Croatia is one of the seaside destinations among Czech tourists, with almost half of them traveling to the Adriatic with their car. As far as you are concerned, note - Croatia is tightening traffic regulations this year. When is the perfect time to go on a holiday to the Adriatic and where to go?
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Every year most Czechs go on holiday to the sea to Croatia. This year it is expected that the current record of about 850 thousand visitors to the Adriatic will be exceeded. Almost half of them head to Croatia by car. What to watch out for?
Travel time
When is it ideal to go on holiday to Croatia? According to the Czech Motoring Association UAMK, the most exciting first term will be 28 and 30 June, when school holidays begin. This weekend will be crowded. Huge onslaught will also be created on the roads between July 1 and 4, when holidays begin for children in Germany.
Another reason not to set out across Austria to the Adriatic at the beginning of the holiday season is the holding of the Austrian Grand Prix on 28 and 30 June. At the same time, beware of the dates from 2 to 4 August, when the Grand Prix in Brno and F1 races in Hungary. This means that the route Prague - Brno, Bratislava and possibly further to Hungary will be completely impassable.
ÚAMK also does not recommend going on Friday after work, when usually the holiday starts. On the contrary, it is highly recommended to choose other days. If this is not possible, you should leave early on Friday very early in the morning to get to Vienna before peak hours in the morning.
Which way?
The route from the Czech Republic to Croatia is about a thousand kilometers long, so it is paradoxical that the most delay and restrictions of tourists await in the Czech Republic. Only three routes can be selected: the D1 motorway to Brno, the direction to Dolní Dvořiště or the motorway to Rozvadov. For the first two, you have to count on the limit.
There are five major restrictions on D1 at the moment and two more will be added from the holidays. The way to České Budějovice will be complicated by the construction of the D3 motorway and bypass. Therefore, the calmest route awaits tourists from West Bohemia with a route to Rozvadov.
The traditional and most frequently used route is the route from Brno to the Czech-Austrian border and further to Vienna, Graz on the A2 motorway. Tourists will encounter four limitations in the summer, but most of them are short stretches. In the case of the southern route from Linz along the A9 motorway, certain limitations are also to be expected.
New to the A1 are two sections, wherein good weather and only during the day test speed allowed 140 km / h. Conversely, in many places, the speed is reduced to 100 km / h due to noise and waste products. Fines for exceeding the limits are very high in Austria - they are assessed from nature protection.
At the end of last year, Slovenia finally completed the Podravska highway A4 from Maribor to the Slovenian-Croatian border in Gruškovje / Macelj. On the Croatian side, however, traffic continues in only one direction, so there is expected a delay.
It should also be taken into account that we are at the end of the Schengen area and that border controls have been unexpectedly tightened several times in the past. In such a case, tourists would face a long waiting time in the columns.
Prices
Passing through the Austrian motorways is subject to traditional stickers and electronic vignettes. You will pay 247 crowns for a ten-day stamp for a car up to 3.5 tons. "If someone chooses a route heading for separately paid sections or tunnels, the tolls vary from 5 euros to about 11.50 euros," says UAMK.
On Slovenian highways, a seven-day highway ticket costs 15 euros for a passenger car, and you pay twice as much for the monthly fee. Croatia has a more complex system. There is a toll payment system based on the number of kilometers traveled on the highway.
Also, there is a so-called summer tariff, which increases the price by 10% on some motorways from 15 June to 14 September. In Istria, the summer tariff is valid until the end of September. You can reduce the price by electronic payment using the ENC box, but it cannot be used on the route from the Slovenian-Croatian border.
As for fuel, experts advise to refuel first in the Czech Republic and then at a stop in Austria. Petrol and diesel prices are higher in Croatia and Slovenia.
Traffic regulations
For speeding and alcohol at the wheel, sinners will pay the most in Austria - the fine can climb up to 150,000 crowns. You can also slap through your pocket in Croatia, where there is zero blood alcohol tolerance for drivers under 24 years of age.
You pay the most for your seatbelts in Slovenia. Slovakia and Croatia also require two warning triangles for towed cars. In Croatia, reflective vests are mandatory for all car occupants.
Also, this summer season, prepare for major changes in Croatia. Fines for telephoning at the wheel will increase threefold to more than five thousand crowns, for red driving sevenfold to more than 24 thousand crowns and unauthorized driving in the left lane to seven thousand crowns. For speeding outside the village by 50 km / h, there are even six days in prison and a fine of over fifty thousand crowns.
It is also necessary to realize that in Austria there are extremely high fines for illegal use of the camera in the car, which can climb up to half a million crowns. In Croatia, the police may detain a driver's license if the doctor confirms that he is endangering traffic with his fatigue.
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