CROATIA 2007-- here's the i
 

Well! After some exhaustive research over the last 2 years, I’ve finalized our 24-day Croatia Itinerary!

I went back and forth about whether to take an organized tour, but soon realized it was very VERY do-able on our own.

We’ll leave the 3rd week in September, which gave us some decent hotel rates (except for Zagreb and Ljubljana—the two most expensive hotels)
I simply can’t wait to go!

Day #1: Arrive Zagreb from Frankfurt (Hotel Dubrovnik – 2 nights)
Day #2: Zagreb
Day #3 Zagreb (pick up rental car booked thru Auto Europe) to Ljubljana Slovenia (Hotel Union Executive- 1 night)
Day #4 Ljubljana to Bled- late afternoon departure (Pensioner Mayer- 2 nights)
Day #5 Bled -exploring the Julian Alps
Day # 6 Bled to Porec (Hotel Neptune - 5 nights). Picked Porec as a good base to explore the entire Istrian peninsular
Day # 7 Exploring Pula
Day #8: Exploring Western Istria Rovenj; Limica Dragon Fjord/ Limiski Canal; and Vrsar if time permits
Day # 9: Exploring Eastern Istria: Pazin to Plomin to Opatja—heading back thru Buzet and of course fitting in Roc or Hum for supper
Day #10: Head north from Porec hitting Tar-Vabriga before heading to NoviGrad- and from there, heading inland, stopping at the villages of Grozjan, Livade & Motovun.
Day #11: Porec to Plitvice National Park (Hotel Jezero – 2 nights)
Day #12: Plitvice
Day #13: Plitvice to Split/Trogir area with an extended stop in Zadar (Hotel Zora in Primosten - 3 nights).
Day #14: Morning in Split; afternoon in Solin
Day #15: Morning in Sibenik; afternoon in Trogir.
Day #16: Car ferry from Split to Hvar (probably to Stari Grad) (Hotel Podstine - 3 nights)
Day #s 17-18: Hvar
Day #19: Hvar to Dubrovnik (via ferry from Sicuraj to Drvenik) where we will turn in the rental car (private accommodations in Old Town – 5 nights)
Day #s20-23: Dubrovnik (will take the day tour to Montenegro one of those days)
Day #24: Dubrovnik to Frankfurt and….home to the USA!

The only thing I’m a little nervous about is the car ferries getting to/from Hvar. If there’s a SNAFU, then plan B calls to leave the car parked in Split for those 5 days.
I know there are some real experts on this board, so will be grateful for any comments or suggestions.

Thanks fellow travelers!

Croatia will be more than worth your exhaustive planning. We were there in September/October and cannot get over how much we fell in love with it! We always do our trips on our own - we don't do guided tours. We always rent a car and stay in B&B's or agriturismos.

I cannot comment much on Zagreb as we flew in there and picked up the car and left.

However, Pula was nice - the amphitheatre good. We spent about half a day there. I would suggest a day at the most.

We loved Rovinj, too. I cannot tell you how glad I am you are doing the small Istrian hilltowns like Roc, Hum, etc. They were our favourites. Hum is just pure magic. You will not believe it. Hum has one restaurant only but it is in a lovely location - simply breathtaking. Motovun, while nice, was slightly disappointing because it was jam packed with tour buses - the other villages had next to no tourists around whatsoever.

Trogir is a charming place and tremendous fun to explore the tiny, winding streets. There are some yummy restaurants there, too.

Plitvice - wow. That was a wonderful day, that's for sure. You will be sure to love it.

If you can or if you are interested, you should give truffle hunting a try! We did and loved it. What an adventure! Then went to a famous truffle restaurant. It is in the Buzet area. We also went to the truffle festival in Groznjan in September.

We did not do much in Split - spent more time in Trogir. We did Solin, too! Our itinerary was very similar to yours.

Dubrovnik was a gem. When I first saw it down below I literally cried. I had seen pictures but real life - wow.

