Hi. We fly into Split and immediately want to rent a car and stay at one of the Plitvice Lakes hotels for one night. Then drive back to Split and stay there. We only need the car for the drive to Plitvice and back to Split. Once back in Split, we want to rerun it and then stay for another night. Where should we get our rental car? The airport or in town? Can we rent at the airport and return it in town?
Posted by
Citizen of the World
1416 posts
I hope you’re planning to overnight in Split before taking on a 3-hour drive to Plitvice with jet lag.
It’s a better plan because you can take the Airport bus ( Bus #37) for about $3 into town. Rent the car in town after you’ve rested and then see Plitvice a day or two after arriving. The last thing you’ll want to do is return the car to the airport as it’s nearly a one-hour drive in traffic to the airport from town. The road to the airport was all torn up due to construction when I was there a few months ago. Check Uni-Rent.net for car rentals in Croatia.
Posted by
Eden, Utah
31 posts
I agree with the recommendation for UniRent. We will be picking up a car in downtown Zagreb and returning it to downtown Split. Their rates were better than all of the other companies I checked and when I had questions I sent them an email and was able to make my reservation without having to pay up front.
Posted by
4 posts
Just returned from Dubrovnik/Split last weekend.
We rented a car in Dubrovnik and turned it in once we arrived in Split.
Rented from Sixt, no one way fee for dropping in Split.
We then (eventually) flew out from Split.
COMPLETELY agree that you should not use the Split airport location unless you need to be at the airport for travel. It’s a long way from tourist area Split to the “Split” airport which is located in Kaštel Štafilić, in actuality.
The location in Split is east of Diocltian’s palace and if you taxi/Uber to it, walk to the east side of Diocletian’s palace before getting a ride. Otherwise, the mandatory drive around the periphery of Diocletian’s will be very expensive.
So if you decide to immediately drive despite any jet lag, I would rent at the airport and then return it to the Split city rental site. They even have an after hours dropoff that works well, so you could drop it off after they close. Just follow the signs for the dropoff parking lot. It’s not in the garage nearest the rental location, we found out.
Make sure to get a Triple A international driver license, costs $20, no need to be a member. It was recognized immediately in Croatia, no issues.
Be aware, the rental agencies will place a huge hold on your credit card if you decline their insurance and use alternate coverage (like from a benefit from a credit card). Stays for about 10-20 days on your card, then gets lifted.
Posted by
4 posts
Btw, we did a walking tour with Maja, who is in Rick’s book and video while we were in Split, she is very charming and knowledgable (and cheap!). Highly recommended, her contact info is in the book. Tell her Stephen and Courtney in Las Vegas said hello!