Loved Croatia. We leased a car for a month and drove from Nice to Croatia along the beautiful coast. We stayed on a beautiful island called Dugi Otok(long island) and took a ferry into the ancient city of Zadar quite frequently. On our way back to Italy we drove all along the coast down to Split to catch the ferry. We stopped at Trogir. It was amazing. We just loved it and wished we could have stayed over nite. Split was also very nice especially the Diocletian Castle.
The Reva(boardwalk along the sea) was beautiful. Filled with people and outdoor cafe's with romantic swings for 2. Hvar is supposed to be breathtaking as is Korchula as is Dobrovnik(especially during festival time). We are going back again next summer. Can't wait. Enjoy.

Sounds like a great trip. I would say if you're going to drive yourself on the Montenegro trip, don't try to do it in one day. It's a LONG day. I did the Atlas excursion and it was fun but I'm glad I didn't have to drive. I think Sveti Stefani would be an interesting place to spend a night. It's on my list.

ttt

Last summer (late June 2003) I drove to Bovec in the Soca Valley and spent two days in the valley. Beauuutiful! What a great place. It reminded me of the lake region of Chile or the valleys coming out of the Sierras in the Lake Tahoe area.
I drove in from Kranjska Gora, a well known ski town in the northwestern corner of Slovenia, where it comes together with Austria and Italy. The road goes up and over the Triglav National Park. A narrow, winding climbing road with quite a bit of traffic (it was a holiday). It's not a road you can drive fast on, so the other cars weren't much of an issue. The road tops out at 1611 mts./5285 ft., at a pass that has a couple of tourist kiosks and a small restaurant. This pass is at the top of the tree line, and the rocky mountain terrain above us let us know that they have serious mountians in Slovenia (but that'll have to be another trip).
The other side, going down to Soca and Bovec, is much more relaxed and reminded me of driving down from Logan Pass to Lake McDonald in Glacier Natl. Park, MT.
The next day we went rafting on a 1 1/2 hr. raft trip down Class II-III rapids. The outfitter was well prepared and provided us with wet-suits (although the water wasn't that cold), helmets and a reasonable sense of being in good hands. Instead of the usual 10-12 person paddle rafts, the group of 14 people went in 7 2-man duckies. Too much fun!
The next day I spent walking through Bovec, a great little town with adventure outfitters, beer gardens, parks. Everything was green and lush and perfect temperature. Breezy high 70's and low 80's in the day, low 60's at night. And to think that in two hours driving time you can be on the Adriatic in northern Istria.
When I left the valley I drove north through a heavily wooded, magical forest into a rugged mountian pass in the Julian Alps, down into Tarvisio, Italy. It was raining and misty on this day which made for a hauntingly beautiful way to drive out of Slovenia.

Robango,
Great post about the Soca River Valley. I second everything you said. We love to go up there. dcdee, if you like history, there is a wonderful WW1 museum in Kobarid. The Brda and Soca River Valley areas were very active.
Cheers,
Jan

Belatedly (we've been traveling),thanks to all for your responses.

I was reading your post and I am interested in the information you have on the ferries/car going to Hvar and then to Dubrovnik. I believe the link from Split to Hvar is quite common but I am unclear in regards to getting from Hvar to Dubrovnik......

How long does it take and can you make advanced reservations AND do you drive a distance on a very questionable road to get to that particular ferry?

Is the drive along the Soca river valley better going from north to south or from the south going north? Any good lunch stops along the way?

ttt

With an exra day I would add to Slovenia. We spent only 3 days in Slovenia. Flew into Ljubljana but based oursleves in Lake Bohinj/Bled area and drove the 45 minutes to do a half-day of sightseeing in Ljubljana. Such a gorgeous country. Clean, green, kind people. The lake areas are wonderful. Stayed at Mayer Pension in Lake Bled and it is one of my favorites ever. Excellent location, clean, great food. Food in Lake Bled was wonderul - fresh seafood and game. Ljubljana is a small, lovely capital city, but we personally enjoyed the country lake time more. Bohinj was sleepy (at least while we were there in May) but a great place for adventure activities. My husband did a paraglide trip and loved it. Personally, I would base in Lake Bled where there is endless choice of accomodation and restaurants and do the adventure sports in Bohinj. The extra night could allow you to spend 3 days/nts in Lake Bled area and 1 night in the capital where you would catch your flight to Zagreb.

