We will arrive from Rome in Split via air late in the afternoon (after much travel). We plan to use Dubrovnik as our base, with the intent to visit Mostar, Korcula, Peljesac Peninsula, Bay of Kotor) etc. We have 12 days. I'm thinking we should spend our first night in Trogir since it's near the airport? Catch our breath and find our way to Dubrovnik the next day? What's the best way (3 of us, mom/dad/adult daughter) to get to Dubrovnik? Thanks so much for any advice; have only been to Dubrovnik for a few hours via cruise ship (thus, the desire to spend almost two weeks there)

Check the Croatian ferry service Jadrilinja ferry service website. Seems to me the easiest and most pleasant way to go.

http://www.croatiatraveller.com/Tran...sinCroatia.htm

I will be going to Split in May (arriving by ferry) then taking a bus to Dubrovnik. I have found the bus schedule, but haven't found the way to book the bus ticket yet.

Are you considering taking a bus?

Buses to Dubrovnik stop at Trogir bus station, try to get your ticket before at the ticket office,they will reserve your seats,try to get seats on the right hand side, there are more buses than than ferries and quicker,a very pleasant scenic ride, you need to get on a local bus or taxi to get to Pile Gate about 10 minutes. Trogir is worth an extra night, or more as you could visit Spilt & take a bus /car to Plitvice Lakes,

Jean.

europe2011, you can buy your ticket when you get off the ferry, the bus station is right there. You can store your luggage at the garderoba if you want to look around Split first. I doubt you'll have any trouble getting a ticket in May. In the unlikely even of a full bus there will be another shortly.
peggionthego, I concur with jean253's advice to take the bus from Trogir. However, if you do decide to head immediately to Dubrovnik, there is an airport bus to the ferry port/bus station, so it would not be too difficult to do. The buses are comfortable and have good views.

When exactly do you plan on being in Croatia? Why not spend a few days on the island of Korcula, it's so worth the time. We have a ferry system which will take you from Split to Korcula.

http://www.jadrolinija.hr/default.aspx?lang=2

If you are planning on visiting Mostar another option would be to take the bus from Split to Mostar, spend the night in Mostar and then take the bus to Dubrovnik the next day. This would give you a chance to visit Mostar in the evening after the tour groups have left and in the morning before they start to arrive. We stayed at the Villa Anri and they arranged for a driver to pick us up at the bus station and we used the same driver to take us back to the bus station the next day.

Maybe you should consider to rent a car on airport Split and return it in Dubrovnik next day.Only with the car you can really enjoy in this scenic route,visit some small places along the road,take a rest and lunch in Brela,enjoy in best beach in Croatia.It is best option if you want to stop a few times during the trip,have some photos (and you will want that,beleive).As you are group of people it will not cost you much more than a bus ticket or even less.

Also,do not miss Trogir,one night is just not enough.

We do not plan to skip Trogir or Split but were thinking of doing it at the end of our trip when we have to return their for our flight to Rome. And we do intend to include a night or two on Korcula, especially since we have an interest in doing a wine tour of Peljesac Peninsula. Hope to do Bay of Kotor as a day trip from Dubrovnik. We will have nine nights in Croatia; the trip is in late May/early June. Any suggestions on which place to do when and how many nights? We don't mind a night or two of "one-nighters" but would prefer to stay put for a few nights where we can. And we are open to renting a car.

I am wondering since we need to have nights in the Split area both at the start and at the end of our trip, that only leaves 7 nights for Korcula, Dubrovnik, perhaps Mostar. Maybe that's OK? 2 nights for Korcula and the Peljesac Peninsula; 1 night in Mostar and 4 in Dubrovnik...we could then decide if we wanted to do a day trip to the Bay of Kotor. Would be grateful for any advice.

> Maybe that's OK?

It depends on your preferred pace, but I think it is OK.

You may want to spend your last night in Trogir, it's much closer to the airport than Split.
Also there's a small village between Dubrovnik and the Peljesac peninsula called Ston, don't miss stopping there.