andyfab

We are a group of six planning a trip to Croatia and Italy this July. We are interrested in driving from Split, Croatia to Florence, Italy. We like the freedom that driving offers, but I've noticed that it may be hard and/or expensive to rent a vehicle in Croatia and return it in Italy. In other posts I've noticed people recommending to travel by bus, train, or boat to Italy and then rent a car for the remaining travel.
Any suggestions about what mode of travel or route we shoud travel to Florence? I noticed that ferries run from Split to Ancona and also from Split to Venice overnight(Jadrolinija ferries). These may be the quickest ways, although they seem rather expensive considering the large group of us. Also I'm afraid we'll miss out on a lot of roadside attractions. Any ideas or recommendations would be appreciated.

mjs

I am not sure I know where to begin here as there is so much being asked. I should first say that if time and costs are important, deciding on where you are going before finding out the costs and the nitty gritty of how to do this makes for difficult planning. Although Italy and Croatia are close, they are separated by the sea and a history of one being in the eastern block and one in the western block.
Easiest and fastest way to get from Split to Florence would be to take Air Croatia to Rome and connect to a flight to Florence if a good connection is possible on your day of travel. You could also fly Austrian air via Vienna. Could also fly to Rome and Eurostar it to Florence which should take 3-4 hrs after you land.
These flights are likely to be expensive. Could do an air pass if you are flying to Europe on the Star alliance
and can use 3+ flight segments on your trip. Austrian and Croatia Air are both members of the star alliance.
Driving is an option but more complicated. Am not sure you can drop off cars between these two countries. I could not find a way a few years ago.
You could rent a car in Croatia to the border than cross the border and rent another car in Italy. I should also note that you probably will need 2 cars or
what I call a full size van for 6 people with luggage.
A mini van that you usually see in car rental sites usually seats two in front and three in the next isle.
There is a third isle with three seats but very little room behind them for luggage. If the last seats split
you might have enough room for your luggage if you all pack fairly light. Need to add up all these costs of rental, tolls and fuel as well as time to see if this option will work for you. It is, I think, about 900 kms from Split to Florence and I would imagine if you only stopped for gas it might take somewhere around 10 hours to do the trip. Should check via Michelin for details. Am not sure of what you are calling roadside attractions and what time they will cost you. In closing my thoughts on driving I should tell you that driving in Florence and parking in Florence is a pain so if Florence is your destination you do not want to keep the car (s) unless you are moving on into the Tuscany countryside.
I have the 2006 Jadrolinija schedule in front of me now which unfortunately is in French. I only see a Split to Ancona ferry that would apply to you. This publication was probably written by Microsoft and is difficult to decipher. It is not helped by my four years of HS French. You do not qualify for a group discount as you need 20 people. If you have children 3-12 the costs are 50% less. Costs less in low season which appears to differ upon your port of departure. High season seems to start around late June to early July and ends in early August. Costs in 2006 high season ranged from 44 Euros a person on deck to 149 Euros per person in a 2 person apartment exterior cabin. Couchettes were 61 Euros and there were a variety of 3/4 bedroom cabins that ranged in cost from 68.5 with lav to 82.5 with WC, to 88 with douche/WC all in the interior of the boat. Exterior rooms cost more.
Hope this helps.

GeoffHamer

There are overnight ferries to Ancona run by two companies, Blue Line and Jadrolinija (www.blueline-ferries.com and www.jadrolinija.hr). There are no ferries from Split to Venezia.

DansDelight

do you want to do this trip in one day?

andyfab

Thanks for all your help so far. If driving, we may consider taking about 2-3 days.

sarge56

Train from Venice to Florence is about 2-1/2 to 3 hours. From Rome, 1-1/2 hours on the Express train.

So, you might look at flight to Venice or Rome if it is cheapest. I would suspect there might be a train from Zagreb or Dubrovnik to Italy.

I believe Eurail has a pass that would allow you travel between Croatia/Slovenia/Italy. Check out their website.

If train is too costly, I'd look for cheap air to any Italian city and book train from there. (It was E45 from Venice to Florence on train, and E35 to Rome from there.)

I'm jealous. My grandparents were born in Karlovac and I've always wanted to go to Croatia to see their "homeland". Have a wonderful time!

Paula

PS I can't vouch for trains in Croatia, but in Italy, they are fabuous!!!

DansDelight

Drive up the beautiful coastline to Opatija,next day take the bus to Trieste (just over 2 hours) and pick up hire car again. If you have time then try to visit Plitvice on the way.

kathrynj

I kind of did a reverse route last summer, going from Venice to Split. We took the train to Ancona, overnighted there and took the fast catamaran over to Split.

It worked out very well and we had a nice evening in Ancona, only in time for dinner and sleeping. The fast catamaran left at 11am the next morning---I think it is about 4.5 hours.

overbeck

If I may tack onto this question--have any of you done the overnight ferry between Ancona and Split? And if so, how did you find the sleeping? We're considering arriving in Croatia that way, with a 10-hr overnight that would (we hope) get us some sleep, and leaving out of Split at 5 or 7pm that day to go on to Hvar. That would be a fine day if we're rested, but not if we're exhausted by lack of sleep on the boat, so I'd really love to hear any words on this.

And to andyfab, perhaps this would help your decision, too, since there's an overnight the other way, and taking it means one less hotel night that everyone has to pay for--hence helping with those costs.

andyfab

Thanks for all your help. I'm looking forward to this trip. Like Paula, my father's family is from the Croatia. My father will be with us when we are in Croatia. I'm looking forward to meeting some of my relitives.

GeoffHamer

There are four ships operating overnight sailings between Ancona and Split: the ANCONA and SPLIT 1700 of Blue Line (www.blueline-ferries.com) and the DUBROVNIK and IVAN ZAJC of Jadrolinija (www.jadrolinija.hr).
I've travelled on all four at one time or another. My favourite would be the ANCONA which is the biggest, and has lovely wooden-panelled saloons.
Whether you sleep depends partly on what sort of accommodation you have. I'd try to book a cabin with a shower and WC, and have dinner with wine to help me to sleep. Jadrolinija's cabin passengers get a free breakfast in the morning.

andyfab

Thanks for your help!