I thought Split was not as special as some of the other places on your itinerary. We were there for a few hours - enough time to see a small part of the castle and walk the promenade. We were en route to Hvar via the catamaran. BTW, the Jadrolinia cat is by far the nicest - clean, comfortable.

Safe travels.

LLC, I like the drive from North to South better. You drive up to Kranska Gora and take the Vrsic pass. Then, wind your way down through Bovec. Stop for lunch at Hisa Franko in Kobarid and take in the museum on WW1. Continue down into Tolmin. From there, it is a quick hop to the Brdo wine country, which is worth spending a night in, esp. if you like wine.

Thanks SloJan. If we wanted to drive into Italy for a day, where would you suggest? Any interesting small towns nearby?

Great information from everyone.....I am trying to process everything and firm up our September plans....Here are the BONES of our holiday...Any suggestions re time/driving on the islands/still looking for lodging in zadar,Opatija and Rovinj and of course the island depending on which one or ones we go too..HELP!

The island thing has me second guessing what to do when we are driving??Isnt it difficult when you want todo "EVERYTHING" It all sounds so wonderful!!
September 11
Pick up car in Venice and spend the night in Zadar.
day 2 Go to Sali,Kayak
Day 3 drive and go to Hvar/Brac/Korcula???(someone suggested leaving the car mainland??Should we take our car and if so which island or islands should we go to?)
Day 7 Dubrovnik and day trips
Day 10 Trogir
Day 11 Opatija
Day 12 Rovinj and the area
Day 14 drive back to Venice and may see Motovin if time allows.

Pep

pepnjak-- For our experience driving from Hvar town to the mainland across the island and via the Sucaraj- Drvenik ferry, click on my name to find a trip report I posted after our return. If you have any other questions, I'll be glad to answer.

Hi dcdee- I am sure I read your trip report and I may have even posted to it, LOL, but can you remind us what the title of your report was? When I click on your name you have posted on a lot of Croatia threads....

Hi Happy-- As I recall from your past posts, we were at the Villa Adriatica about the same time as you. My trip report is titled "Croatia Fall Trip Report". I would post the link but I don't know how.

Hi dcdee- we are going next September - we had an earlier trip planned that we put off, so I went back to the drawing board on all this - thats why I want to be sure to check back on your trip! Thanks for the reminder.

Just back from a 5 day drive Dubrovnik/Korcula/Hvar/Dubrovnik using the ferries. Don't leave your car on the Mainland - take it on the ferry: cheap, easy, reliable.

Why not ferry Split/Hvar - spend a night (or two: we planned one but fell in love with the place) there then ferry on Hvar/Korcula - and spend a night there - then the little ferry to Orebic and drive from there to Dubrovnik. If you like oysters/mussels this would take you past Ston and Mali Ston, the mollusc centre of Dalmatia. We ate in Mali Ston and were well pleased.

In Hvar eat at Gariful, in the direction of the Franciscan Monastery and away form the town sqaure: I'd avoid Hannibals which is in the town square and seemed to be trading on it's name rather than quality/service of its food.

In Korcula, just about anywhere along the sea wall. Much of a muchness. In Dubrovnik in the old town Dundo Maroje was superb.

Okay is this what you would do????

Leave zadar on the 12th and catch a ferry with our car and go to Hvar. We should stay there the evening of the 12,13 14 depart on the 15th for Korcula,one night there and then leave the 16th for Markaska. Sleep in Markarska on the 16 and arrive in Dubrovnik late morning on the 17th?

I wonder where I leave Korkula to arrive close to Markaska?Or IF I can? Whew this planning is hard work!!

I am still trying to find lodging for Hvar and Istra!