I remember Kotor as a lovely town in a deep bay.

In Macedonia you have to visit Ohrid.

In Bosnia you should not miss Mostar.

Try reading Dervla Murphy's "Through the Embers of Chaos" as she visited many of these places before the conflict and wrote this book after her return in 2002.

One thing to keep i mind : places on your list get very, very hot in the summer!
I am also not sure you will find most of them particularly charming ,
with impressive historic buildings etc .
The Balkans are NOT Italy or France. You may wish to spend some time in Croatia or Slovenia.
Don't count on having AC ( if it is something you require) almost anywhere except in a few hotels on the coast.

How much time do you have and why Serbia?

This was a really old post that got topped up for some reason, but I will also respond, especially to the "why Serbia" comment. Serbia is a charming little country with lovely and friendly people. I spent 2 weeks in Novi Sad last summer for a ballet workshop for my 13yo daughter. Why there? Her teacher was born and raised in Novi Sad and he took students back and got in a visit with family at the same time. We are returning this summer and anticipate our trip with great pleasure.

There is charming and beautiful architecture in Novi Sad, an excellent location on the Danube, the EXIT festival in mid-July if you like attending major concert events, wonderful pizza and it is the land of shoe stores if you are so inclined to shop for shoes! If you are there at time when there are more cultural offerings, I am sure it would be first rate. We were there in the ballet off-season so we could not attend any performances. The Petrovaridin Fortress is interesting and has some nice restaurants and a spectacular view. They were working on construction of a first-rate hotel in the old military barracks when I was there last summer--I don't know what the anticipated completion date is though. We took a side trip to Sremski Karlovci and the architecture and history of the area are both beautiful and interesting. We even went to a little winery there and sampled their wine and purchased a little. Their wine was among the offerings on the Titanic when it sank. My only time in Subotica was passing through on the train from Budapest so I cannot comment on it.

It is hot there....contrary to what her teacher had told us. When we were there last July, all of Europe was experiencing a record heat wave--106 degrees some days in Novi Sad--we had no AC in the hostel we stayed in, but with an electric fan which we purchased there, it was o.k.

They also have a very favorable exchange rate with the USD, unlike pretty much any other currency in the world at the moment! There are advantages to its non-inclusion in the EU for the western tourist. This summer we are staying in a hostel with AC and have a negotiated rate for double rooms of $26.50pppn. The bathrooms are ensuite too.

I have not been to Belgrade, other than to catch a flight to London, but hope to go this summer and soak up some of the culture of that historic city as well.

'Serbia is a charming little country with lovely and friendly people.'


Watched the new lately???

news

Actually, yes, I have watched the news and do so regularly.

Protests and ugliness can happen in any country though and it is not necessarily indicative of the general population. I know I certainly don't want to be judged by the actions of a FEW in my country and hope we are all intelligent enough not to do that to people in other countries either.

The individuals that I met and spent time with in Serbia are not different in the most significant ways from my neighbors in the US. They want a home, security, love, friendship and peace. I'm sad for what they are experiencing at this time.

We were fortunate to be able to spend a weekend with three Serbian teenagers (in Kosovo) last year. They were wonderful and we enjoyed our time with them.

As you know, there's no love lost between Serbia and Kosovo. We love Kosovo and the people there, but I'd also like to go to Serbia someday. I understand Belgrade is very interesting.

On another thread, I've been chatting with a couple of young Americans who were trying to decide whether to go into Serbia or not and they've made the decision to go. I'll be interested to hear how they were treated.

Kellye, if you get to Belgrade this summer, please post; I'd love to hear about it.

Well, I'm going! I booked my tickets last night through FF miles into Europe. I'm working on my daughter's reservations today. I know we'll be spending time in Novi Sad...hopefully we can go up to Belgrade too. I'll certainly post a trip report.

Kellye,

That's great! Give us details! When, where?

We'll be there in mid-July for a ballet intensive in Novi Sad. We did the same thing last summer and had a lovely time. Wonderful, relaxing little town. Great architecture, beautiful churches, charming people. I can't wait!

I think Slovenia, Serbia, and especially Kosovo are all under visited (relative to the culturally rewarding experiences they offer visitors) and that Mostar is a must-do...but Trebinje? Why did you choose it? It looks nice enough but I never have made a point of going in several long trips in the Balkans; Is there a particular point of interest there? Should it be on my next itinerary?