Fact Sheets & Video - Croatia

The city of Dubrovnik is situated in the very south of the Republic of Croatia. Ten years ago, Croatia was caught up in the middle of war, but now it's starting to recover. The country is being dubbed, the new Tuscany, and is currently considered one of the hottest places for real estate in the world, and the medieval walled city of Dubrovnik is right at the heart of it.

The city is more than 1000 years old and throughout the town's little alleyways there are tucked away treasures from the city's past. Wooden bridges, gate towers and limestone streets all add to the city's charm and the Mediterranean climate with mild and damp winters, and hot dry summers is also a plus!

The city walls are a major tourist attraction, with a leisurely walk around the city taking approximately an hour. The walls are 6 metres thick in places and provide a gorgeous view of the Adriatic as well as an unforgettable glimpse at the city they surround: the tiled roofs, the narrow pathways adorned with window boxes, the small orange grove and field of a monastery, fishermen at home darning their nets and schoolchildren glancing lazily out classroom windows.

A great alternative to hotel accommodation is renting an apartment, especially if you plan to stay a while, because the longer you stay, the less you pay, with the price reducing around 5% a week. Renting apartments from the locals allows you to be right at the heart of the action. A two bedroom apartment located right next to the city wall will cost around $AUD1000 a week in summer and around $AUD600 a week in winter, and often the owners will throw in handy tips about what's on in town or special spots that only a local would know, like Lokum Island, a ten minute ferry ride away. Another money saver if renting an apartment is that you can live like a local and buy your food from the local market at negotiable prices and cook at home! If a permanent investment is an option, Dubrovnik is considered one of the hottest real estate destinations in the world. If you buy now, keep the property for three years and rent it out, you'll get the capital appreciation which is fairly steady and after three years you also have no capital gains tax.

A fully renovated studio apartment right in the heart of the old town will cost around $AUD317,000 but with a prospective rental potential of $AUD160 per night in high season and a little less in the winter, it's a good return.

Moving further out of town property prices decrease. A two bedroom place with views of the city will cost around $AUD260,000. Because it can be rented out to house four people, it has a rental potential of approximately $1000AUD a week in high season.

Further information:

Thai International UK Europe Dollar Deals to Frankfurt

From $2190 ex west coast, $2281 ex east coast. Includes taxes, conditions apply.

Includes $200 spending money & a domestic side trip in Thailand.

website: www.thaiairways.com.au

Connect to Dubrovnik with Croatia Airlines. From $720 return. Includes taxes, conditions apply.

website: www.skyair.biz

Discover Croatia Holidays rooms start from $58 a person based on twin share.

www.discovercroatia.com.au

Discover Croatia Holidays - Ph: 1300 660 189

Prices correct at 5/9/05