Hi Plavi,

Thanks for your offer of help! Just like @mr_go, we're planning on spending five days in Istria, with Rovinj as our base. We'll have a rental car, and already plan to visit Porec, Pula, and maybe Motovun. What else? One of the islands maybe? Husband loves history. Wife loves wine and food.

@mr_go, would you share your itinerary once you've decided on it?

Many thanks!

My husband and I are at the end of a month long trip in Croatia, with 4 nights left in Istria. We'd like to locate ourselves in one place and do day trips (we have a car). We've done cities, nature, islands, Dalmatian coast. Any ideas for the perfect location to stay in a Penzion or B & B or small hotel?? Also not opposed to apartments.

trulyscrumptious: <i>@mr_go, would you share your itinerary once you've decided on it?</i>

We're flying into Zagreb and driving straight to Ljubljana, where we're staying for 2 nights.

The second day will probably be a daytrip around Bled & the lake & that area.

After that, we're driving down to Istria and staying 5 nights in an apartment in the 'old town' area of Rovinj. Our Lonely Planet book features about twice as many notable spots in Istria as we have time for, so it'll be a busy 5 days.

The next two nights will be spent at a little B&B bungalow near Plitvice National Park, which we plan to explore extensively on foot.

Following that, we're heading back to Zagreb and staying in the heart of the city (Pansion Jagerhorn on the Ilica) for a couple of nights, then flying home again.

@mr_go - thanks for sharing - it sounds absolutely wonderful!

Plavi--

What a wonderful service you are providing!

My husband and I have a few days left at the end of a visit to friends in Sicily. We had the bright idea of spending them in Croatia; Dubrovnik, where my husband's grandparents were born in the 19th century, and Split, where I have long wanted to see Diocletian's Palace. I know we will miss a lot, but I was wondering if the "best" way to get from Dubrovnik to Split is by bus or ferry. I mean, in your opinion, which is the way that will be either most scenic, or will give us the opportunity to make the best use of our short time in Croatia?

Sadly, Plavi is no longer on Fodors. Clicking on his name brings up the "Page not Found" message.

He was so helpful to everyone and a great Ambassador for Croatia.
I hope he is ok and that we see him here again soon.

My wife and I are taking a ferry from Dubrovnik to Split where we arrive 18:40. How can we find a car service to drive us to Zagreb?
Thank you

Sorry to hear Plavi isn't on Fodor's anymore. Much gratitude to him for his efforts.

Maybe someone else will know the answer to my question. Does Croatia have a Yelp equivalent? Where people crowdsource restaurant and other recommendations?

Hello guys,
I apologize for my absence, work has been hectic and on top of that I managed to mess up my forum account (but Fodors promptly took care of it!)

Long story short, I'm back.

@trulyscrumptious
Kind of: http://www.pauza.hr/?lang=en
First time I visited the site, never searched for anything similar before so I can't say I verified any of those ratings personally, but the site definitely looks legit.

Hello Plavi!
Welcome back :) Great to see you again. You've been so helpful to everyone and so charming, we missed you.
Cheers from sunny Sydney (Australia)

glad you're back plavi. hope all's well.

Woo hoo! Plavi's back!

Thanks guys :)
Everything is great!

We're currently in a middle of a heat wave, temperatures up to 40C on the sun and trend will continue at least until the end of the week.

Great news if you're on the shore or one of the islands, bad news if you're stuck in an office under AC.

We have a holiday on Friday and Monday, and school's over for kids meaning a lot of Croatians will be taking their vacation and roads will probably be crowded today. Imagine being stuck in a car on a highway on 40C? Sad but I expect to see a lot of accidents reported, mostly people who find it difficult to take a bottle of water with them.

Here's a site you should keep an eye on:
http://www.meteoalarm.eu/index2.php?country=HR&day=0

Extreme weather (like today's) is promptly reported/updated there.

thanks for the weather update. we are leaving in about 10 days.

we will be leaving croatia from SPU on a very early morning easyjet flight. in the event that we have some purchases that qualify for VAT refund, is there a tax refund counter at SPU that can process the paperwork? and if there is, do they typically open early if there are very early, as in 6 or 7 am early, flights departing for another country? thanks.

@flyme2themoon

Honestly the only thing I saw in Split airport over the years was the exit and the bus terminal, I've never flown from it, only to it.

But according to their website they do have a bank that opens at 6 am:
http://www.split-airport.hr/index.ph...id=113&lang=en
They might be able to handle it, or at least point you in the right direction.

I know there's a dedicated terminal that stamps the bills for you in the Zagreb airport, not quite sure if you can get the cash here or do you pick it up when you land home, post office handles payouts for us.

