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Travel to Croatia is getting easier

Dec. 12, 2021
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3 min read
Cityscape of Dubrovnik with city walls
Travel to Croatia is getting easier
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It's been a long time coming, but the Council of the European Union has invited Croatia to join the Schengen Area. That's a huge step for Croatia, which has been angling for that invitation for years. And as of Jan. 1, 2023, Croatia has officially become part of the Schengen Area.

What is the Schengen Area and why is it such a big deal?

Ban Jelacic Square in Zagreb at night
Zagreb at night. (Photo by Razvan Ionut Dragomirescu / Shutterstock.com)

Schengen is a much-vaunted "passport-free" zone comprised of 26 European countries. Those countries, known as Schengen states, are located across the continent and form the world's largest free movement area. Travel between Schengen states is essentially borderless.

Schengen is not the same as the European Union, but most Schengen states are also members of the EU.

Related: The cheapest ways to get to Croatia using points and miles

Although Croatia became an EU member in 2013, concerns over its border management have kept it from earning a coveted seat at the Schengen table until now.

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That's good news, considering Croatia's popularity as a travel destination.

One of Europe's hidden gems for decades, the production of TV series such as "Game of Thrones" in Croatia thrust it into the visitor limelight in recent years. Pre-pandemic, crowd control and other growth limitations had to be established for the UNESCO World Heritage city of Dubrovnik. Still, the fact that the country wasn't part of the Schengen Area could put a damper on the notion of a quick jaunt to nearby countries. No longer.

Related: Second cities: Destinations to add on to a trip to Dubrovnik, Croatia

Boats docked in Dubrovnik
You can fly nonstop from New York City to Dubrovnik with United Airlines. (Photo by Dawid Rojek / Shutterstock.com)

With Croatia finally being a full member of the Schengen Area, the benefits it will reap on the tourism front are not in doubt. Seamless border travel along the Adriatic coast is something we can all look forward to now.

Vienna to Budapest by train without those annoying passport checks? Sounds great. Or perhaps a side excursion to Italy for a few days from a Croatian home base. Borderless travel between Croatia and its neighbors in the Schengen zone will definitely make a visit to the country more attractive.

Featured image by Getty Images
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Best for dining at restaurants

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  • Annual Fee

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  • Recommended Credit

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

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  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.