Advice please on this 3 week Itinerary
Apr 7th, 2015, 08:04 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Advice please on this 3 week Itinerary
Is my first time posting in this forum, hope you can help me with your experience!
I´m traveling with my husband and my 1 year old baby girl for 3 weeks with a car around Croatia. We would like to take it easy and may be use some towns as bases for day trips.
We arrive in Dubrovnik (May 30th) and depart from Zagreb on June 20th. My first itinerary option was:
6 nights in Dubrovnik (after a long flight, and using it as a base for day trips to Mijlet, Lopud, Kotor, etc).
4 nights Korcula (explore the Island, beach)
4 nights Hvar (eplore the island, beach)
4 nights Trogir (using it as a base to visit Split, Sibenik, Trogir)
1 night Plitvice Park
2 nights Zagreb before catching our flight home.
We will have a car from beginning to end (is easier for us with the baby and all her stuffs).
I´ve been looking a place to stay in Hvar on the dates we will be there but is really hard to find a suitable accommodation for us. We did find a beautiful apartment on Trogir (actually Okrug Gornji). So I´m thinking of re-schedualing as follow:
6 nights in Dubrovnik (after a long flight, and using it as a base for day trips to Mijlet, Lopud, Kotor, etc).
4 nights Korcula (explore the Island, beach)
5 nights Trogir (using it as a base to visit Split, Hvar Town, Sibenik, Trogir)
1 night Plitvice Park
3 nights Ljubljana (Slovenia)
2 nights Zagreb before catching our flight home.
What do you think ? It makes sense this second option: visiting Hvar Town from Split as a day trip? And adding Ljubljana to our itinerary?
I would really appreciate advise from all of you who know the area.
Hope you can help me define my itinerary,
Thanks in advance!
I´m traveling with my husband and my 1 year old baby girl for 3 weeks with a car around Croatia. We would like to take it easy and may be use some towns as bases for day trips.
We arrive in Dubrovnik (May 30th) and depart from Zagreb on June 20th. My first itinerary option was:
6 nights in Dubrovnik (after a long flight, and using it as a base for day trips to Mijlet, Lopud, Kotor, etc).
4 nights Korcula (explore the Island, beach)
4 nights Hvar (eplore the island, beach)
4 nights Trogir (using it as a base to visit Split, Sibenik, Trogir)
1 night Plitvice Park
2 nights Zagreb before catching our flight home.
We will have a car from beginning to end (is easier for us with the baby and all her stuffs).
I´ve been looking a place to stay in Hvar on the dates we will be there but is really hard to find a suitable accommodation for us. We did find a beautiful apartment on Trogir (actually Okrug Gornji). So I´m thinking of re-schedualing as follow:
6 nights in Dubrovnik (after a long flight, and using it as a base for day trips to Mijlet, Lopud, Kotor, etc).
4 nights Korcula (explore the Island, beach)
5 nights Trogir (using it as a base to visit Split, Hvar Town, Sibenik, Trogir)
1 night Plitvice Park
3 nights Ljubljana (Slovenia)
2 nights Zagreb before catching our flight home.
What do you think ? It makes sense this second option: visiting Hvar Town from Split as a day trip? And adding Ljubljana to our itinerary?
I would really appreciate advise from all of you who know the area.
Hope you can help me define my itinerary,
Thanks in advance!
Apr 7th, 2015, 08:21 AM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,585
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sounds like a great trip.
I would add another night for Plitvice. Driving there from Trogir will have you arriving without a lot of time to see the park.
I'd also substitute Rovinj for Ljubljana (just my preference)
I would also ask about parking with each of your hotels/apartments. It can be limited and/or difficult in all of your locations.
I would add another night for Plitvice. Driving there from Trogir will have you arriving without a lot of time to see the park.
I'd also substitute Rovinj for Ljubljana (just my preference)
I would also ask about parking with each of your hotels/apartments. It can be limited and/or difficult in all of your locations.
Apr 7th, 2015, 02:55 PM
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you Judy for your comments. As we will arrive late at Plitvice, we will visit the park on the following morning, heading to the next destination during the evening. All the apartments I´m looking at have parking (I imagined is a must on most areas!)
Anyone else can share advice on my itineraries?
Anyone else can share advice on my itineraries?
Apr 7th, 2015, 03:46 PM
#4
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My perspective from three trips to Croatia in the past 10 years:
I agree with Judy about adding Rovinj, absolutely my favorite coastal town in Croatia, tons of old world ambiance and atmosphere. However, I personally would not skip Ljubljana, a delightful place. Perhaps you could include Ljubljana and make a day trip to Lake Bled, not so far north of Ljubljana and well worth it.
If you can manage to spend only one night in Zagreb on your way home, that's better, as I find that city dull.
