Balkano survivor pt2: How to save a lot of money as a tourist in Croatia

This is a guide how to have a beautiful vacation in Croatia without spending a lot of money. My grandma would probably kill me if she knew what I'm writing right now, because she has few private apartments for tourists. A lot of people here is involved with tourism and this is practically the only thing that keeps us alive. But there are some things that tourists should know and those things could be useful to them to save a lot of money. We have to be honest, a lot of people will try to cheat you wherever you go. The same is here.

If you wish to spend your vacation in Croatia, then you probably already know that Croatia is one of cheapest tourist destinations in the Europe. Relatively cheap accommodation, warm sea, beautiful beaches and medieval architecture. I'm proud of hospitality of my people and this is some kind of betrayal because, in next lines, I will tell you how to spend as little money as possible here.

• If you want to go haircut or go to the dentist's before your vacation in Croatia, don't do it! Countries in Balkans have the lowest prices of these. A lot of tourist go to the hairdresser's in Croatia. The same quality as in their countries, but much lower price. You can get haircut for men for 4 - 5 € and those chemicals for women's hair are much cheaper in Balkans than anywhere else in Europe. The same with dentists. Tourists are satisfied and come back every year.
• Don't try to find an accommodation on some online booking agency. Their offer is nice, but they take large provision. It is very easy to find good and cheap accommodation. Many people from the coast villages are standing by the road with a sign "Apartments" or "Rooms". They probably live 200 m up in the street and have a nice, cheap apartment for you. And you can bargain with them. If you want to find an apartment for 4 persons, they will tell you the price of 50 € per night. But they would be happy with 35 €. Just ask them, you have nothing to loose. And the booking agency would probably rent the same accommodation for 90 €.

• Do not buy any fuel for your car on the gas stations on the highway. The fuel is much cheaper on the gas stations on secondary roads. Try to find an accommodation near to beach so you don't have to drive, so, if you like sunbathing, you don't want an accommodation in the center of some city. The traffic in our cities is really messed up and a parking place is twice expensive in summer than in other seasons. Always try to look for accommodation with a free parking place.

• If your host offers to include a breakfast in the price, accept it. It is the cheapest meal that you can get and they will probably offer their own domestic products. Do not eat in the any restaurants in some hotel - villages. Those guys will rip you of. It is cheaper to eat in the old city center than is tourist places. Or try to find some tavern with domestic products. You will find them cheap and quality.
• If you see a diver or a fisherman who just caught some fish or seashells, ask him directly to sell them to you. You could get it three times cheaper than in any market. If you've already visited a market place, than you should know the prices, so make your own offer. Just ask the diver would he sell three kilos of fresh mussels for 10 €! And he will be happy about it.

• If you want to by some domestic products on city market place, always bargain. Those old ladies can recognize strangers and their mission is to cheat you on any way they can. They count on that you are not familiar with our prices and currency so they will probably try to charge you a double price for a kilo of garlic. Be careful about that. Buy some domestic olive oil and wine before leaving.

• If you want to visit some medieval fortresses, you should ask your host to take you. In the most cases, people from the city have free entrance in local fortresses and castles. And they can take some friends in, because they ask for only one ID on the entrance.

• If you don't like sunbathing but you like national parks, you should come in April or May. We have a lot of national and religion holidays in that period and you can get a free entrance in the most of national parks if you choose the right day.