Croatian Kuna

JCinBath
JCinBath Forum Participant Posts: 27

Some advice please. Is it easy to change sterling to Kuna in local banks? Will take a small

amount with us as well as Euros but I do not have a fee free debit card, only fee free credit card but that means paying interest until payment day. Also some recommendations on campsites on Cres and Krk would be appreciated. Have looked at the reviews and they are quite mixed. Many thanks.

 

 

Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited July 2018 #2
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,388 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2018 #3

    It is easy but you will find you won't get a very good rate, the same with using a debit card to withdraw Kuna (HRK). In spite of the charges, I found it better to use a credit card for purchases. I did try a prepaid card once, but you have to load it with sterling and can only get Kuna in 100HRK increments and I was left with £20 which I now have to pay to withdraw. I didn't find this offered much if any advantage and thought it very unsatisfactory. The best rates to be had with a debit card are from machines located at the banks. Be wary of privately operated ones in supermarkets etc.

    peedee

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2018 #4

    When we go to Croatia we pay for nearly everything on a Credit Card (fee free) just getting a little cash from an ATM to pay for small things like coffees, beer etc.  Wouldn't have thought you would get a good rate trying to change sterling cash in a bank but sure you would be able to do it.  I don't pay interest on my fee free card (Post Office), I have a Direct Debit set up to clear it every month; suggest you get a different card!  Can't help with sites in the areas you are looking at.

  • chasncath
    chasncath Forum Participant Posts: 1,659
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2018 #5

    We've been great fans of Croatia, especially Cres and Kirk. Here are links to the last of our visits which contain details of campsites. Kovacine at Cres was our all-time favourite, Our visits to Croatia have been in low season, mostly September into early October. Even the campsite staff have said to us that we wouldn't like to be there in July and August! Too hot and too 'busy'.

    Cres

    Krk

    p.s It's almost impossible to find bottles of Tonic to go with your Gin in Croatia, so take stock with you!

  • DougS
    DougS Forum Participant Posts: 327
    edited July 2018 #6

    We took a small amount of Kuna in cash (John Lewis had best rates when we checked which was a little surprising.

    We used our Caxton card loaded in Sterling and got the rate on the day from cash machines. I believe you can do this in any country.

    Along with fee free credit card this gave us the necessary flexibility and a couple of ways to pay/get cash.

     

  • chasncath
    chasncath Forum Participant Posts: 1,659
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2018 #7

    If you're offered Kuna, make sure it's not one of these furry creatures, after which the currency is named!

    Image result for kuna
  • JCinBath
    JCinBath Forum Participant Posts: 27
    edited July 2018 #8

    Thanks for all the advice, tunnel booked for 28/08, and looking forward to our trip especially after seeing all your wonderful photos

  • Olivegrower
    Olivegrower Forum Participant Posts: 38
    edited July 2018 #9

    We are now heading back, slowly, to UK, but went down through Pula, to Dubrovnik and back via Split. The motorways are amazing, smooth, empty, 128 miles on cruise control was the best, cheap! A cedit card is easiest for paying for Croatian tolls, it comes up in euros, no pin number required. For Kuna we used Caxton card loaded with euros( they did the conversion) . We also drew cash off our Saga card at one point , got a very good exchange rate but they did load us with a £2 fee. It’s a great place to visit, the people are lovely, the food and wine are great, but the language is a b****r!  Sorry, can’t help with your sites.

    Have fun!

  • DougS
    DougS Forum Participant Posts: 327
    edited July 2018 #10

    Agree with your comments on motorways and language. We are very lucky in that there is usually someone who can speak "a little" English which is much better than my non-existent Croatian although I did take this for the please and thank yous:

    https://www.learncroatian.eu/blog/basic-croatian-for-your-holiday-in-croatia

    Suggest you just load Caxton with Sterling which means you only get one rate change (i.e. Sterling to Kuna rather than Sterling to Euros then Euros to Kuna?)

    We did find that it wasn't a cheap country for fuel, food and drinks (only place that appeared noticeably better on our trip was Prague for drinks!)

    I think this came from Another David (?) but is a start for sites (we only got as far as Pula in the end.):

    https://www.camping.hr/croatian-campsites/istria-camps 

    Watch out (unless you want them!), Croatia appears to have a tremendous number of naturist sites.