kanne

Basically the topic title says it all. We are a family of four with two teenage boys. Ideally we will be looking for an apartment for 3 nights in or near Split. Is Trogir a good location to look? Other suggestions appreciated!

yorkshire

What kind of beach are you looking for? Split has city beaches. Trogir has beaches on neighboring Ciovo. In either location, I would take a ferry to a better beach. From Split, numerous choices, and from Trogir, Drvenik Mali/Veli.

kanne

I am looking for a swimming beach I suppose. We will be staying in the Split area for the last 3 nights of our stay in Croatia. Previously we will have been in the Plitvice region and Hvar. We have already been to Dubrovnik on a previous trip. I'm thinking we will want to spend some time in Split itself, but may just want to slow down and relax on a beach before leaving for Ireland and a busier itinerary the following week.

Right now our nights are scheduled as follows

Zagreb 1
Plitvice 2
Krka 1
Hvar 2
Split 3

Thanks!

yorkshire

Unless you have plans that would prevent this, you might consider putting three nights on Hvar and two in Split. The beaches on Hvar are just vastly superior. I enjoyed taking the day boat to the Pakleni islands to swim, but you can also just set off along the coast (note some of the beaches are naturist).
Alternatively, schedule a day trip to Bol on Brac. It is one of the most "user-friendly" beaches in that the pebbles are soft and the water shallow. Of course in July and August crowds will be an issue.

kja

As yorkshire notes, it really depends on what you want!

FWIW, Split is my favorite city in Croatia and I think that 3 nights there would be perfect -- but that's just me.

Assuming you mean the Krka National Park, you can visit it from Split (with a day devoted to it), rather than relocating. If you do choose to stay closer to the park, I would think that Skradin would be worth considering.

Depending on your preferences, 1 night by the Plitvice Lakes might be enough. IMO, 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), so most people can see it comfortably with a night either before or after their time in the park.

I'm not sure I saw when you will be traveling, but trust you know that in high season, Hvar Town can be quite the party-hearty destination, and even in shoulder seasons, it can be a bit over-the-top.

Hope that helps!

kanne

Thanks for the replies and suggestions! Yes, we are traveling high season (first week of August), it can't be avoided unfortunately. I may drop the Krka night and add to Hvar. My only thought was we would be visiting Krka after leaving Plitivice that morning. If we stopped at Krka and then continued on to Hvar I wondered if it would be a longer travel day than we would like. I haven't looked into the ferry schedule yet so I'm not sure how often they run.

On another note about the ferry, I have read to not take a car to Hvar as it's not necessary and it's very expensive to take on the ferry. Is there any parking available to leave a car at the dock in Split? Then again, if we increase our stay on Hvar maybe we would find having a car useful.

Yorkshire: I've heard mention of the Pakleni islands. Are those best reached from Hvar rather than Split? Ot does it make a difference? That sounds like an appealing day trip.

Thanks again all!

yorkshire

Honestly, I would not go to Hvar town or Bol in early August. The island of Solta is maybe less of a mob scene. Or go anywhere on Hvar or Brac that is less world-famous for partying in August. If it is a must, book now!

Check ferry and catamaran schedules at the Jadrolinija website and catamaran schedules at the Krilo website. I figure anyone who can afford a trip can afford a car fee. Though the car is not needed, it could offer you the opportunity to explore the island.

Yes, Pakleni are a small chain of islands just off Hvar. I only of day boats from Hvar because they are so small.

Good luck!

kja

if you are planning to have a car when in Split, be sure your plan includes arrangements to park the car.

I think how to allocate one's travel budget varies a LOT. I don't like paying for a car or parking if I can avoid it, and by avoiding those costs when i can, I'm able to stretch my limited travel funds a bit further than they would otherwise go. Just my personal preference. And I actually like taking public transportation when possible -- I like being able to see the scenery without the "distraction" of having to watch the road, getting around without worrying about have a glass of wine, meeting and seeing local people, and being a bit greener. Again, just my choice.

kanne

Thanks again for the replies! Yorkshire: what are your thoughts on staying in Milna on Hvar? I've found a nice apartment (with free parking). Would this be a less crazy location for August on Hvar?

Kja: I agree with you on public transportation when traveling if possible! On a previous trip to Croatia we stayed in Dubrovnik without a car easily, however we didn't travel too far out of the area so it was easy to cab, boat or bus when necessary. This time we're covering a lot more ground so I think travel arrangements will be too complicated without having a car. So far all of the lodging reservations I've made offer free parking so at least that won't be an extra hassle or surprise charge.

aprillilacs

Good advice all around. Hvar is wonderful but I wouldn't want to go there in July/August. If you do end up there, I agree with Yorkshire about the Pakleni islands--we did a perfect day trip there from Hvar about ten years ago, though it was in late May, not August, and the water was pretty cold.

On the trip I'm currently writing about in my ongoing report, we went to both Plitvice (2 nights, staying in Korenica) and Krka (1 night, staying in charming Skradin). Enjoyed them both very much, but they were a little redundant since they are both waterfall-focused parks. If you find you need to cut somewhere, I might suggest Krka just because of that duplication--they are "same same but different," as a Vietnamese acquaintance used to say. Again, you'll likely encounter big crowds in August, particularly at Plitvice, I fear.

Good luck with your planning.

kja

Despite the similarities of their travertine formations and surrounding vegetation, I was surprised by the differences between the Plitvice Lakes and Krka National Parks: The Plitvice Lakes are, indeed, lakes, connected by gorgeous waterfalls, and part of the beauty of the park is that not only are there many, many waterfalls of varying heights and widths and force, but also the lakes are different colors because of highly localized microbiota. In contrast, Krka's most famous falls are along a river and the main set of falls are broader and contain more cascades (of varying heights and widths) than those of the Plitvice Lakes. Depending on the season, one can swim below the largest of Krka's falls; one can never swim in the Plitvice Lakes. You might do a google image search to see the differing images.

yorkshire

Milna on Hvar or Milna on Brac?
I walked from Hvar town to Milna many moons ago, and found it a pleasant low-key place, very very small.
I have not been to Milna on Brac, but it is reputed to be a lovely town. I think either would make a nice alternative to Hvar town in August.

kanne

Thanks all! And yes yorkshire,it is Milna on Hvar I am considering.