Out of research time now for unplanned trip to Croatia/Prague 3 days from now. 3 questions: specifically, how to go from Venice to Split on the "fast" ferry. Read every post referencing "fast" but can find specifics. Have been to these sites: jadrolinija, youra.com, enermar.it, bliferry.com, tirrenia.it and Split Tours. Guess I'm just dumb! 2nd question: Which hotel in Split is better: Hotel Peristil or Vestibul Palace? 3rd question, 2 nites in Prague. Best 5 restaurants? Thanks, Fodorites, y'all are the best sources!

The only thing I can help you with is the restaurant in Prague that will stick with me was Duplex. Its on Wensclas sq. and the food was wonderful.

Hey ShawnP!

I have sent an email to you with some suggestions. Let me know if you have any questions.

--MP

Here is a link for the fast ferry from Venice to Istria:

http://www.venezialines.com/eng/index.asp

You would then take the coastal bus down to Split.

A faster way would be to train from Venice down to Ancona and take a fast ferry to Split with SNAV, at this link:

http://www.snav.it/start.html

This ferry leaves Ancona at 11:00 AM, so you would have to leave Venice before 7:00 AM to make it. You'd arrive in Split at 3:30 PM, however.

"Upon further review..."

The Venice to Ancona train is over four hours, so you won't make the 11:00 AM catamaran to Split. However...

...you could consider a 2:30 PM train from Venice to Ancona, arriving around 6:45 PM for the 9:00 PM overnight ferries to Split with SEM or Jadrolinija. It may be difficult to book a cabin for August, but you can try.