TRAVEL TIPS & TRICKS FROM PDH

As most of you will leave for Croatia two weeks from tomorrow, I thought it might be helpful to share a few of our tried and true European travel tips, even if those only serve as a reminder as you go about packing.

A few words about Rovinj…

Originally built on an island, Rovinj is a mid-sized city about 20 miles south of the Slovenian border. During Yugoslavian times the entire Istrian peninsula was frequented by northern Europeans – especially Germans – since it provided the closest access to the Adriatic Sea. Seizing on the market, the seaside abounds with hotels and resorts, most of which were built in the 60s and 70s and managed by the State. Both Hotel Katarina and Hotel Istra were formerly state-run until privatized by Maistra tourism bureau.

• Both hotels are situated on small, private islands. Katarina is about a five-minute boat ride. Istra is about a twenty minute ride. Boats run to each island from early morning to late evening every hour on the half-hour. You can find the Istra boat schedule here, and the Katarina boat schedule here.
• It’s about a 10-minute walk from the ferry terminal to the MCC where daily rehearsals will be held.
• Each hotel has an extensive pool complex with sun-loungers, though many may prefer to jump into the Adriatic instead.
• WEAR GOOD SHOES!! (Non-Slip soles!!) While the walk from the port to the MCC is flat (along the edge of the harbor,) anyplace else you go in Rovinj will entail walking on narrow cobblestone streets, which are quite slippery even in completely dry conditions. Europeans are famous for their collapsible trekking poles, and it would not be unusual to see people using them about town. Better to do that than take a fall! Which by the way…
• While there are urgent care centers in town, the nearest hospital is in Pula, about a half-hour away by taxi. Did I mention that you should make sure you have good shoes and consider bringing trekking poles?
• The weather will be around 80°F each day, though it is typically much less humid on the Adriatic than it is at home. (Delaware.) The rehearsal space is air-conditioned, though I don’t recall how much control we’ll have over HVAC there. (Certainly better than AED 118!) Plan to bring a hoodie or light sweater to rehearsal, just in case. Mornings and evenings can be chilly in June as well, especially on the boat. (Besides, you’ll want the extra layer for the plane as well!)
• There are several ATMs in Rovinj and you shouldn’t have any trouble drawing cash (euros) with your bank card. Using and ATM or your credit card (or Apple Pay) will typically get you a much better exchange rate than changing dollars into Euro. We NEVER change money, especially at home or in the airport, as that will surely get you the very worst rate. Even most street vendors will take cards an Apple Pay. I try to keep 50€ to 100€ on my person – just in case – but as often as not, come home with most of that in my pocket.
• Rovinj is a very safe city, but it’s also full of tourists, which is typically a major attraction for pick-pockets! (Where there are crowds, there will be pick-pockets!) I keep one credit card in my wallet, and a bit of cash (see above), and maybe my insurance cards, but take everything else out to leave in the safe in my room. Phones are also a target, especially when left lying on the edge of a table while dining. Don’t tempt fate!
• Take a picture of everything IN YOUR WALLET and store it someplace on the cloud. That way, should you lose a wallet or a credit card, you know exactly which one you lost, and you have the phone number to call the credit card company.
• When navigating those narrow alleyways IN YOUR EXCELLENT, HIGH-TRACTION WALKING SHOES, you will invariably have to parse your way through dense crowds. I instinctively utilize my pockets when that happens; phone in one front pocket, wallet in the other – hands in each pocket! Again, Rovinj will feel (and is) very safe, but better to be safe than sorry.
• When Carol needs to bring a handbag along, she uses a PacSafe over-the-shoulder purse. (In fact, we routinely use this bag for passports and wallets when navigating airports all over the world.) Among other features, the strap is reinforced so someone can’t cut, grab, and run.
• The hotel will likely collect your passport when you check in and hold it at least overnight while they register you as a guest. (Sometimes they keep it for the duration of your stay.) Don’t be alarmed. This is typical, and quite frankly, at least as safe as keeping it in your room. There’s no reason you should need access to your passport during your stay until it’s time to return to the airport.
