Staying Connected While in Croatia
Staying connected while traveling in Croatia is easy and relatively inexpensive. Much like the rest of Europe, Croatia uses GSM standard networks so any GSM mobile phone should work in the country (roaming rates will apply; please check with your local carrier). For Americans, if your phone has a SIM card inside then it is probably on a GSM network. If your phone is unlocked (meaning it can be used with multiple carriers) then you can buy a local pre-paid SIM card in Croatia and have a local phone number during your stay. Most phones come locked (meaning it can only be used with the carrier from whom you bought it – AT&T, Verizon, Vodaphone, O2, etc). If this is the case, you can usually pay a small fee to have your phone unlocked at an independent mobile phone store where you live or you can purchase unlocked phones online.
Assuming you have an unlocked phone, pre-paid SIM cards are widely available throughout Croatia. You can often buy them at airports, post offices, mobile phone shops, and even some convenience shops. The two main carriers are T-Mobile and VIP, with T-Mobile being the most popular. A SIM card usually costs about 100 Kuna (14 EUR) but comes with some credit. If you use up all the credit you can purchase more at post offices, shops, ATMs, and newsstands (called “Tisak” in Croatia). Having a local number is convenient for planning your trip on the go, making dinner reservations, and keeping in touch with other traveling companions within the country.
You can also send the number to friends and family back home as receiving calls is free (although normal long distance charges will apply to the caller). They can also be used for making international calls, but the rates are quite high and you will find your credit runs out quickly that way.
For those that need to stay connected to the Internet while in Croatia there are a few options. Most hotels and many private apartments offer Internet access and there are some cafes and restaurants with free Wifi. Internet cafes are also ubiquitous in Croatia.
If you want to have your own mobile Internet connection, T-Mobile and VIP both offer pre-paid mobile Internet devices for use with laptops. They are USB devices so can only be used with laptops or tablet computers with USB ports. T-Mobile sells a USB modem for 150 Kuna (about 20 EUR) which includes some data transfer. You can then buy top-up cards for additional data transfer (they come in various bundles of MB). It is fairly inexpensive and works well enough, but not quite as fast a DSL or cable modem. USB modems are a great option for checking email, planning your trip on the fly, making phone calls via Skype, and posting your great Croatia photos to your Facebook page.