Four nights in Korcula sounds like too many – two would be plenty. As it is an island, your choices for day trips are limited (unless you get on a ferry, visit somewhere, then return). The town itself is pretty, but activities are limited.
From Dubrovnik, I also suggest a day trip to Kotor, Montenegro. Consider a bus or ferry. You can easily drive to Kotor (take the ferry across the Gulf of Kotor, return around the gulf), but there is a slightly annoying border crossing (they extract a road tax, in cash), and Montenegro is the stolen car capital of Europe, so bring your car papers.
From Trogir, all the places you want to make day trips to are worthwhile. Check the ferry schedules carefully from Split to Hvar (my favorite island town), as my experience was that a day trip there (one day is enough) from Split was very difficult. The ferries are set up to take people FROM Korcula to Split in the morning, and return in the evening. Just saying you may have to overnight in Korcula (hotels are expensive, private rooms plentiful and cheap, ask the tourist office to book one for you, even email them in advance for advice).
If you shave one night from Zagreb and two from Korcula, you will have three to spend in Rovinj, from which there are interesting day trips (Porec, Piran (Slovenia), Pula, and the interior of the Istrian peninsula).
Plitvice is very, very worthwhile and May is a good time (rivers will be flowing). Expect to walk a lot, as that is the only way to really see the lakes and waterfalls. Are you prepared for that with your 1-year-old? (You can see virtually nothing without walking.)
You'll enjoy Croatia, and try to fit in some Slovenia, too.
I agree with Judy about adding Rovinj, absolutely my favorite coastal town in Croatia, tons of old world ambiance and atmosphere. However, I personally would not skip Ljubljana, a delightful place. Perhaps you could include Ljubljana and make a day trip to Lake Bled, not so far north of Ljubljana and well worth it.
If you can manage to spend only one night in Zagreb on your way home, that's better, as I find that city dull.
Four nights in Korcula sounds like too many – two would be plenty. As it is an island, your choices for day trips are limited (unless you get on a ferry, visit somewhere, then return). The town itself is pretty, but activities are limited.
From Dubrovnik, I also suggest a day trip to Kotor, Montenegro. Consider a bus or ferry. You can easily drive to Kotor (take the ferry across the Gulf of Kotor, return around the gulf), but there is a slightly annoying border crossing (they extract a road tax, in cash), and Montenegro is the stolen car capital of Europe, so bring your car papers.
From Trogir, all the places you want to make day trips to are worthwhile. Check the ferry schedules carefully from Split to Hvar (my favorite island town), as my experience was that a day trip there (one day is enough) from Split was very difficult. The ferries are set up to take people FROM Korcula to Split in the morning, and return in the evening. Just saying you may have to overnight in Korcula (hotels are expensive, private rooms plentiful and cheap, ask the tourist office to book one for you, even email them in advance for advice).
If you shave one night from Zagreb and two from Korcula, you will have three to spend in Rovinj, from which there are interesting day trips (Porec, Piran (Slovenia), Pula, and the interior of the Istrian peninsula).
Plitvice is very, very worthwhile and May is a good time (rivers will be flowing). Expect to walk a lot, as that is the only way to really see the lakes and waterfalls. Are you prepared for that with your 1-year-old? (You can see virtually nothing without walking.)
You'll enjoy Croatia, and try to fit in some Slovenia, too.
Apr 7th, 2015, 04:41 PM
#5
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,118
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
IMO, 6 nights is a LOT for Dubrovnik, even with these planned day trips. And IMO, 4 nights is a LOT for Korcula. Those time frames might work for you, but you might want to consider shifting some of time to other locations.
For your purposes, I would recommend a 2nd night at the Plitvice Lakes. Not only are the lakes connected by travertine waterfall formations, but each lake has unique microbiota, and as a result, the lakes are different colors. The best way to see that is to make a single, long loop through the park -- something on the order of 6 hours or more (including time for the boat that connects the lower and upper lakes). You can do shorter walks (and the rangers there will help you plan), but if you can make the longer loop, it is well worth it.
I loved Ljubljana and personally would not cut your time there to add Istria. JMO. (I enjoyed Istria, and loved Ljubljana).
And I thought Zagreb vastly underrated. Depending on your interests, you may want to add some time there.
Do note that having a car in some of these locations can create difficulties, so make sure you know how / where to park before you get there!
Hope that helps, and welcome to Fodor's!
For your purposes, I would recommend a 2nd night at the Plitvice Lakes. Not only are the lakes connected by travertine waterfall formations, but each lake has unique microbiota, and as a result, the lakes are different colors. The best way to see that is to make a single, long loop through the park -- something on the order of 6 hours or more (including time for the boat that connects the lower and upper lakes). You can do shorter walks (and the rangers there will help you plan), but if you can make the longer loop, it is well worth it.
I loved Ljubljana and personally would not cut your time there to add Istria. JMO. (I enjoyed Istria, and loved Ljubljana).
