When traveling from city to city within Croatia, bus transportation should not be ruled out.
In August 2019, I landed in Zagreb and took the airport shuttle ($5) to the city’s main bus station, then made my way to Hotel Sliško (Ivana Bunica Vucica 7, Zagreb; phone +385 1 6184 777, slisko.hr/en), a short, 3-block walk away.
Having booked a stay there for a few nights later, I stored my large suitcase at reception, then walked back to the station with just my carry-on and took a bus to Crikvenica, on the Adriatic coast, to join my husband, Josip, at Hotel Crikvenica (Strossmayerovo setaliste 8, Crikvenica; phone +385 51 505 800, www.hotel-crikvenica.com/en).
We first stayed at this hotel back in 2004. At the time, it was categorized as a 2-star. Fast-forward 15 years and, after changes of ownership and several renovations, it is now a lovely 4-star property. In the heart of the action, it is best described as “boutique.”
It is hard to calculate what I paid there, as Josip stayed a week, but I stayed only three nights. Rates are seasonal. Checking online in September 2019, nightly rates for a double, with breakfast, ranged from €157 (near $173) for a standard to €337 ($371) for a “Delux” suite. However, you can take advantage of a special promotion — seven nights for the cost of six — if you book directly by email at info@hotel-crikvenica.com.
We added dinners to the package for about $17 per person per night. We found the dinners well prepared and tasty. In the mornings, after an ample buffet breakfast, Josip and I would take our macchiatos out to the patio, people-watch and enjoy the sea view.
Leaving Josip behind, I traveled back to Zagreb by bus. I was booked on a very early flight to Toronto the following morning, and that’s why I had booked a hotel near the bus station. (In 35 years of traveling almost every other year to Croatia, this was the first time that I stayed in a hotel near the bus terminal.)
I had found the 3-star Hotel Sliško on TripAdvisor.com. It was clean and comfortable and doing a bustling business when I checked in and retrieved my stored luggage. The outstanding reception staff was fluent in English and super-helpful.
I was pleased with my king-bed room, for which I paid, including taxes, $78.50 for the night (no breakfast included).
When facing Zagreb’s bus terminal, airport buses depart from the extreme right. They operate from 4:30 a.m., continuing every 30 minutes throughout the day. A bus to the airport costs HRK30 (near $4.50).
However, I decided to take a taxi, as it was not yet sunrise and walking with two pieces of luggage would be a burden. Prior to checking out, I called reception and they ordered a taxi, which was waiting for me when I got down to the lobby. My ride to the airport cost HRK100 ($14.70).
I can recommend both Hotel Crikvenica and Hotel Sliško.
DEANNA PALIĆ
Contributing Editor