I HIGHLY recommend Croatia. We would go back in an instant. If you would like info on accommodation or whatever just respond and I would be happy to help. I am obviously no expert having only been there once but we can give you the information we have. I am absolutely thrilled for you!!

why stay in Primosten instead of Zadar? (sorry don't mean to cut to the chase) Primosten is more of a holiday town - and from a distance looks enchanting but up close - eh. Zadar is much better.

Stay at the Kolovare:
http://www.hotel-kolovare-zadar.htnet.hr/

Also - if you stay in Zadar you can stop at Sibenik on your way to Trogir. (St. John's Cathedral in Sibenik is worth the stop. Being that you're seeing Plitvice, no need to stop at Krka though Skradin has a certain cenral european charm to it that I really liked) No need to go to Split then go back up to Sibenik.

Everything else looks great - 24 days - fabuloso.

Any questions, feel free to ask.

Thanks for your comments! Good to have some confirmation that I'm on the right track

I did think of staying in Zadar-- but wanted to get somewhere closer to Split/Troger area.

(Don't know why-- but I just tried to fine my original post and could not-- so posted again! Yikes... I hate to duplicte but alas...that's what it looks like I've done!)

I was in PNG/Indonesia this past August, so Croatia will be QUITE a change!

Oh-- one more thing..

Truffle hunting? EXCELLENT!
I read about this, but wasn't
sure whether I would be there at the right time....

It's now "on de list" !!!

Thanks!

Ferries to and from Hvar are reliable, there won't be a lot of tourists in Septmeber, so there should be no problems. As far as I know it's better to have a car on Hvar if you want to explore the island.
Another island worth a visit is Mljet. It's easy to get there from Dubrovnik.
I live in Zagreb, if you have questions don't hesitate to ask.

Thanks Arjana... that's reassuring. I sort of hoped the late season would work in my favor. We'll actually arrive in Hvar on October 8. I did want to explore the Island -- so that was another plus in dragging the car over there. Don't really care about lazing on a beach-- I can do that anywhere in the world-- and frankly it's just not a big priority with me, given the other treasures Hvar and Croatia hold. Interacting with the locals and bringing the destination "home" to others thru my photography IS.

I read the road to Sicuraj was not the best-- and Goggle Earth does indeed show a very twisting road... Via Michelin says it takes about 1:40 hours. I'll plan on at least 2-hours so we can arrive in time for the ferry to Drvenik. Thankfully-- it will be off-season, so hopefully not crowded with other vacationers. (If anyone has driven this route -- please feel free to weigh in!)

I've heard a lot of good things about Mljet as well, and it's definitely up for consideration. Thanks for confirming it's easy to get to from DBV.

Thanks again!

It's nice to see someone taking a long trip here - you won't regret it!
I've replied to others about villages and my favorite restaurants in Istria, so take a look at my other posts.
Also, I''d recommend seeing Opatija on the way from Istria to Plitvice. I drive this route every week [I work in another country and drive to/from my weekend house in Istria] and it would waste too much time driving. I'd go from Porec early in the morning, then have a coffee and a walk in Opatija before heading further east towards Plitvice. Or stay overnight in Opatija the last night instead of Porec. But back and forth is a pain....especially when there is so much still to experience in Istria [Opatija is not in Istria, but in Kvarner]
Enjoy your stay! I fell in love with this area so much that I bought here and will remain...and retire here!

" I''d recommend seeing Opatija on the way from Istria to Plitvice,"

Wonderful advice! I planned to really take time to enjoy the drive from Porec to Plitvice-- and will follow your advice.

I always check out real estate in my travels, (some a little more seriously than others...) and can certainly see where Croatia...and Istia would be attactive retirement destinations.

Agree with your comments on the long trips... I never did understand the logic behind a 7-day jaunt. Others are different, but for me, 4 weeks or so is a good soaking. I suppose there's probably been a thread for "Your Ideal Trip Length...", but I've often been amused by the "Wow! 4 WEEKS?" response.

Thanks again for the good advice!