Croatia - Eastern Europe - page 137

Embassies & Consulates U.S.: Andrije Hebranga 2, Zagreb; & 01-66-12-200.
Australia: Krsnjavoga 1, Zagreb; & 01-48-36-600. United Kingdom: Vlaska 121,
Zagreb; & 01-45-55-310. Also Obala hrvatskog narodnog preporoda 10, 21000,
Split; & 021-341-464.
Emergencies Police & 92. Fire & 93. Ambulance & 94 . Roadside assistance
& 987. (When calling from abroad or by cellphone, call & 385 1 987.) General
information & 981. Information about local and intercity numbers & 988.
Information about international numbers, & 902. Weather forecast and road
conditions & 060/520-520.
Language Most residents of major Croatian cities speak English. Most Ameri-
can movies and programs broadcast on Croatian TV are in English with Croa-
tian subtitles.
Liquor Laws The minimum age for purchasing liquor is 18, but there is no min-
imum age for consuming it. Croatia has a zero-tolerance law regarding drink-
ing and driving; the legal limit is 0.0% blood alcohol. Package liquor (wine,
beer, spirits) can be purchased in markets, wine stores, at some souvenir shops,
and at almost every gas station.
Mail It costs 3.50kn (50¢/30p) to send a postcard back to the U.S., and 5kn (a
little less than $1/45p) to send a letter weighing up to 20 grams ( 3 ⁄ 4 oz.). It takes
10 days to 2 weeks for postcards to arrive in the U.S. from Croatia and up to a
month for regular mail and packages. Other carriers are available (DHL, Fedex,
UPS) in major population centers, but the cost is prohibitive (around $50 per
pound).
Restrooms There are no free-standing public restrooms in Croatia, but most
restaurants and public buildings have them.
Smoking There are no restrictions on smoking in restaurants or public places in
Croatia, though many hotels offer nonsmoking guest rooms.
Taxes Croatia's VAT is 22%. Refunds of VAT are made to foreign nationals
when they leave the country for goods purchased in Croatia for amounts over
500kn ($86/£46). Salespeople will provide a tax refund form when you make a
purchase over 500kn. There is a 10% nonrefundable tax on excursions and
hotel rooms. For further information, go to www.carina.hr.
Time Zone Croatia is 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, 6 hours ahead of
New York (EST), and 9 hours ahead of Los Angeles (PST). Daylight saving time
is observed from late March to late September, when clocks are advanced 1
hour.
Tipping Tipping is not yet widely expected in smaller Croatian restaurants, but
a 10% to 15% gratuity is often expected at upscale restaurants and larger
cities. Otherwise, it is considered polite to leave any coins from your change. A
10% tip for other service providers (taxi drivers, hotel personnel, and others) is
the norm, as is a tip for anyone who helps you carry luggage.
Water Tap water is potable throughout Croatia.