I would not book in advance, if it is a driving vacation.

If I am driving along and enter into a village and it is exactly what interests me, there is a festival on, some music concerts that night, the people are friendly, the food good....would I want to have to say..sorry, we have to leave, our hotel is booked 3 hrs from here.

What if you book a hotel in a drab town, while 1/2 hr away is a wonderful B&B recommended by people you met along the way?

On a holiday where exploring is the norm, booking limits the exploration and adds stress.

If...it were a really busy time of year, maybe.

I do bring guidebooks, so when I arrive in a town I have some ideas of where to stay.

Hello Alan and Michael

Thank You for your input. Having this sort of information really helps a new traveller to get their own sense of travel savvy. It sounds like you have many years of experience. Not just the both of you but every person who responded to my question have given me information (very helpful info) so I can plan our trip.

One thing that I got from all your comments is confidence that I can arrange such a trip. Thanks all for teaching me

It is especially beneficial that you speak the language. I had to find lodging and make negotiations working with their broken English many times and in one case their broken (and my worse-than-broken) German!

You know krgystn I don't really know why I worry about this trip. I can speak the language, I do it every other day with my mother here in Australia. So negotiating will be a breeze......I was born in Vukovar 50 years ago and moved to Aust more than 40 years. Havent been back for many many a year, at least 35+ years. Hmm it will be an emotional trip for me, especially when I hit Vukovar. At least I will have relatives guiding me there.

Hvala
Sue

Dober dan, mama. I think the worst part of the trip for you will be waiting a full year till you get to go!

Joj sine moje jedva cekam?

(Ohh my son I can hardly wait)

ps little note re above comment to krgystn. "Sine" means son in Croatian, however mothers sometimes use the word "sine" to all their children, even if the child is a daughter.

So the transelation should really be: "Ohh my child, I can hardly wait"

I agree with the book first night and then as you go. In my travels I would have missed some lovely unplanned stops for festivals, etc. Also weather can make a difference in where you might want to stay or push on. But then I don't require anything fancy--just clean and comfortable. I always go with rough itinerary but with the idea that things can change if something better shows itself.

Have a great trip!

Mabe this should be a new thread, but I'll try it because so many of you sound like you have great insight into driving in Croatia. Question: Does a Garmin with a current map of Europe function accurately in Croatia? Thanks.

jretired, I can't answer your question, but it is pretty easy to drive there especially on the coast as there are not that many roads; a map works well. However you may want to start a new thread to get better responses.

I cant help you jrretired as I'm still learning about driving in Croatia. I agree try starting a new thread.

Irishface krgystn i thank you for your input. Like I said up above a couple of messages, I am more and more confident to orginise a trip such as croatin driving holiday.