Thank you Progol. Yes we do have plans to visit Motovun.

Update! All flights are now booked. SFO to London Heathrow, London to Zagreb/Dubrovnik to London, London to SFO. Took me a long time to book and I am a little concerned with our return flights as there is very little time getting to our flight back home after arriving from Dubrovnik. Fingers crossed!

Now all the fun things to book: Hotels, Car, Insurance, day trips, restaurants, walking tours, locating street art, etc.
I just picked up two books on Croatia: Lonely Planet and DK Eyewitness.

Thanks.

A few questions : I have now made two reservations in Zagreb ( Jagerhorn ) and in Plitvice ( Miric Inn). As I begin to look into Rovinj for a 4 day stay I am trying to figure out whether it's better to stay in Old Town or outside ( 15 minute walk). I will have a car and I know it is best to park outside. Any insights ? The plan is to take 1 or 2 day trips by car. Regarding the day we leave for Plitvice and to Miric Inn: what suggestions do you have visiting the park both in the afternoon and the next morning before driving to Split?

If you have a car in Rovinj it’s better to find accommodation with parking, unless you are willing to pay for parking in the public lots. You can’t drive in the old town, so you need to haul your luggage in.

I generally agree with rialtogirl’s recommendations for Croatia, but we really loved staying in the old town and just paid for the parking lot. Of course, a 15 minute walk into town isn’t a huge deal and if you can find a place with parking that is just outside of the old town, it does make a lot of sense. But we did use the parking lot and even schlepped our (carry on) suitcases and we didn’t find it too bothersome. Well, finding the place was a challenge! Fortunately, our host did drop us off at the lot when we left, which made it that much easier, at least.

There is actually some free street parking in Rovinj, 10 or 15 minutes walk from the old town, but you gotta find it, and September is still busy. Owners of places in the old town might be able to help with that.

these apartments are on the edge of the old town, there is a very short walk from everything and the Valdibora parking lot is across the street. https://www.portaantica.com/accommod...-porta-sul-mar

Thank you rialtogrl and progol for your input!
Does anyone have any experience with/comments about the following hotels: Spirito Santo Palazzo Storico, Melegran, Lone, Eden, Heritage Angelo d'Oro?

Last time we were in that area it was still called Yugoslavia.
Central Dalmatia is a popular destination with Polish tourists and there is a lot of information to be had.
Google does a pretty good translation, the videos are in Polish, obviously sponsored.

Hope this of general help.

https://srodkowadalmacja.onet.pl/dalmacja/

Thank you cdnyul for your help!
I have now booked our third hotel--the Villa Tuttorotto in Rovinj! It is in the old town and the owners will arrange to meet us at the parking lot . It's a beautiful room. So now it's 3 reservations down and two to go ( Split and Dubrovnik) and a car rental in Zagreb. Still working on our reservation for London.

I have an opportunity to stay at the AC Hotel in Split for 4 days and have points cover the hotel. Parking is 20 euros per night. I understand that it is just a 10 minute walk from old town.

Would you recommend this hotel and location?

allyboy, I’m sure others who’ve spent more time in Split might chime in, but I did a google map search and it looks like a longer walk along a very wide and bland road of high rise hotels. Google timed the walk to Diocletian’s Palace at 23 minutes. From my impressions, I would look elsewhere, closer to the center.

I can’t comment on the AC hotel, but whoever wrote it is 10 minutes walk from the old town is on crack. However, you can take a lot of Ubers when you aren’t paying for the room.

Thanks progol and rialtogrl for your research and frankness!! I've been thinking that it was too good to be true. Oh well...back to finding a place !

<<I can’t comment on the AC hotel, but whoever wrote it is 10 minutes walk from the old town is on crack.>>

lol, rialtogirl! That crack made me smile!😉