July 29, 2020 - A first in the world of French fries as Croatian company Surf'n'Fries debuts its new French Fry Vending Machine at Monty's Dog Beach in Crikvenica

A first in the world of French fries today as Croatian company Surf'n'Fries debuted the pilot of their new French Fry Vending Machine at Monty's Dog Beach in Crikvenica. Now hunger needn't call a halt to the good time your dog and kids are having by the sea; you can get fresh, hot French fries in 35 seconds.

“We started working on it three years ago,” says Andrija Čolak, whose Surf'n'Fries fast food outlet has franchises in four continents. “Automation is key to the food industry, so we thought the ultimate step would be to go to vending machines. So, we collaborated with a Croatian company called Integra and managed to make this pilot.”

“We chose this beach because it's close to our home and we can easily check on it,” says Čolak, who also runs a consultancy firm in Rijeka, the city where he co-founded the well known Kisha umbrella brand. “Also because this beach is very famous and it has a beach bar for dogs. It's a popular place. We adjusted the design and graphics of the machine so it would fit in alongside the beach bar.”

As this first machine is the pilot, it's options are limited to salt and ketchup. But Andrija's vision extends much further. “In the future we plan to add more sauces and probably chicken nuggets as well,” he told TCN from the sun-soaked first day in Crikvenica. “We'll work at this location until the end of the season. After that, the plan is to test it at the main bus station in Zagreb. It has a lot of potential; shopping malls, airports, in particular venues which operate 24 hours.”

“Vending machines are having a bit of a renaissance because you can now connect them to the internet,” reckons Andrija. “That has all sorts of implications for stock ordering and the customer experience. You could use facial recognition to recognise returning customers, ask them if they want the same again or even offer rewards.”

TCN isn't quite sure it wants recognising as a regular indulger in French fries, but if we're in Crikvenica this summer you can count on us sneaking a sample of Surf'n'Fries from the French Fry Vending Machine on Monty's Dog Beach.

July 17, 2020 - Find a beach that welcomes you and the family pet with this useful interactive map to Croatia's Dog Beaches

With domestic travel and tourism being more valued this year than in most, there's never been a better time for people in the region to hastily pack, throw the kids into the car and set off for the coast. But, what to do about the four-legged member of the family?

Luckily, Croatians are renowned dog lovers, and finding accommodation by the sea that will welcome the family pet isn't difficult. Man's best friend can also accompany you to a surprisingly large number of cafes, bars, and taverns, where the dog-loving staff will usually have gifted your pooch a bowl of water even before they've brought you your drinks. But, what to do when you go to the beach?

With lots of small children playing care-free by the shore, it's understandable that not every beach in Croatia welcomes dogs. However, many do. Now, you can find the best-known of Croatia's Dog Beaches using this useful interactive map.

Want to know where on island Pag you can bring your poodle for the pawfect paddle? Are you and your dog taking a howliday somewhere unfamiliar and not sure where to go? This map holds the answers.

While not wholly definitive (you can take your dog to almost any beach in Croatia unless it has signs saying specifically you cannot), the map has at least 65 designated dog beaches listed. Simply open it to find the one that's nearest to you.

No more worries about returning to your rented apartment to find it destroyed by the bored German Shepherd you left inside. Of course, it's possible you may still see a few fat Dalmatians on the coast, resting grumpily in the shade because they can't join in the fun, but by using this handy dog beach locator, at least now it needn't be the black and white spotted one that lives with you.

© Pixabay

Tourists arriving in Croatia with their pet dogs often wonder if there are any dog-friendly beaches in Croatia, where they could take their furry friends out for a swim. While there is no simple answer to that question that would satisfy everyone's specific needs, we'll try and take you through the options and possible locations.

First of all, you need to know that in most places in Croatia it's legal for dogs to go for a swim unless explicitly forbidden. That does not apply to lakes in continental Croatia, so be careful with those - it is mostly forbidden and you shouldn't take your dogs for swims on places like Jarun lake in Zagreb or similar lakes.

At the seaside, whenever a beach is not clearly marked with a sign that says that dogs are not allowed, theoretically your dog can go for a swim there. However, as most dog-owners know, sometimes it's not just a matter of what's allowed, but also it's important what's practical and pleasant for your dog. Most dogs won't really feel comfortable on the busy beach in the middle of the hot summer day so most owners will take their furry friends for an enjoyable (and healthy!) swim either early in the morning or later in the evening. The sun won't be so hot, there won't be that many people, and it will drastically reduce the chance of someone complaining that you brought your dog along - because, you know people, even if that's something that's well within your rights, someone will complain if at all possible.

There are, however, beaches in Croatia where no-one will complain about your dog going for a refreshing swim. There are now dozens of beaches that are designated by local authorities as "pet-friendly beaches", throughout the Adriatic coast, although honestly, there are more of those located on the northern part of the region.

In Istria, there are several such locations, Bi Dog Beach in Fažana is one of them, beach Hidrobaza in Štinjan near Pula (there are other beaches in Pula where dogs are allowed, such as in Stoja bay, near Valovine and at Zelenica and several others.) Lone, Kuvi and Borik Bays in Rovinj are dog-friendly places, as well as some other beaches. All camps in Poreč have portions of their beaches designated for dog fun, Umag allows dogs to go to the beach on all camp-grounds and in several apartment complexes.

On Kvarner you will find many dog-friendly beaches, including the most dog-friendly beach in Croatia (and possibly even Europe). That is Podvorska beach in Crikvenica, an amazing place designed specifically for people with dogs, with a lot of infrastructure (such as doggy-showers etc) and a dog-friendly bar where your dog can get an ice-cream or a beer. No, we're not kidding. Even New York Post was impressed. Recently, they opened a second location, in Rab town on the Rab island.
Rijeka has a few dog beaches (Brajdica, Igralište, Mikulova in Kostrena), there are a few in Opatija and each of the Kvarner island's also has a number of beaches for their four-legged guests. You can find out more here.

As you go more to the South, the number of dog-friendly beaches goes down, unfortunately. Duilovo and Kašjuni beaches in Split are the biggest dog-friendly beaches in the town. Zaton Holiday Resort in Zadar has a section of the beach designated for dogs. Kaštela beach near Trogir also recently became full dog-friendly, with the equipment you might need for a nice day at the beach. Rogoznica's Hotel Resort Marina Frapa has a section of their beach designated for dogs, and if you're near Dubrovnik with your pet, you should go to Slano, as all of their beaches allow dogs. On the islands there is an amazing dog beach called Vartalac in Komiža on Vis, there's a dog beach near Bol on Brač and a portion of Zaraće beach on Hvar is also dog-friendly.

So, it's a good idea to ask about the proximity to a dog-friendly beach when booking accommodation. Wherever you take your dog for a swim, make sure you have enough water for the little swimmer, don't let them drink sea-water, make sure they stay in the shade while not swimming, use doggy sunscreen if needed (if your dog has a light skin and white fur), make sure they don't annoy other beach-goers (human or canine), take them for pee walks often and pick up after them. And if at all possible, buy your dog a beer and an ice-cream. Please.