Where to stay in Croatia

Hotels

Ongoing investment in Croatia's hotel stock is seeing the standard in accommodation increase across the board, with good 4- and 5-star hotels available along the coast and inland, including some stunning boutique options. Village tourism is also on the increase in rural areas.

Grading: Hotels in Croatia are officially graded by the Ministry of Tourism into five categories according to the standard of accommodation: 5-star: Luxury. 4-star: Deluxe. 3-star: First class. 2-star: Moderate. 1-star: Basic and budget. For a list of classified hotels, visit the tourist board website (www.croatia.hr).

Bed and breakfast

Breakfast is usually included at hotels, but not in sobe (private rooms). Full and half board is also widely available.

Camping

There are numerous campsites in Croatia, including quite a few naturist camps. Contact the Croatian Camping Union or visit  the tourist board website (www.croatia.hr). Wild camping is frowned on (and will usually result in you being asked to move by the police), and is prohibited in national parks.

Other accomodation

Private rooms: Private accommodation is widely available in Croatia and can be arranged through local tourist agencies. In high season many places request a minimum of three nights stay or levy a hefty surcharge (around 30%) for shorter stays. The most widespread accommodation option (in particular on the coast) are sobe (private rooms), which generally work out much cheaper than hotels. They can be booked through local travel agencies and tourist offices, and buses and trains are often met by people offering this kind of accommodation.

Unique Accommodation: To get a stay in a lighthouse contact Adriagate (www.adriagate.com) or Plovput (www.plovput.hr).

Youth Hostels: The Croatian Youth Hostel Association (www.hfhs.hr) runs several IYHA-affiliated hostels including Zagreb, Pula, Rijeka, Zadar, Dubrovnik and Veli Lošinj, and there are also many privately run hostels.