Dalmatian Coast travel
 

We plan to travel along the Dalmatian Coast in late September, and return home from Zagreb (by plane to USA). Any experiences travelling in this area using a rental car, flying, public transport, or a week-long cruise that hits the high spots?

Not sure when the coastal ferries that ply about daily i think between Rijeka and Dubrovnik stop running but if not they are cheap (not a cruise ship) and you can hop off at several places like Hvar, Korcula, Zadar, Split, etc. Otherwise buses scoot along the coast as well. Trains only run inland so not an option for going along the coast. But you can leave the coast by train for Zagreb - day or night train i believe.

Herself and I cruised the coast in a motor schooner. The trip report is on my website http://www.iol.ie/%7edraoi (you need to copy and paste the link).

The company we used is here: http://www.katarina-line.hr/

Inexpensive and good fun.

I travelled by coastal ferry from Dubrovnik to Split a month ago. Yes, it is certainly cheap but only goes twice a week...leaves Dubrovnik Sunday and Thursday. And this in high summer!
So don't expect to be able to hop about as you would in Greece. I had hoped to stop over in Korkula but if I had got off the ferry the next one was in 4 days time. There are buses but the one from Korkula to Split leaves at 1am. Hvar may be a better place to jump off and on.
From Split the ferry goes on to Rieka or there is a connection to Ancona. From Dubrovnik it goes to Bari.

We always rent a car but then we like to get adventurous and go to places that buses and trains do not travel to. If you just want to get from A to B or visit just the major tourist places public transport would be fine.

We rent a car in Zagreb, do the northern regions, then Istria and work our way south. We then lose the car at Dubrovnik and fly from there to Zagreb and back to Canada. Easy but we always go for 2-3 weeks.

We took a small ship in 2006. Here are the images:
http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/show...y.php?cat=3882

We spent 4 nights in Dubrovnik and then drove from Dubrovnik to Trogir, spent two nights in Trogir, then ferried (with car) from Split to Hvar for 3 nights. We took the ferry back to Split and drove to Plitvice Lakes, then to Rovinj and, finally, Zagreb.

It was a great 2 1/2 weeks! The driving was easy and we liked the flexibility of having a car. Our trip was late April into early May so ferry service, at least from Split to Hvar, should be similar to late September....several options daily.

HI,
while you are spending your vacation on dalmatian coast, I suggest to visit Neretva Foto Safari
http://www.gradac.info/neretva-foto-safari.html

It is amazing experience in natural and wild part of Dalmatia.

regards