TeresaJAT

Enjoyed your report Granny. We leave for Zagreb June 7 for 19 days. When my husband first said he wanted to go to Croatia I thought he was kidding. I started reading post on Fodors and soon realized we would need everyone of those days. Why didn't you like the Palace on Hvar? After I made a reservation there, I read a few negative posts about it. The location looks great the price is 60 Euros, which is about par. Should I change it to another place? I have a question posted somewhere else whether it's worthwhile to stop for a night in Korcula, with 2 nights in Hvar and 4 in Dubrovnik. My husband is thinking we should just stay put in Hvar for a third night. What do you think? How did you like Turkey? It was one of our favorite trips. Although we did not spend a night in a cave we did have to use a hole in the ground as a bathroom!

palette

Granny, thank you for so much great information. A friend and I are booked for a 15-day tour in early September. I also thought when she suggested Croatia - "Croatia???" We will be doing Lake Bled, a side trip to Venice, driving the coast to Dubrovnik, and then three days at the national park before flying back to the U.S. Did you enjoy the "tour" segment of your trip? Since the Internet, I have planned my own vacations, and my only reservation about this coming trip is that the days are pretty full and lots of time moving from one city to the next. I will have to do some of those steps after hours on a bus and all the cream you describe!! Thanks again for the info.

granny

Hi TeresaJat, Saw lovely pictures of The Palace Hotel on the internet and when we saw it, it just looked a bit rundown. Have to admit we were only in the lobby, but we did go there 3 times to use the internet they had there. Didn't see many people around. We didn't have many sunny days in sunny Hvar, as they advertise, and in the summer it might be quite lively and a different story. It does have a great location. It's right in the center of things. We went into the Adriatic, about a block away and on the water also, and that was crowded, but it was full of tour groups. Sorry if I'm not much help, but if you're only there for 2 or 3 nights, either would be okay, I think.

We were six weeks in Turkey and we loved it. Traveled everywhere by public transportation and made no reservations, except for the first night. We learned a dozen or so words and greetings and got along just fine. I would suggest the same for people going to Croatia. People are much friendlier when you at least try to respond in their language.

granny

TeresaJat-If I were going in June, I would stay 3 nights in Hvar. There's 2 or 3 islands you can take a taxi boat to swim, explore, etc. Hvar is just a wonderful place to relax and enjoy sitting in the square and people watch or to walk along the water.

Korcula is a small interesting walled city you can see in one day. If you don't care about swimming, you might care to visit here the third day instead.

Four days in Dubrovnik is probably enough. There's also side trips you can take from there if you have time.

granny

To: Palette,
We're usually independent travelers, so this was our first tour. We enjoyed it and plan on going on another with them sometime. Sometimes you want to linger longer than is scheduled, and that's a minus. The plus was the nice hotels, the history the guide provided and the logistics we didn't have to worry about. We got to enjoy the scenery, instead of yelling at each other over missed turns and exits. Scotland was a nightmare the first few days. We were never so glad to turn in a rental car.

TeresaJAT

To Granny, Thanks for the input. I think we may skip Korcula just to cut down on the logistics a little. I'll go reread my books to weigh where to put that day. I think my husband wants the extra day in Hvar, the beaches. (Yet we live in FL within 15 minutes of a gorgeous beach that he doesn't want to go to! Of course he always hopes to run into topless bathers in Europe, men!)The price for the Palace was 60E which doesn't seem too high and we do like the location. That,is usually our first condition along with reasonable price,we don't spend much time in our room anyway.
I enjoyed reading your post to Palette since we have found the same pros and cons for tours as opposed to independent travel. We have enjoyed getting to meet interesting travelors and the lack of planning and execution effort, but then our bus would drive by a castle high on a hill and I'd be thinking "But I want to explore that!" Although the independent travel is lots more work, it also is kind of a modern day exploring challenge. Can we find our way, a place to sleep, good food to eat? I think I most miss the history a tour guide gives you. Some city tours have helped fill the gap. We read the books but it's always nice to have that history served with the appropriate visual.

granny

To: TeressaJat,
You're right. We also like the challenge of an independent vacation. However, some places I would rather be escorted. We have a trip planned for China this fall and it will be our second tour. Just don't want to venture there on our own. Somewhere down the road, we'll try again for a month in France and that will be independed travel. I'm looking forward to both. I have this short list of places I'd like to travel: France, Italy, Great Britain. Unlike my husband, who always has 20 favorite places and the list never gets shorter. His list includes Thailand, Egypt, New Zealand for starters. The one that wins the next choice does the planning!

marktynernyc

TeresaJAT -
I'm originally from Florida - most of the beaches in Croatia are rocks (be sure to get acqua shoes). There are very few sandy soft beaches in Croatia. The only beaches I encountered - one sandy on the island of Lopud, near Dubrovnik and one pebbly/shelly beach on the Palkeni Islands (Hvar). Korcula is good for half a day, if that in relation to Hvar and Dubrovnik - it needs a good cleaning and face lift. As for topless - you'll encounter bottomless also. Nudity - while not rampant - is very accepted even though it's a very Catholic country.

margarita

Enjoyed your trip report and read it a couple of times. Planning a trip to Croatia and undecided about where to center the trip. Istrie or Dalmatie? I would be traveling alone (female 54yrs). I won't be renting a car and interested in public transportation. Does anyone have info about bus trip from Split to Dubrovnik? Would love someone to plan my independant trip for me.

Grasshopper

Margarita, I went to Croatia by myself last summer. It is pretty easy for a solo female. I started in Rovinj and went to Dubrovnik. I'd be happy to give you some of my personal tips if you like. You can email me at [email protected]