Croatia & Slovenia Guidebook
Guidebook corrections:
Please note: The following corrections were submitted by readers and have not yet been confirmed by Rick. Check updates from Rick for the latest.
Libertas (local) bus tickets are now 10 kn at kiosks or 12 kn on the bus. The ferry from Dubrovnik port to Lokrum Island was not discontinued for the season but was running frequently in mid-October, 2011.
Tom Nelson in Minneapolis, MN USA 11/27/2011
No
Mike in Gig Harbor, WA USA 10/30/2011
Yes. In 2010 edition, for Dubrovnik: 1. Getting to Dubrovnik. You should alert readers that air travel to Dubrovnik (pp. 255-256) can be very unreliable. There are frequently high winds (local term is I think bura) which make it unsafe to land at D'nik. Our flight from Zagreb was diverted to Split. So at 11:00 pm, we were loaded onto buses for a 4 + hour trip to D'nik, dropped at the harbor with zero assistance as to how to get from there to the center city and hotels. We got to our hotel at 3:40 AM. In speaking with hotel staff in both Zagreb and D'nik, we subsequently learned: THESE FLIGHT DIVERSIONS APPARENTLY OCCUR FREQUENTLY. The city is fascinating, and seeing it was worth the delay. But travelers not eager to cope with these sorts of glitches should be forewarned this is a real possibility. These wind delays are reportedly much less of a problem for outbound flights (a pilot friend confirmed that high winds are generally less of an issue for take off than for landing) Additional minor correction, p. 276: Synagogue/museum. Both are open, but the synagogue is now relegated to museum status. It is no longer functioning as an actual synagogue - no rabbi, no real congregation, no regularly scheduled services.
Mark Iris in Chicago , IL USA 10/23/2011
The cable car in Dubrovnik to Mt. SRD is now running.
McDonald in Brookeville, MD USA 10/14/2011
Royal Apartments in Korcula: The owners and operators are Maria (not Anna-maria) and Zvonko Jelavic. Your book lists Anna-maria and Marko Jelavik, who no longer run the Royal Apartments. Both Maria and Zvonko speak perfect English--unlike Marko (as your book now has it).
Glynn Mapes in New York, NY USA 10/06/2011
Yes, Zagreb has tourists. In your book, you said that there are very few tourists. This is not true.
Additionally, the bus from the airport to the bus station is 30kn. If you are staying near the bus station, it is worth it to take it and save the money
David Krupski in Elkridge, MD USA 08/06/2011
Eger: The Lyceum is currently completely closed for a huge rennovation. Not sure when it will open again.
Larry Iversen in Bremerton, WA USA 07/03/2011
Korcula: 1) The shuttle service from Dubrovnik to Korcula takes @ 2 hours & 45 minutes. 2) Tickets for the Moreska Dance are purchased at the entrance, not at an agency, such as the Atlas agency. We found the dance a bit disappointing. We stumbled on a dance/production at the Bled Castle, which was free and better! 3) The Villa Depolo was fine, but the neighbor Studio apartment DORA was not so good (but did have a free washer--hang clothes on a laundry rack to dry). Neither place was enthusiastic to provide a breakfast. 4) Because of road constuction, right now the best way to get to the Mestrovic Gallery is a taxi. It is easy to get lost by walking and the construction has interrupted bus service to the Gallery.
Larry Iversen in Bremerton, WA USA 06/27/2011
the fortifications of Ston are no longer free to climb; now a charge of 50 kunas ($10)
Peggi Johnson in Vienna, VA USA 06/05/2011
Regarding your sidebar on Hemingway at Caporetto. Ernest was never at Caporetto. He did not get to Italy until June 1918 - he was working as a reporter for the Kansas City Star after leaving his home. Accepted into the Red Cross, he did stop quickly in Paris for two days en route to Italy. The munitions factory explosion took place in Milan before he ever got to the front. First assigned to Schio, Italy, he found that assignment too boring and far from the action. Volunteering as a canteen driver - not an ambulance driver - he was wounded at Fossalta di Piave on 8 July 1918. It would be two months before he could walk again with the aid of crutches. He returned to his unit but would return to the hospital in Milan in October because of jaundice. He did help another soldier who had been wounded at Fossalta in the same action as where he was wounded and for this he received the Italian Silver Medal of Valor. The nurse he fell in love with did not dump him for another Italian but rejected him because of the age difference - she was 26 and he was 19 - http://www.ernest.hemingway.com/agnes.htm. - of course, Hemingways' first wife was eight years his senior.
"Farewell to Arms" was written in the mid or late '20's by which time he had access to accounts of the events of the retreat from Caporetto. Those accounts, a good map and knowledge of Stendhal's "The Charterhouse of Parma" and Stephen Crane's "The Red Badge of Courage" served Hemingway well in developing his book. How Hemingway wrote his novel is well documented in Michael Reynolds' "Hemingway's First War: The Making of 'A Farewell to Arms'".
Mark McLain in Portland, OR USA 01/03/2011
On page 49 of the third edition (April 2010)in the box on Croatian wine you state that plavac mali is a distant ancestor of California Zinfandel. The reverse is true. Crfjenak Kastelanski (i.e. Zinfandel) and Dobricic are the parents of Plavac Mali. The history of this discovery by Dr. Carole P. Meredith at UCDavis is told by Jasenka Piljac in her book "Zinfandel: A Croatian American Wine Story". ISBN 953-155-081-6. We were pleased that you mentioned the Croatian wine industry as wine tours are becoming an important part of Croatian travel.
