We bought some sunglasses in Split (>$200) and received the paperwork to get a VAT refund. We’ll be traveling to Dubrovnik and then to Istanbul where we return to the US in 2 weeks. Has anyone had experience going through the process? I understand we need to present the unused goods and paperwork from the store to customs. Do we do that in Dubrovnik or Istanbul? Then what? I’ve read that we go to a refund office at the airport and they give you the refund (less a fee). But also saw an old forum topic that said they don’t have any refund offices at the Dubrovnik airport. In the long run Is it worth it?
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You would do it in Dubrovnik. There are some relatively recent reports on Reddit that you might find helpful (I googled it because I have always wondered how this works!) https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/vat-refunds
I am not a good traveler (the airport part), so I would not add any complication to my trip for less than 50 bucks.