The Dubrovnik Times has received a letter from a reader describing a gruelling seven-hour wait to cross from Montenegro into Croatia, raising serious questions over conditions faced by families caught in the latest summer border queues. The reader, a public health professional with 20 years of experience in public service, described extreme heat, limited access to water and toilets, and families with young children spending much of the day trapped in their vehicles.
Seven and a Half Hours to Cross the Border
According to the reader, the family arrived at the border crossing from Montenegro towards Croatia at approximately 10:30 a.m.
They would not cross into Croatia until 6:30 p.m.
The reader said that for much of the day only one border lane was operating, despite the enormous volume of summer traffic.
After contacting the police, including calling the 112 emergency number at around 4 p.m., the reader said additional lanes were eventually opened.
“At 18:00, they opened up three lanes and cars started moving, still slowly, but moving,” the reader wrote.
But by then, families had already spent hours waiting under the scorching summer sun.
“My Young Son Got Overheated”
Of particular concern were the conditions facing children, elderly travellers and those with health problems.
The reader said temperatures were around 40C and reaching the portable toilets involved walking in the intense heat.
“As a result of the heat, lack of water – not to mention we had to walk by foot in +40C to get to the portable toilets – my young son got overheated and has been vomiting all night,” the reader stated.
The family was far from alone.
According to the letter, numerous families with young children were caught in the queue, while some motorists switched off their engines to conserve fuel, leaving them without air conditioning as temperatures soared.
“There were people with health concerns and many women with young children trying desperately to find toilets,” the reader added.
Questions Over Summer Preparedness
The experience has left the family questioning why greater capacity was not available at the border during one of the busiest periods of the entire year.
“It is beyond our comprehension why the border police would keep only one lane open in a busy summer season, especially since this is not happening for the first time,” the reader wrote.
For the family, the issue goes beyond inconvenience or frustration over a ruined day of their holiday.
“This is not just lack of preparation and incompetence, but a public health and safety problem as families with young kids were stuck for the entire day in the heat.”
The reader said travellers in the queue had missed flights and ferries and questioned the damage such experiences could ultimately cause to Croatia’s reputation as a tourist destination.
“If Croatia values tourism and wants economic prosperity in its tourist industry, shouldn’t the local government and country’s Ministry of Tourism and Foreign Ministry work together to prevent such disasters?”
“Absolutely Unacceptable and Very Much Avoidable”
The reader, who says they have worked as a public health professional and public servant for two decades, stressed that the letter was not simply written in anger following a difficult journey.
“My complaint is not just venting. It will also be submitted to all possible institutions I can find,” the reader wrote.
“This situation is absolutely unacceptable and very much avoidable.”
Thankfully, the reader said the family did not witness a situation requiring an ambulance, but warned that prolonged exposure to extreme heat without easy access to drinking water and toilets creates genuine risks.
“Heat stroke, dehydration, lack of toilet and water are basic human needs and rights that an EU country like Croatia should take seriously.”
The family has also provided The Dubrovnik Times with videos showing conditions during the lengthy wait.
Their message is ultimately a straightforward one: lessons need to be learned before another summer queue becomes something considerably more serious than a traffic jam.
@dubrovnik_times “Our Son Was Sick All Night”: Family Describes Seven-Hour Croatia Border Ordeal A family says they waited almost EIGHT HOURS to cross from Montenegro into Croatia – in temperatures of around 40°C. ☀️???? They arrived at the border at 10:30am and finally crossed at 6:30pm. The reader told The Dubrovnik Times that families with young children were stuck for hours, access to toilets was difficult and some drivers switched off their engines to save fuel. Their young son became overheated and was vomiting during the night. “This is not just lack of preparation and incompetence, but a public health and safety problem,” the reader told us. The question they are asking: how can this happen during the peak summer season? ???? The videos were sent to The Dubrovnik Times by the reader. #Dubrovnik #Croatia #Montenegro #Konavle #Border #TravelCroatia #CroatiaTravel #SummerInCroatia #Traffic #DubrovnikTimes ♬ original sound – The Dubrovnik Times