Pilgrimages of Faith - Pilgrimage to Medjugorje - Travel with Croatian Mir Center

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS - A valid passport is required for each traveler. If you do not have a passport and you are a United States citizen, one can be obtained by presenting a completed passport application, two pictures, a certified copy of your birth certificate and a fee to the nearest passport office or main post office. For detailed information and application form downloads, please visit the State Department’s Website: http://travel.state.gov/passport We recommend that you make a photocopy of the first four pages of your passport and keep it separate from the passport itself. Citizens of the US, Canada and most Western European Countries do not need any visas to enter Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

If you are not a US or Canadian citizen you may require a visa to enter Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

To find out if you need a visa to enter Croatia please visit the web site of the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Croatia (visa requirements overview) at http://www.mfa.hr/MVP.asp?pcpid=1615

A Bosnian visa is NOT necessary for citizens of the following countries: Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Borneo, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Katar, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Norway, Oman, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia & Montenegro, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, United States of America, and the Vatican.

Citizens of all other countries require a visa to enter Bosnia-Herzegovina. For instructions on how to apply for a Bosnian visa please visit http://www.bhembassy.org or contact the Croatian Mir Center at croatia@mircenter.com or 1-800-220-7729.

CLOTHING AND PACKING – Due to space restrictions in the buses, the maximum allowance of baggage is One piece of luggage not to weigh more than 70 lbs. One carry-on bag is also allowed along with a purse/briefcase. Optional and recommended for older travelers: Use wheeled suitcases - they are available at department and luggage stores.
Comfortable, plain clothing is the order of the day. Jeans and pants are acceptable for ladies and extremely comfortable walking shoes and/or sneakers (two pairs are suggested) are an absolute MUST for this trip for both men and women.
It would be wise to take clothing which can be layered so that you can add or remove layers as the changing temperature warrants. Medjugorje has a mediterranean climate similar to the one in Rome, meaning that is milder than Continental Europe. Summers are warm and winters are mild.

MEDICATION - Keep all medication with you in your flight bag, it is very important that you do not loose your medications since prescription medicines are not easy to get. If you wear glasses, take an extra pair with you. NEVER pack your medication in your suitcase.

MONEY - US. Dollars are widely acceptable in Medjugorje, we recommend that you carry your money in small denominations (i.e. one, five, ten, and twenty dollar bills). We also recommend you to carry between $300.00 to $500.00 in spending money. You can bring travelers’ checks, but cash is preferred in all places of business. Credit cards are accepted in some stores and restaurants in Medjugorje. You will use your money mostly to buy souvenirs, pay for lunches, for personal expenses, for taxis (around $6.00 anywhere you go in Medjugorje regardless of how many passengers in the car), and for tips (around $4 per person per day for the host family, $3-$4 per person per day for the tour guide, and $5 for the bus driver).

In Dubrovnik and other parts of Croatia, American Express, Diners Club, Visa and Master Card are accepted. The currency in Croatia is called “Kuna”, the exchange rate at this time is around 6 kunas per US dollar. There is a bank in Medjugorje with an ATM which you can use to get emergency cash from your credit card. Do not exchange money unless you have to, because Croatian money can not be exchanged outside of Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

ELECTRIC CURRENT in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina is 220 Volts, 50 cycle alternating current. If you carry a hair dryer, razor, or any other electrical appliance, you will need to take a converter with you (available for purchase in most electrical supply stores, like Radio Schack). We recommend that you take a hair dryer which is ready for use with 220 v. electricity (they are available in most pharmacies and department stores).

TIME DIFFERENCE AND FLY TIME – Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina are six hours ahead of New York and nine hours ahead of California. The flight time between The United States and Split or Dubrovnik is around 16 to 18 hours (counting connection time). After that, there is a two and a half hour bus ride to Medjugorje.

WEATHER – Medjugorje has a Mediterranean climate. This means that summers are longer and hot. And winters are shorter and milder. To get the latest weather forecasts, please visit http://www.accuweather.com

LODGING AND MEALS - We stay in private guest houses in Medjugorje. They are simply furnished, with the bedrooms having beds, dressers, bedside tables, and private bathrooms. Breakfast and dinner are served in your host home. If you require a special diet, please inform your hosts, they will try to accommodate your needs.

PAY PHONES AND MOBILE PHONES – Pay phones are located to the left of St. James Church accross from the Information Center. Phone cards are available for sale at the Information Center. Only local phone cards can be used in Medjugorje. Regarding Cel phones, please contact your wireless telephone services provider to ask if your phone works in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

LAUNDRY – We recommend that you bring enough clean clothing for your whole stay in Medjugorje. Laundry facilities are not available in your host home. There is one Laundry Mat in Medjugorje which is not conveniently located and it is quite expensive.

SHOULD I BRING A GIFT FOR OUR HOST FAMILY ? - It is not a Croatian custom to bring gifts if it is the first time you are meeting your host family. Nevertheless, at the end of your stay a tip as a sign of gratitude will be greatly appreciated.

WHEELCHAIRS – People in need of a wheelchair should bring their own. There are very few wheelchairs available in Medjugorje, and they are taken most of the time. Handicapped people should travel with an escort to assist them while in Medjugorje. A lot of walking is done in Medjugorje, and facilities for the handicapped are not up to US standards.

MISCELLANEOUS - Bring a flashlight for making your way up the hill in Medjugorje in the evening. We also recommend to carry a back-pack and/or a belt-purse since you will be doing a lot of walking, as well as sunglasses or a hat, and an umbrella. Do not be concerned with the quality of the water and food; both are clean and wholesome. If you have any discomfort the first day after arriving there, or immediately after returning home, it is due to the time changes, not to the quality of the food and water. You will feel better, in any case, if you drink a lot of liquids during flights; the plane's air-conditioning system dehydrates the air and you.

RELAX, SMILE AND ENJOY YOUR PILGRIMAGE – Go with an open mind. You will encounter and experience new cultures, ways of life and philosphies, as well as different traditions. You will be amazed on how far a smile and a good sense of humor will take you.

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO NOW? Prepare yourself by prayer, and do as Our Lady, The Queen of Peace has asked .....come to Medjugorje .....and renew yourself.

We at Croatian Mir Center hope that the above information has answered some of your questions. If you require further information please call our office at (800)220-7729, and we will be happy to help you.