The tour run by "Croatia Only Tours" looks like a good one. We're wondering, though, about the quality of the rooms in the pensione in Brela where those on a tour stay throughout the time in Croatia, with day trips out from there. Opinions from anyone with experience with the "Classic Croatia" tour run by this family would be most appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

James, this trip (which I did last September) was the trip of a lifetime - led by a Croatian born American which added a nuance that won't be found doing this fabulous trip any other way. The Sosic pension in Brela is wonderful (and I'll be returning this September 28th). The rooms are wonderful, the breakfast delish and the attention that the Sosic family will shower you with can't be beat. Trust me, I know this sounds too good to be true - but the trip was - all that and more. I wish I had time for even more detail but I leave again on September 1 and my time is short. If you have specific questions, send an email and I'll get back to you. Croatia is magnificent, and Bette and Joe Mandich will show it to you like no others. Follow your instincts about the trip - you won't be sorry.

Thanks for your rave review. My big concern is that Dubrovnik appears to be a long, one day trip there and back, which seems hardly adequate and more tiring than anything else. Am I wrong about that?

hello from France. The day to Dubrovnik did not feel long at all. Plenty of time in the city and a great dinner stop in Ston. Each day is so well planned that tiring is not part of the equation and I am a senior!!!!

The Dubrovnik day is indeed long - 8 hours round trip. I'm sure you'll start early and get back late - you can rest on the bus. Old town Dubrovnik is very small. You can walk from gate to gate in 10 minutes. Even if you have 4 or 5 hours there you'll be able to see everything and walk the walls. I would email or call the tour company and ask how much time you'll have in Dubrovnik.

As an alternate for comparison, here's the tour I took in Croatia which was very good and leisurely.

http://www.gct.com/Find-Trips.aspx?r...e=EscortedTrip

BTW - Iris (above) just registered to comment on this thread and one other and on both threads she is recommending Croatia Only tour company. Makes me think she works for the company.

Thanks for the additional replies! Very helpful. I will check out the other Croatia tour.

I guess someone has to be a naysayer here. We loved Dubrovnik. I can't imagine just taking a day trip to Dubrovnik to spend a few hours there.

Every afternoon, as we sat at the Buza Bar, soaking in the beautiful Adriatic from our precarious perch, we just laughed at the cruise ship people who had arrived at nine in the morning and were hurriedly taking their little boats back to the Mother Ship by three in the afternoon.

They missed the beauty of Dubrovnik. When they got back to the ship, they probably said, "Man, that place is so crowded, I don't see what the big deal is all about."

Well, if they had stuck around, they could have enjoyed Dubrovnik without all the day-trippers that inundate this beautiful town.

The Stradun (Dubrovnik's main walking drag) during the day is wall to wall tourists. At night it is serene and beautiful. Walk the walls after all the ship people have departed for Happy Hour and pretzels on the ship. If you have to do a tour, I'd at least do one where you get an overnight in Dubrovnik.

Below is my 2008 Trip report (with photos) of our Dubrovnik portion. Don't do a day trip! Don't miss the Buza Bar! Don't short change Dubrovnik!

http://www.travelswithmaitaitom.com/..._Buza_Bar.html

Hi all - let me first say that Iris absolutely does not work for Croatia Only Tours. She is simply a very satisfied customer who wants to spread the word about her positive experience. I know this because I do work for Croatia Only Tours.

Secondly, as far as the trip to Dubronnik is concerned, our guests have told us that they have plenty of time in the city. In addition, with the bombardment of the last several years by the cruise ships, the small city is crammed with tourists and makes anything more than a day trip undesirable.Our guests have found Dubrovnik to be disappointing because it is very touristy, not like the more authentic places that they also visit with us.

We're happy to answer further questions if you wish to contact us or you can read further reviews of our tours on TripAdvisor.

Cheers!
-Croatia Only Tours

Company rep is advertising

If you look at my post, I think you will see that I am not advertising our business. I have provided no URL and no contact phone number specifically so that it is not interpreted as an ad. I am 1) answering a direct question about the reasonsing behind a day trip to Dubrovnik and 2) making sure you know that a previous guest is not posting on behalf of our company.

Thank you.

GC tours are usually quite nice and give great quality. However, I am more for sustainable travel and I book only with local companies. Croatia Only does sound like a great operation but we did not book with them as they seemed more of a budget oriented solution. We simply don't stay in pensions and we did not think much of accommodation the offer and that was the main reason for not booking with them. The company we went with offered us a superb hotels, services and activities that simply beat Croatia Only offer on every level (also being local and not American-local)