Luckily it is not all advertising exaggeration
Do not be surprised when the owner of the accommodation where you spend your holiday gives you a small present on the day of your departure. Usually, it would be a bottle of his homemade olive oil, wine or ''travarica'' (TRA-va-ree-tsa - herb brandy) or even a cheese.
Our clients (private acc. owners) tell us that guests often remain amazed and confused at the same time probably wondering whether they should pay? No, in no case (Do not worry; if you still offer money, you'll go home live and healthy :)). As I said at the beginning, it's a gift.
Things are pretty simple; usual descriptions and impressions of the people in Croatia (from the Internet, numerous advertisements, blogs, brochures, . . . ) as a good and gracious hosts are not just random. Such descriptions are true. Yes, of course, there are exceptions but you know what we are saying about them.
For various reasons in this country lives the tradition of so called ''ordinary people'' of holding at least a small piece of agricultural land. In most cases land is inherited from ancestors. Here is the question of people's tradition and pride to have their own homemade wine, olive oil or smoked ham. Yes, sheeps, goats and pigs are here a natural sequence of things
It does not matter whether it is a few or a hundred liters, half or ten pounds; they made those products with their love and persistence and the fruits of their labor will usually be found in the grandfather cellar (''konoba'' – tavern). Best of all, they are happy to share them with friends.
Sometimes the wine or a sweet dessert wine (* ''prošek'') will be bottled in plastic bottles, sometimes in a glass bottle with or without a label, homemade orange jam in a jar for pickles, olive oil in a bottle for wine, . . . ., doesn't matter. The point is that you'll probably for the first time really try and taste olive oil, jam, cheese or wine.
However, if the form is more important than content, that you will always find in the supermarket.
Moreover, thanks to the younger generations, packaging or form is not a ''problem'' (if it ever was).
In fact, all these bottles and jars of various sizes and shapes, wine, cheese and olive oil are actually the crux of private accommodation.
Yes, of course, the financial element (financial compensation) is an integral part of the rental accommodation. Regardless of the reason(s) it started appearing and in what circumstances (of course, in areas attractive to tourists has flourished), rental accommodation by private individuals should remain within the term or concept of family enterprise with as little as possible elements that are so characteristic for the large hotel companies.
A person, not a number, family, not the group. Family, but on both sides.
As you should not be surprised by the gift(s) on departure, do not be surprised when the acc. owner, immediately upon your arrival, offers to you and your family members a glass of wine or a cold juice.
Definitely a nice gesture after a few hours spent in the car.
So, all the photos of all these more or less decorated tables (with a variety of aperitifs and other drinks, bowls of fruits, . . . etc.) in the accommodation info - photo galleries of our clients on our web page are not there just because of the impression.
Because of that, when you look at the part of the advertisement stating the client extra offer (''extras''), you could reach the wrong conclusion that we advertise distilleries and small farms instead of private accommodation offer.
Simply, it is a way of life and this way of life is characterized by a certain degree of casualness (however, in some areas it is almost gone to the extreme; famous buzzword ''nema problema/no problem, no sweat), and with positive dose of hedonism. But that's not all; we must not forget to mention dinners.
Is there such a thing as a free dinner (lunch)?
Certainly there are! Dinner or lunch, it does not matter because you'll get the one (or even two) free meal(s) when it is convenient for you. Do not believe? Just google it about people's croatian private accommodation holiday impressions and see for yourself.
Usually they prepare some fish (on the coast and Islands) or meat dish and almost certainly will be prepared on the grill. Therefore, many of you will gain weight after the holidays but the loss of your driver's license for driving under the influence of alcohol, be sure to avoid!
If you are afraid that you could spend your holiday with the owners of the accommodation you stayed in (rather than with family or friends), it just depends on you.
If you're one of those who seek for a free apartment at the last moment (end of June, early July) most common response of the acc. owners will be that all acc. units are full.
You can trust me on this; on average, about sixty per cent of the booked days of our clients acc. units were made by their old customers. Thes people are coming to spend their vacation at the same place, in the same house for ten, twenty or even more years.
And people usually do not return there where they did not feel welcome.
Certainly, nothing is perfect and this also applies to the Croatian tourism and tourist offer.
Oh yes, definitely. Previously mentioned recommendation for (Internet) seeking tourists impressions will also show you the other, less pretty side of croatian tourist offer. No worries, we'll write about that side as well.
In fact, for starters, let's say it now; there is a large number of those who engage in tourism just because they see it as a great opportunity for easy and good money.
Nowadays it seems that it is very difficult to get something and not had to take out the wallet from the pocket. Difficult but not impossible.
The intention is what counts. The intention which is not hidden by self-interest.
So, if you are still asking yourself whether you should pay for the bottle of olive oil from the last year, do not bother. You have a friend(s) in Croatia.
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| Homemade wine, olive oil, apples from orchard. . . . it is a matter of pride to have them (photo: Family Prpić/Brzac - Island Krk) Link: http://www.meetcroatia.net/accommodation.asp?I=2693  (photo; Plitvice - Accommodation Mirko Hodak/Selište Drežničko - Plitvice) Link; http://www.meetcroatia.net/accommodation.asp?I=212  guests and friends (photo: Plitvice - Oštarski Stanovi/Dane Hodak) Link: http://www.meetcroatia.net/accommodation.asp?I=288  (photo: Pansion Marjan/Zavala - Island Hvar) Link: http://www.meetcroatia.net/accommodation.asp?I=2784  Link: http://www.meetcroatia.net/accommodation.asp?I=2784  (photo: Domestic olive oil/Apartments Gaj - Brodarica near Šibenik) Link: http://www.meetcroatia.net/accommodation.asp?I=3317   (Jasna Marinović Curin - Podgora - Dalmatia) Link: http://www.meetcroatia.net/accommodation.asp?I=2731  by accident or just because of the impression . . (photo: Family Bolonić/Vrbnik - Island Krk) Link: http://www.meetcroatia.net/accommodation.asp?I=2325  (photo scan: Family Hadjić and their guests/Villa Colonia - Pirovac - Dalmatia) Link: http://www.meetcroatia.net/accommodation.asp?I=3338  (photo: Villa Colonia - Pirovac - Dalmatia)  so that you can enjoy in a flavour of homemade cheese (photo: Agrotourism ''Malenica'' in Poljica near Omiš - Dalmatia) Link: http://www.meetcroatia.net/accommodation.asp?I=2892  (photo: Mrs. Bačić - Agrotour ''Peace''/Brištane near Visovac - NP Krka) http://www.meetcroatia.net/accommodation.asp?I=3251  (Agrotour ''Peace''/Brištane near Visovac - NP Krka)  (photo: Family Justić (Mrs.Marija) backyard/Vrbnik - Island Krk) Link: http://www.meetcroatia.net/accommodation.asp?I=2383  (photo: Agrotour ''Malenica'' wine cellar and a tavern/Poljica near Omiš - Dalmatia) Link: http://www.meetcroatia.net/accommodation.asp?I=2892  (photo: Family Perić guests and a family Perić members/Cove Smokvina - Island Hvar) Link: http://www.meetcroatia.net/accommodation.asp?I=2938 |
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