• When I stayed at Villa Kristina a few weeks ago, I was surprised to see that some of the electrical outlets had not been changed out since Yugoslav times, which is problematic since common Type C Europlugs don’t always align with the old-style outlets. My room did have a couple of modern Type C outlets, but capacity was limited. My favorite solution is this little charger block, along with this spiffy little cable that you can easily change out, and it even works on the old outlets. The advantage of the charger block is that you can plug in all your devices at one time, and the lightweight cable typically works better if you try to plug in on the plane. (All seats will have outlets, but they are often worn and cantankerous!)
• BTW… nearly ALL electronic devices made today (phones, computers, iPads, etc) operate on 110V-220V. (The US is 110V; Europe is 220V) This is NOT true with heavier devices like hair-dryers and curling irons. In fact, if you plug an American hair dryer or curling iron into a European outlet, it will likely blow the circuit while the innards literally melt! Adapter plugs don’t change voltage, they just make the plug fit. Every device has a label on it somewhere that lists the input voltage just in case you want to double-check your devices. It will literally say Input: 110V – 220V. If it doesn’t, DON’T PLUG IT IN!
• You will probably want to carry a portable charger block for your phone and/or your e-reader device. (My iPad is getting old and often won’t make it through a four-hour rehearsal.) This is my favorite portable charger for travel. I love that it has various cables attached, a meter to tell me how much charge is left, and it’s rated at 20,000mHa, WHICH IS THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE AT MANY AIRPORT SECURITY CHECK-POINTS! (They will literally take your charger away from you at security if it has a capacity larger than 20k mHa, so you might want to check yours.)
• Note also that you can’t put ANYTHING with a lithium battery – iPad, computer, phone, charger block – in your checked baggage! It must be with you in your carry-on bags. Airlines have become increasingly adamant about this, stating that any lithium battery has to be within your reach while flying in case it overheats and bursts into flames. I’ve never seen that happen, but apparently, it happens!
• Especially in high season, airlines have also become very snarky about the two carry-on rule, which typically means a rollie and second item like a backpack, computer bag, or purse. Carol is always irritated when they make her consolidate her PacSafe purse into one of her carryon bags, but if the gate agent pulls that card, you’re not going to win! We also travel with this little bag stuffed away in one of our carry-ons, as it folds up to almost nothing, is super lightweight, but is great for when you’re walking around town, on a boat trip, or whatever.
• Since most of you are transferring planes in Frankfurt, you’ll have a significant layover with plenty of time to find food, etc. (And remember, the plane will likely deplane ON THE TARMAC, meaning you’ll need to navigate two flights of stairs when leaving the plane!) As soon as you enter the terminal, you’ll make your way through immigration which will put you in the European Schengen area – or essentially, domestic Europe. In most cases, you will NOT need to clear security again on your way to your connecting flight. Since you never know how long it will take to clear immigration, always do that first, before stopping for food or anything else.
• The EU is rolling out a new ETIAS immigration system at all major hubs. By the fall, there will be an extra charge associated with that, but for right now, it’s just an extra step where they scan your passport before sending you through the immigration lines. My passport is seven years old and apparently, the chip is damaged, so while Carol always gets directed to the electronic gates (Fast!) I get rerouted to see a human (SLOW! And annoying!) Again, get through that step as quickly as you can and make your way toward your connecting gate before you find a place to chill out.
• Upon arrival in Zagreb you will  be directed to the baggage area then out to the arrivals area, whether you have checked bags or not. As you leave the baggage area, you want to go through the “Green Lane” at Customs declaration, unless, of course, you’re bringing a bag full of liquor and cigarettes into Europe! (Don’t do that!) There may be an officer standing near the green lane but very rarely do they even stop you to ask questions. (More likely in Asia. We’re not going to Asia.)