And I thought Zagreb vastly underrated. Depending on your interests, you may want to add some time there.
Do note that having a car in some of these locations can create difficulties, so make sure you know how / where to park before you get there!
Hope that helps, and welcome to Fodor's!
Apr 7th, 2015, 08:32 PM
#6
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,123
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I really like your revised itinerary.
Add Mostar, Bosnia-H as a day trip from Dubrovnik.
From Trogir consider a day trip to Krka National Park.
Day trip from Split to Hvar (Town) is doable.
http://www.krilo.hr/en/sailing_schedule.html
http://www.croatiaferries.com/
Ljubljana with a day trip to Lake Bled.
Some info on Dubrovnik.
http://www.dubrovnik-travel.net/day-...rom-dubrovnik/
On my last trip we rented an apartment in Dubrovnik using this agency owned by a young American couple, Andrew & Michelle Kehoe, who live in Dubrovnik.
They are very helpful and very easy to deal with. There is good info on their website.
http://www.dubrovnikapartmentsource....&intPageID=859
Add Mostar, Bosnia-H as a day trip from Dubrovnik.
From Trogir consider a day trip to Krka National Park.
Day trip from Split to Hvar (Town) is doable.
http://www.krilo.hr/en/sailing_schedule.html
http://www.croatiaferries.com/
Ljubljana with a day trip to Lake Bled.
Some info on Dubrovnik.
http://www.dubrovnik-travel.net/day-...rom-dubrovnik/
On my last trip we rented an apartment in Dubrovnik using this agency owned by a young American couple, Andrew & Michelle Kehoe, who live in Dubrovnik.
They are very helpful and very easy to deal with. There is good info on their website.
http://www.dubrovnikapartmentsource....&intPageID=859
Apr 7th, 2015, 11:32 PM
#7
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 8,381
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Korcula - Hvar by car: perfectly feasible, I suppose you know that you will have to use 3 local ferries:
Domince - Orebic, Trpanj - Ploce - Drvenik - Sucurai.
Don't forget to visit Sibenik and the Krka Falls Park.
Domince - Orebic, Trpanj - Ploce - Drvenik - Sucurai.
Don't forget to visit Sibenik and the Krka Falls Park.
Apr 8th, 2015, 05:04 AM
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you all for your comments!!!
I know 6 nts in Dubrovnik may see too much, but actually that would be 5 full days, and after a long flight it would be nice to settle down, and use it as a base with the multiple day trips options Dubrovnik has to offer. And Korcula, we would like to relax on this Island (we will have 3 full days to enjoy sandy beach and visit the island- that I know is not big).
I´m still doubting about heading to Hvar, or skip it to add Ljubljana. I´ve seen that ferry scheduales from Split to Hvar are really early, and takes 2 hours to get into the island. That would be 4 hour round trip in a day. Still considering it.
Dugi_otok thanks for the info on the apartments! I will check it.
Neckervd yes! I have look into the route already and consider the 3 ferry to conect Korcula to Hvar in case we head there.
I know 6 nts in Dubrovnik may see too much, but actually that would be 5 full days, and after a long flight it would be nice to settle down, and use it as a base with the multiple day trips options Dubrovnik has to offer. And Korcula, we would like to relax on this Island (we will have 3 full days to enjoy sandy beach and visit the island- that I know is not big).
I´m still doubting about heading to Hvar, or skip it to add Ljubljana. I´ve seen that ferry scheduales from Split to Hvar are really early, and takes 2 hours to get into the island. That would be 4 hour round trip in a day. Still considering it.
Dugi_otok thanks for the info on the apartments! I will check it.
Neckervd yes! I have look into the route already and consider the 3 ferry to conect Korcula to Hvar in case we head there.
Apr 8th, 2015, 09:36 AM
#10
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,123
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
<< I´ve seen that ferry scheduales from Split to Hvar are really early, and takes 2 hours to get into the island. That would be 4 hour round trip in a day. Still considering it.>>
For a day trip you want to take
Ferry route 998 run by Kapetan Luka
As this is a foot-passenger only ferry, cars are not permitted on board the ferry Catamaran Krilo
Leaves Split 7:45 am, arrives Hvar 8:45 am. Stops in Brac both ways
Leaves Hvar 7:45 pm (19:45), arrives Split 8:45 pm (20:45)
Not perfect- early start, late return
http://www.croatiaferries.com/
For a day trip you want to take
Ferry route 998 run by Kapetan Luka
As this is a foot-passenger only ferry, cars are not permitted on board the ferry Catamaran Krilo
Leaves Split 7:45 am, arrives Hvar 8:45 am. Stops in Brac both ways
Leaves Hvar 7:45 pm (19:45), arrives Split 8:45 pm (20:45)
Not perfect- early start, late return
http://www.croatiaferries.com/
