Mathieu

Hi WT.
I hope that you can help. I pulled up your March postings attached to the "Ahh! Croatia !" thread and just wondered how your Dubvronik / Hvar connections actually worked out in the end.

I'm in the same situation as you were : 8 nights in Croatia between Bol, Hvar town and Dubvronik and am working my way through the quagmire of flights and ferry schedules to ensure sufficient time in all those towns with minimum travelling time getting between them all. However, I am fairly flexible and don't mind staying longer in some places than in others without sacrificing Dubvronik time.

My real question I guess, is how did you find the travel options between these towns to be, outside of the Jadrolinja ferry service ? Were there other independants offering ferry options when Jadrolinja wasn't running ? You were also considering using the driving services of Miro. How did that go and would you recommend the service if it saves time getting from Hvar to Dubvronik ? (I think you may have done it the other way round).

I'm travelling in early September, flying from Zagreb to Split, and from Dubvronik back to Zagreb 8 days later and any info based on your June experiences would be appreciated. Thanks.

Mathieu

TTT

(since I see WT is posting again. Help much appreciated).

M.

TeresaJAT

Mathieu
We spent 18 days in Croatia in June and spent three days on Hvar. When we went to book the ferry to Dubrovnik we found it did not run on the day we wished to leave (Wed. I believe). We ened up taking the fast ferry back to Split (left around 6:30). You are let off walking distance from the bus station and we took a bus (8ish)to Dubrovnik. We got there about 1:00. Quite a bit sooner than the ferry would have gotten us there. It was all very reasonable price wise. (under $20 I believe)
Nice bus, nice drive. Didn't see any other direct ferries to Dubrovik. My husband wrote quite a detailed journal if your interested in some very mundane things! I plan to post it tonight.Croatia was Great! We had the best time. If you can spend some time in Split. You could even check your bags at the bus station and walk to Dioclatians Palace and spend a couple wonderful hours. Don't miss the little island off Dubrovik for an afternoon at the beach.(rocks!) It was one of our favorite places. Even if it is too cold to swim the island is nice to wander around, with beautiful rock formations and water.

WanderingTexan

Sorry, I haven't been following the posts lately. Everything worked out great. Miro was great. We met his family and enjoyed getting to know them. We didn't use the ferry. We flew into Split, spent the night, saw the palace which was interesting, ready to leave at noon the next day when Miro picked us up. We enjoyed the drive along the coast, stopping for lunch about half-way. We spent 5 nights in Dubrovnik and it was probably one night too many. I really loved it, but saw a lot and even rented a 52' sailboat for the day and went to the sandy beach at lopud (which was very nice.) We also took the hydrofoil and spent a day in Mijet. We flew out of Dubrovnik into Rome on Croatia air. They have very nice, new looking planes and I felt very comfortable flying the airline. While Miro offered to pick us up in Hvar Town, I had read the roads were difficult and opted not to do it. It turns out my instincts were correct, because while Miro was willing, he hasn't been to Hvar and didn't know anything about the road. If you use him, I would try to arrange to have him pick you up in Split. All that moving around trying to get where I needed to be was exactly why I finally gave up Hvar. I would have done it if it hadn't been the end of a long trip. If you have other questions, let me know. I am online daily now as I am heading to London in a couple of weeks and haven't planned my trip! I did post a trip report, titled something like Trip Report for Positano,Venice, Santorini, Croatia, Rome.

WanderingTexan

topping for Mathieu.

Mathieu

Wandering Texan : Thank you for your news and information. Most useful. I have had to slightly change my itinerary around, such that I am now flying from Zagreb directly to Dubvronik (I found a flight that allows me to do this all in the same day as leaving Toronto, despite it being sold out on the net) and after spending 3 days in Dubvronik, driving up to Split from where I will divide the next 4 days between Bol and Hvar before flying back to Zagreb from Split. I think I shoul be OK with my inter-island connections between these three points now that Dubvronik is taken care of. Thank you. I am also doing a one day excursion with Atlas Tours to Medugorje from Dubvronik. I have found the people at Atlas fantastic to deal with. Very prompt with e-mail communication, extremely helpful with hotel acommodation recommendations in Dubvronik and Hvar (I didn't need any) and they even called me at home to ensure everything was alright. When are you heading to London ? Did the Cotswolds in 2001 and would be glad to help if I can. I'll be in London and Wales for 5 days following Croatia and before Budapest.

Teresa : I know what you mean about the ferry schedule and I suspected that a feryy/bus combo would save quite a bit of time, which you confirmed. Thanks for the advice. Where did you stay in Split ? I need to look for an inexpensive place for 1 night before flying off to Zagreb at 6.00am the next morning. I'd love to read your husband's report. Have you posted it yet ?

Thanks everyone. I leave next Wed. night and will post a report upon return end of Sept.

WanderingTexan

I am leaving in 16 days for London and the Cotswolds. I am staying 7 nights in London, 2 in York, and then 2 nights in the Cotswolds, 2 in Bath, and 2 in Surrey (I hope.) I only have hotel reservations for my last night at Bagshot. I am very interested in any "must see" sights as well as, places to stay in the Cotswolds and Bath.

I think your itinerary for Croatia sounds great. I spent 5 nights in Dubrovnik and although I really loved it, three will be enough. The drive from Dubrovnik to Split is as easy as everyone has indicated on this site. I am envious that you are going to Hvar and Bol and look forward to your trip report.

I really liked the Pizza and salads at Baracuda Pizza in Dubrovnik and if you want to splurge, the food at the Pucic is very good. I actually liked the hotel restaurant in the front of the Pucic better than the more elegant rooftop one, but both are pricy. Be sure and take a bottle of water and lots of film with you when you "walk the wall."

Have a safe and wonderful trip!

Mathieu

WT : We spent 3 days in the Cotswolds driving around from village to village. It is very beautiful and scenic and wasn't crowded (as I've heard some of the villages can be with tourists in the peak season), but then it was early May. Do buy an ordinance map of the region and try to do some walking about. It is wonderful for that. The map can tell you that there should be a small stile 3 feet to your right in the middle of a hedgerow and sure enough, there it is ! Amongst our favourite stops were Burford, the 2 Slaughters (Upper and Lower), Boughton-on-the-water where we spent one night at a B&B and Broadway which is one of the larger villages. We also visited a few more, at one of which we ate a delightful lunch -best steak and kidney pie I've ever eaten and I don't usually like kidney - at a pretty pub high up on a hill with a fantastic view; you'll have to wait until tomorrow for me to get home and pull up my notes with names and details and I'll post them back here, so check back on this thread.

Oddly enough, we will be in Bath on September 18th enroute to Cardiff. Will you be the one wearing the large stetson ?? I'll keep an eye out for you.

Thanks for your wishes and food recommendations. Can't wait.