• Depending on when you arrive, you’ll likely have a significant wait until the bus arrives to take you to Rovinj. (We’re planning on a morning bus around 11:00 am, and the other two busses around 2:30 pm.) It’s a shiny new terminal, but with very few amenities. There’s a little convenience store in the baggage area, another one in the arrivals area, and a Nero Coffee (think Starbucks) in the main terminal, but that’s about it! Nero has sandwiches and snacks, but maybe not enough snacks for 100 singing Americans, which is why…
• Always carry your own snacks! We always have a few protein bars on hand wherever we go. And a few Ziplock bags as well in case we want to grab bread and cheese at breakfast and bring that along to rehearsal or whatever. (The hotel doesn’t love that, so be discreet!) Remember, daily rehearsals are from 10 am to 2 pm so you’ll want to plan your snacks accordingly. Nobody likes a hangry singer!
• Always have pocket tissues with you, especially if you might need to find a public restroom.
• Istra and Katarina will certainly have laundry service, for a fee. We’re always prepared to wash a few things in our room, and these little laundry sheets make that really easy.
• The bus transfer from Zagreb to Rovinj is about three hours. It’s very scenic, especially as you reach the Adriatic near the city of Rijeka. (About 2/3s of the way) There may or may not be a lavatory on the bus, and I doubt that the driver will want to stop en route, so plan your intake accordingly.
• If you happen to have Euro coins lying around from a previous trip, throw a couple euros in your bag in case the driver does stop at a rest area. Most places will charge you a euro to gain access to the restrooms, which is super annoying when you really need a restroom.
• When the bus arrives in Rovinj, everyone will disembark at the ferry terminal where you can catch boats to Hotels Katarina and Istra, or head uphill about five minutes to Sunset Residence, or another ten minutes to Villa Krisina. And it is most definitely uphill!! Chances are AirBNB locations will be uphill as well unless you’re right on the waterfront. And did I mention, the cobblestone roads are really slippery! Have good shoes!
• There are food options for every taste and budget in Rovinj, which has a strong leaning toward Italian and fresh seafood. For the budget-minded, there are several pizzerias and sandwich shops, especially along Carera Ulika, the main artery through the middle of town. If you’re a foodie, the rule of thumb is to look for a “limited menu” of house specialties, as opposed to a huge menu with lots of pictures. (That means they do everything, but usually nothing very well!) A few of our favs are La Vela gostionica, Mali Raj, and Mižol Wine & Food Bar. Typically, you don’t need reservations in advance.
• There are several grocery stores in easy walking distance, most notably the Tommy Store about half way between the port and the MCC. That’s a sizable store with most anything you could need.
• Finally, for those who want to do a bit of exploring, your best rental car option is Vetura Car Rental, located across the street from the bus station right in the middle of town. The big companies like Avis and Hertz are also possible, but they are located on the outskirts of town which means you have to hire a taxi to get there. What’s more, the car pick-up for Vetura is also right in town. You should prebook on the website, noting that the cheapest options will be cars with a manual transmission. [Website is working now!]
• Driving in this region is comparatively easy (as compared to Paris or anyplace in Italy!) Once you get out of Rovinj, it’s very rural. The motorway is still under construction, but the roads are great and you can pay tolls with any major credit card. You can also use your credit card at gas stations, but the advertised prices are per liter, not per gallon. By the time you do the math, gas is about $8 a gallon!
• Buy the rental car insurance, especially if you plan on parking in a city or town! Streets are narrow and it’s really easy to scrape up the car on a cement barrier or some such thing.

I’ll likely keep editing this list as departure day draws near, or if anyone else posts a question. (Feel free to do so in the comment section of this page.)

I’ll also be adding to the itinerary page which should be updated and complete by the end of day on Tuesday. (June 9) Most importantly, Saturday and Sunday rehearsals will likely be in the mid-to-late afternoon, so those wanting to get out and about may want to use those mornings instead of trying to squeeze things in after rehearsals.

Hope that gets you up, running, and excited! I’m confident you’re going to love this magical little city by the sea.

pdh