“Americans are one of the most desirable guests in Dubrovnik,” said Slavica Grkeš, the owner of Dubrovnik-based Dominium Travel, an agency that does frequent business with Americans. “When on vacation, they are always in a good mood: very interested in getting to know the people and culture they are visiting, and willing to pay for a good experience.”
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Croatia, which closed itself off early in the spring to keep coronavirus infections low, hit zero reported cases within its borders in May and reopened to visitors from all countries in July, with testing requirements in place. The move made Croatia the only nation in the European Union to accept travelers from the United States.
That continental distinction has not changed, even as Croatia’s cases have risen and as it implemented a partial national shutdown last week that included closing bars and restaurants and banning weddings through Christmas.
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According to Matana, most of his American guests in 2020 have been people who had covid-19 and recovered, remote workers or people who couldn’t stand to give up traveling. Nikša Klečak, CEO of Croatia’s Kompas Rent a Car, has noticed similar trends, plus one more of note: “This time,” he said, “the Americans, when they found an alternative way to come to Europe, were not here to spend just a couple of weeks, but rather several months.”
Sarah Morlock, a 31-year-old freelance writer and social media manager from Indiana, is one such case. A roaming remote worker, she spent October and November working from Croatia with her partner.
“Dubrovnik has always been on our list of places to visit,” Morlock said. “It’s a beautiful city, and it has better weather this time of year than many other places in Europe. Personally, when choosing a place to stay and work, I often look for historical cities with decent infrastructure (such as good WiFi), a foodie culture and access to nature. Dubrovnik checks all those boxes …“
The „always in a good mood: very interested in getting to know the people and culture they are visiting, and willing to pay for a good experience” I found both amusing and accurate, and reminded me of my own interaction with Americans in Dubrovnik.
