workers and those in tourism generally have very low wages, and tips are a vital source of income for them. While tipping may not be as common in Croatia as it is in the States, it is becoming more of a common practice.

If you have received good service in a restaurant, consider leaving a 10-15% tip. And if you stop in a café for something to drink, leaving €0.50 or the remaining change from your bill is acceptable. For example, if your bill is €2.30, you can leave the €0.70 change for the server. For food delivery drivers, consider tipping €1.50 for every €10 of the food you ordered.

In hotels, tipping porters €1-2 per bag and housekeepers €1-2 per night is standard. If your hotel concierge has gone out of their way to assist you in some way, a tip of €2-3 would be an excellent way to show your appreciation. Should you explore Croatia by cruise ship, tipping the staff €3-5 per day is adequate. If you decide to take a day sail or a boat trip, tip 10-15% of the total cost of the excursion.

You may also want to tip spa and salon staff, taxi drivers, and tour guides. For tour guides, it depends on whether it is a paid or free tour. For free tours, the recommended tip is €10-15 per person if it is 2 hours or less. For any tour longer than that, increase the tip at your discretion. With paid tours, tip 10-20% of each person’s tour cost. If you have a driver during that tour, feel free to tip €3-5, depending on the length of the excursion. Just ensure that the driver’s tip is not higher than your guide’s. Spa and salon staff usually get tipped approximately 10-15% of a customer’s final bill. Most Croatians tip taxi drivers by rounding up the total. Therefore, if your fare is €8.40, you can give them €10 and tell them to keep the change. If they help you with your luggage, you can always tip more.

Ultimately, these are all just suggestions. Tip only what you feel is appropriate for the service you receive, and if you wish to tip more than the amounts listed above, feel free to do so. It will be met with great appreciation.

What to pack for Croatia

Apart from Travel Insurance, we recommend you bring the following items for maximum health, safety, and enjoyment of your trip to Croatia.

A final note about travel insurance for the Croatia

I have spent dozens of hours researching travel insurance, including getting quotes and comparing coverage from all the most popular brands. Regardless of where you’re going I am confident that you will also find that TravelInsurance.com offers the best way to compare policies with the ideal combo of coverage and price.

I wish you and yours an incredible journey.

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• Average price for a 2-week vacation based on a 35-year-old California resident traveling to the Croatia with a $3,500 trip cost
• Coronavirus coverage
• Cancel for any reason (CFAR)
• AM Best rating of the underwriter
• Key policy details including cancellation, interruption, emergency medical evacuation, and baggage & personal effects
• Ease of sign up
• Policy language clarity
• User reviews