Paige

By the way, our bus did go through Bosnia. There are toll booths (or security?) on either side but I don't think we even stopped.

Patrick

Paige, that is sad news that you felt the Excelsior was not really worth the $140 you paid. We are going in August -- high season -- and the rooms to the sea with balcony are 262 Euros. Ouch!!!! We checked several other more out of the way places that looked nice and they were nearly the same or required a one week minimum or half board, so we are biting the bullet for the Excelsior just due to its location and their lack of other stay requirements.

mark

Looking at the Excelsior web site I thought the rooms to be a bit modest for what they were charging. However the location looks great - it's my first time to Dubrovnik ( not ready to do the B&B Croatia style yet - maybe next time) and it was less than the Hotel Argentina. I'm going in September and got a rate of around $140 also.

Kris

I think I've posted this before for you guys but we stayed at the Hotel Bellevue and really liked it. It's a 3 star where the Excelsior is a 5 star so you're not going to get a swimming pool or room service. It's not much further to walk to the old town, maybe 10-15 minutes (900 meters according to the website). Our room had a balcony with a seaview, breakfast was included and there was a small beach. I think we paid about $50 per night for the room last May, it would probably be more in August. Here's a website you can look at:<BR><BR>http://dubrovnik.laus.hr/dubrovnik3/html/body_hotels.html<BR><BR>Paige, did you go over to Montenegro?

Patrick

Kris, thanks for the info. I believe before I got your Bellevue mixed up with a Belvedere, or else wasn't able to get a response from them, perhaps they were closed for the winter?<BR>I have now contacted the Bellevue requesting a sea view with balcony, and they have confirmed availability of "a room at the rate of 100 Euros per night". I have replied to them asking to confirm if it has both a sea view and a balcony -- we really want to be able to enjoy a little relaxing and sitting out on our own balcony there, but I have not heard. I sure wouldn't mind saving 486 Euros for my three nights in Dubrovnik, but wouldn't be willing to be stuck in an interior room -- somehow that defeats the point. The three star instead of five star doesn't bother me in the least, it's just that balcony question. . . And the picture on their website doesn't make it look like there could be many rooms with balcony.

mark

My only concern I have with the Belleveu is there looks to be very little view of the Old Town ( looking at the location map ) - one of the advantages of the Excelsior. Though I have to admit - 100 euros is good.

Paige

Patrick, HOLY COW!!! That's outrageous! I think they get all those stars by having a trouser press in the room (ooo boy), good cable TV, indoor pool, hair dryer in the room and something I found amusing is that there's a speaker in the bathroom that blasts whatever's on TV! I hope you can get a sea view at the other place because the balcony was my favorite part of our room and the only reason I could justify spending $140! I can see your point, though. It would suck to be so close to the water and not be able to see it. I could get over not having a fantastic view of the old town as long as I had a good sea view balcony, but that's just me. One other thing, they were going to charge me 12 euros to use the sauna! Hmmff!

Patrick

Well, what great service. After seeing Kris's post last night I emailed the Bellevue and had an answer from them this morning when I got up. I replied to them asking about the balcony and sea view and just received a response that yes it was -- they thought it was clear when they said they had a room available, since that was the type of room I had asked for. So we are now confirmed at the Bellevue. Guess I owe you big time, Kris -- you just saved us a heap of money. I guess I can give up an old town view, just wasnt' ready to give up on a seaview balcony. I really tend to like smaller three star hotels better than five star and resort hotels, especially big ones -- it's just that I couldn't seem to find one that didn't require meals or a week stay -- this looks perfect.<BR>By the way, I see the Bellevue is owned by the Wren group, the same company that owns the Excelsior.

Kris

Mark, you are correct, there is no view at all of the old town from the Hotel Bellevue, just the Adriatic. We were going from morning until after sundown so the view wasn't all that important to us. And if you take a boat ride over to Cavtat or Lokrum you get a wonderful view of the Old Town from that side. The Excelsior does have a very nice location and is the other direction out of the old town walls than is the Hotel Bellevue. If you are looking for luxury or will be spending a lot of time in your hotel then the Excelsior might be a better bet.<BR><BR>And also remember that I was there in May and Paige was there in March, really before the season starts. The water was too cold to go in for me although I did see some other folks going in.<BR><BR>Patrick, I'm not sure what that building on the website is but I know a lot of the double rooms had balconies. It's wise to confirm that with the hotel though.<BR><BR>I don't want to steer either of you in the wrong direction as my main criteria for hotels is a private bath, a comfortable bed, location to what I want to see and a reasonable price as we tend to be out of the room for most of the day. All the rest is gravy.<BR><BR>A couple of our photos from our trip are posted on a fellow Fodorite's website if you'd like to see them. Go to http://geocities.com/dhfsbf/fodorite/pictures.htm and look for Kristi & David...

Kris

Patrick, you and I were posting at the same time so I didn't see yours until I had already posted. Glad I could help and hope you enjoy Croatia as much as I did. Now if you could just help me pick a hotel in Istanbul, I've got it narrowed down to a handful <BR><BR>If you're short on time, Lokrum would be a don't bother although you get a nice boat ride, just not much to see there. Cavtat was a nice place to wander around, lovely waterside cafes and a nice boat ride over with lovely views of the old town.<BR><BR>There's a little bakery/deli that had tasty food across the street from the Bellevue where we grabbed lunch a couple of times.

Paige

Kris, in Istanbul, the Hotel Empress Zoe is nice! A little off the subject, sorry!

Julia

Patrick - <BR><BR>Do post something when you return! We went to Croatia June 2000 and had a great time.<BR><BR>Try the restuarnt Club Nautica - a bit procey for Croatia but if you want a nice dinner one night go for it. I think they even have their own web site.<BR><BR>http://www.dubrovnikportal.com/eng/html/body_world_of_gastronomy.html<BR>

HR

A few info :<BR><BR>A mountain range longs the Croatian coast, which explains curves and relatively slow driving.<BR><BR>When driving in July and August, avoid weekends.<BR><BR>Bosnia has a 10-km large exit to the sea around Neum. State borders with Bosnia exist, but are usually very fluid (often there is no need to stop).<BR>