Stanley Ashmore in Parras de la Fuente, MX Mexico 11/01/2010
Bus from Zagreb to Samobor never took fewer than 45 minutes, often longer than an hour (depending on time of day and rush-hour traffic).
Joyce Erickson in Seattle, WA USA 10/27/2010
In the section on sleeping in Rovinj, under "In the Old Town" on page 109 add a statement that the Old Town is gated and cannot be entered with a car except temporarily to load and unload luggage. We did not have a phone or a card to allow entrance. However we were able to have a helpful local woman phone Casa Garzotto for assistance. Dario from Casa Garzotto met us at the gate, used his pass to open the gate, and allowed us drive in. He then helped us unload our luggage and then drove our car to a nearby public lot where it was accessible to us. Casa Garzotto covers the cost of the public parking for tenants. When we were leaving he brought our car to the B&B so that we could load our luggage and drive out.
Galax laundry in Rovinj (p 96) closes at 15:00 on Sundays in October.
Chris Peter in El Cajon, CA USA 10/26/2010
Restaurant Orhan doesn't seem to serve breakfast anymore(Dubrovnik)
Joni Henry in Seattle, WA USA 10/26/2010
On the Vrsic Pass Soca River drive the church and botanical gardens are after switchback 49 not 50. I could not find the Mlinaric Gorge there was not bridge to go over immediately after the church and gardens. I think it may have been before the church. Otherwise the directions for this area were good. The TI walking tours in Ljubljana were still at 11:00, 14:00 and 17:00 in early October. In Dubrovnik the cable car to the top of Mount Srd was in operation.
Natalia in Sherwood, Or USA 10/24/2010
I wanted to take a boat to Korcula from Split. In October, when I was visiting, there was only one catamaran running a day, arriving late in the evening in Korcula, and leaving Korcula early in the morning. So I would have needed to spend 2 nights in Korcula. Seasonal information on boats to Korcula could be helpful in book.
Nancy Isaacson in Bloomington, IL USA 10/17/2010
Do not continue to recommend Hotel Liburna in Korcula. It has had virtually no updates in 40 years. It's a 3D hotel - dark, dank and dismal!
Toni in Nyack, NY USA 09/12/2010
Sleeping in Zagreb (pp. 69-71). We recommend adding Pansion Jagerhorn, Ilica 14, Zagreb 10000. We stayed 2 nights in early July 2010 at the start of our 2 week trip. Great location (tram line, close to both Trg bana Jelacica & Trg Petra Preradovica, almost next door to Slasticarnica Vincek). We paid 1,381 kn for 2 nights,Db, including breakfast. Restaurant is closed. Plans to upgrade to hotel status, but until then it's a terrific value. Davor Dornjga is the VERY helpful day manager. Contact information: info@jaegerhorn.hr or +385-1-4833-877. Burglar's tower view from window!
Peter & Carrie Detwiler in Sacramento, CA USA 07/30/2010
I just returned from a 3 week trip to Croatia. Krilo ferry tickets on Korcula are no longer sold at Marco Polo tours. They are sold at a kiosk on the ferry pier in front of the tourist office. They are only sold from 6-7pm and you can only purchase them for the next days ferry.
Cameron Ratkovic in Newport, RI USA 07/16/2010
Parking in Rovinj is not anylonger free in further parking lots neither, but 5 kuna/h. Entrance to the Aquarium in Rovinj costs 20 kuna, not 15.
Faragó Éva in Szombathely, Hungary 07/08/2010
Traveled with new April 2010 version of Croatia & Slovenia guidebook.
Vintgar Gorge (Near Lake Bled): The road Partizanska, referred to in both walking and driving instructions to Vintgar Gorge, is currently closed to car traffic due to construction (open to walkers). Duration unknown. Drivers must follow the yellow sign for Vintgar that buses would take.
Julian Alps Driving Tour: On the return to Ljubljana, fter leaving Kobarid and before reaching Tolmin, two driving routes are offered in the guidebook. The more rural second option via Idrija has a critical road closure due to construction just south of Tolmin. Taking Route 103 to Nova Gorica (the first option described) was fine. There was signage of a possible detour for the road closure about several kilometers southeast of Tolmin on Route 103, but because we didn't drive it we can't speak to where it leads you.
Tickets for the Dubrovnik wall walk is now 70kn, not 50kn. You are still required to complete the walk or pay another admission fee. It bears mentioning to keep your tickets as they are scanned multiple times during your walk (at each wall access point) and there is a WC about halfway through the walk.
Jennifer in Coburg, OR USA 06/05/2010
There are no more toll booths in Slovenia.
Amy in Adler, Md USA 10/26/2009
Dubrovnik - Institute for the Restoration of Dubrovnik. The entrance is not at Zuzoric 6 but around the corner on Pracala, opposite the Irish pub 'The Gaffe'
Richard Lee in Ottawa, ON Canada 10/23/2009
Yes, the restaurant barbakan konoba in motovun, Croatia no longer exists, the new name is " monda konoba". There are no dogs there.
Amy Adler in Baltimore, Md USA 10/22/2009
Dubrovnik--Fresh, Surg and Turf and Smoothie Bar no longer exist.The walls at Ston are closed for reconstruction as of August 2009.
Pat Vinkenes in Arlington, VA USA 09/13/2009
We noticed that prices had increased significantly for all sights and several accommodations.
Julie in Vancouver, BC Canada 09/07/2009
The suggestion to take the airport bus in Dubrovnik from the old Buza gate(cable car station) is not appropriate during high season as the bus is often full and will not stop for you Best to take it from the bus station. (This advice comes from the tourist office.
Jonathan Kaplan in Portola Valley, CA USA 02/08/2009