Croatia Online - Comments

We've had many interesting comments to a number of postings. COL endeavours to respond and post genuine comments within 24 hours. We've also had our fair share of spam. Comment moderation means that if you'd like to contact us outside the global internet forum, you can submit your email address in a comment and request for it not to be published. It won't be!

Croatia Online - Boat Show Photos

View from the Croatia Boat Show press centre to Split Riva

Our nomination for best yacht - Galatea

Our hosts - www.marinafacilitysolutions.com

Split Riva still under construction during the Croatia Boat Show

One of the most popular boats at the show for its boy racer engines!

A cyclist that lost his way

Meridien Hotel Lav Dancing Girls on a walkabout.

Croatia Online - Split Boat Show

In our humble opininion, this was the best boat at the show. A classic, traditionally built, wooden yacht that was made in Croatia during the Homeland War. We interviewed the skipper to find a fascinating story behind this accomplishment; a living example of passion, vision and endeavour overcoming the biggest of obstacles - war, bureaucracy, lack of skills, lack of raw materials to name but a few. We'll be preparing a full report in the weeks to come but if you can't wait, have a look at our earlier posting on the private sector of the Croatian shipbuilding industry - Croatia Online - Yacht Building in Croatia - to find out more about the builders, Heliyachts, and the yacht, Galatea, which is available for charter.

The Croatian press were most interested in the match racing, featuring Russell Coutts and his one design racing yachts. Russell and his yachts were first publically introduced to Croatian Boat Shows at the Biograd Boat Show in October 2006 (see earlier posting Croatia Online - Russell Coutts at the Biograd Boat Show, October 2006) and follow this link for a full report on the results of the races - http://www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?SEID=2&Nid=32841&SRCID=0&ntid=0&tickeruid=0&tickerCID=0

Le Meridien Hotel Lav had a lively stand featuring their Casino and dancing girls every few hours. Unfortunate in terms of noise and disruption for the stands next door but very entertaining for visitors.

As for overall impressions of the show, the organisation was better and the weather was great - an unbelievable 9 days of blue skies and sunshine. It was unfortunate that Split Riva was still under construction for the show.The organisation was only marred when the security staff at the main entrance changed this weekend and decided to turn into gestapo. Rosie, our dog, who has earned her pass on the stand for the past three years was suddenly refused entry unless she agreed to go out and buy a muzzle and wear it coming in. As a truly vicious Springer Spaniel she simply rolled over and wagged her tail in amusement while her owners made an argument for common sense to prevail.

We'll be publishing a few pictures from the show in our next posting and then we'll be back to non boat show matters.

Croatia Online - Croatia Boat Show Opening

I know that a number of readers may be switching off with the overload of boat show coverage. However, this year at the Croatia Boat Show in Split there is truly something for all! You too can but your own floating barbecue for something in the region of £10,000. Have a look at wwww.bbq-donut.de if this is your idea of how to have fun in the Adriatic.

There's also a stand that looks like something out of Moulin Rouge, a German importer of "French" and other "cosmopolitan" wines - not quite Piat d'Or but not quite Chateau ... either!

The first day at the show was very encouraging - so far the organisation for us exhibitors has been pretty well spot on. Given that it's our third time around, we were a little blase about the opening ceremony. It always starts a little late and it was baking hot on the top deck of the ferry sun deck where Dr Ivo Sanader was supposed to appear at noon, so we observed from a distance.

Elsewhere... the stands are just a little more professional than they were last year, the size, number and class of boats is just that little bit better and, already on a weekend, the punters seemed to be greater in numbers and more discerning in style. The weather helps and let's hope that the balmy cloud free days continue until next Sunday.

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On a non boat show note have a look at one of our earlier postings where we have had a recent comment from a founder of the Adriatic Institute for Public Policy on our posting relating to the Croatian Business Environment. http://croatiaonline.blogspot.com/2007/02/croatia-online-business-environment.html

Croatia Online - Croatia Boat Show Update

With the show starting in Split on Saturday, the organisation so far this year has been great. Exhibition passes came in the post today and our stand was also ready today which is a huge improvement from two years ago when everything happened on the first morning of the show. Unfortunately Split Riva is still having work done on it and that’s likely to go on for another few weeks yet but it doesn’t spoil the show itself.

As we mentioned in earlier postings, Split’s hotels are mostly full and demand is spreading to Trogir and Kastela. There’s clearly a huge interest in this year’s show and, if the weather continues to be warm and sunny, it could cement an already good early start to the tourist season, on the back of a very healthy Easter.

We’ll let you have all the important news from the show next week. See our recent posting for contact details for hotels and more about the show.

Croatia Online - Hotels In Split

Following on from our last posting, we should warn you that the interest in the Split Boat Show has caused a run on hotel accomodation in Split. We had a ring around today and most of the hotels at the upper end of the price range were full or nearly full for most of the show (14th - 22nd April).

The enormous Meridien Grand Hotel Lav is affiliated with the boat show and still has space but a double room will cost you in excess of €220. You'll get your money's worth though as the five star facilities are second to none in Split. Today's picture of Lav's sunken champagne bar with magnificent views to sea gives you a taster. Just remember it's a bus or taxi ride into town. Go to www.lemeridien.com/split for more details.

In the four star range, you can expect to pay between €120 and €160 for a double. Some of the better choices are:

Art Hotel (www.arthotel.hr) - the centre of town but a good twenty minute walk from the Riva and boat show.

Hotel President (www.hotelpresident.hr) - not too far from Split Theatre and about a fifteen minute walk to the Riva and boat show.

Hotel Park (www.hotelpark-split.hr) - perfect location by Bacvice beach about 15 minutes walk to the boat show. Great terrace and a very stylish building.

Hotel Globo (www.hotelglobo.com) - by the bus station about 15 minutes walk from the Riva

If you're on a tight budget, try Hotel Jupiter (www.hotel-jupiter.info) in the Diocletian Palace close to the Riva. Rooms are around £20 per person per night.

If hostel accomodation is your thing Split Hostel (www.splithostel.com) will look after you very well.

If you'd prefer to stay out of town then you could do a lot worse than Trogir. You can get a coach straight into Split, journey time about 45 minutes and there's plenty of accomodation to choose from. Portal Trogir Travel Agency (www.portal-trogir.com) will be able to find the best hotel deal for you and advise on travel options to the show.

To get the inside story on these and other hotels, as well as the latest news on the new 5 star Atrium due to open very soon, make sure you get a copy of Time Out's Magazine for Visitors to Croatia. The new magazine comes out at the end of April but if you can't wait until then, you'll still be able to find the 2006/7 edition in all the good bookshops in the UK, US, Ireland and Croatia.