I hope you're having a great holiday, weather is smiling at you for the next 10 days as well :-)
http://prognoza.hr/sedam.php?id=seda...ska&code=14472

thanks for the link. great interactive airport map of SPU, btw. it looks like there is a duty free refund counter located between the domestic and international terminals.

SPU looks like a small airport, which is great. i like small airports!!!

a} driving from vienna to dubrovnik. how is the trip, can i do in one drive or do i need to have overnite on way.
b) spending a week in Croatia. Dubrovnic is on plan, what would you recommend as second site
c} middle of October, do i need hotel reservations or can i be flexible

Hi Plavi,

me and a friend are coming to split the first week of August. the best place we can find for our buget is in Stobrec, is this a good place to visit for 2 men in their 20's? also is there a good transport link's to Split and how are the beaches in Stobrec?

Cheers,

I'll be in Piran this August with my my son's family - parents & 3 teens(8,11,14.)

On Sunday morning, Aug 19 we intend to go for one day to Istria (by car).
Please suggest places to visit (including boat trips, island hop, attractions, events), taking in account that we'll have teenagers on board!

We will be attending a friends wedding on September 1, 2012 in Perast Montenegro. While we will be travelling from GA, we are flying to Zagreb, then Split and are looking for suggestions on modes of transportation to visit as follows:

Aug 28 Arrive Zagreb (thinking of 9 hour layover or spend the night)
Fly to Split, staying in Dombrovnik at the Hilton.
Aug 30 take a day trip to Medjugorie, Bosnia
September 1 is the wedding which will take place in Perast
Returning to Zagreb from Split on September 2, then GA the next morning.

Is there public transportation or should we rent a car and if so, is driving pretty easy there? The roads and traffic, I mean. Should we just keep the base as the Hilton in Dombrovnik or try to get a hotel around Perast?

Thank you for any suggestions!!

Hi Plavi,
We're coming to Croatia mid September and want to drive through the country from Dubrovnik. Any suggestions on places to make for and will we be able to find cheap accommodation as we need it rather than booking beforehand?
Many thanks

Hello Plavi, very nice what you're doing here. :-)

I have a few doubts, if you can help me it would be great.

1. How is Waze usage in Croatia? I use it a lot to avoid traffic, etc, and as I'm going to croatia on may 1st and will rent a car to drive around (Rovinj, Bale, Premantura, Opatija, Pag, Zadar, Sibenik, Trogir and Dubrovnik are the cities I'm going, plus Split by bus to leave on may 17), I would like to know if in Croatia, it's a tool you can rely on? Where I live people are kind of lazy and fail to report a lot of stuff...

2. Do you know about the weather in this time of the year on the coast? Rainy or not, for example...

3. Do you believe 4 nights in Dubrovnik are too much? My wife and I like to choose a special place and stay a little bit more, to feel the place. I don't know if I should extend Istria (3 nights) and take one day from Dubrovnik. Your feelings about that?

You're a developer? I work with product design (I.A., Ergonomy, etc) - mobile apps and web panels. Fellowship!
:-)

What is the average annual rainfall in the Amazon basin?

Dobar dan Plavi,
Me and my wife will be in Croatia from May 22-June 6 of this year starting in Dubrovnik (3 nights), Komarna (5 nights), then to Sparadici (between Sibenik and Primosten) for 6 nights, then staying in Samobor for a night before departing back to Boston from Zagreb.

We visited Croatia last May as well, we loved the country, the people and the food! We will be returning to a holiday home right on the water in Sparadici where we became very friendly with the owners (husband and wife, son and daughter). We expect to spend some time with the family this year and would like to bring gifts from the states. Is there anything from the states that you could recommend as a gift, maybe something that is not easily obtained in Croatia (a food product, clothing, ect?)

Additionally, any "must sees" near Komarna you would recommend? We plan on Mostar, Kravice Falls, and Ston-Mali Ston. Thank you for any advice.

Mike

Plavi has been on the missing list for nearly 3 years so he may not see your recent posts.

My last name is Mihaljevic. Here in the US, we pronounce it exactly as it's spelled (mi-HAL-je-vic). How is it pronounced over there? My family originated in Mihaljevic Selo in Ostarije.

Thank you! :)

Your name would be pronounced as you have written, except the 'vic' ending is ITCH.

I would love some help. We are flying to Venice and were planning to rent a car there and drive to Croatia, but I have heard we might need an international driver's license. Do you think it would make sense to take a car service into Croatia instead? Do you know a driver we can hire?

welcome to Fodors -- you might want to start a new thread of your own. However -- there is no 'international driver's <i>license</i>'. It is an IDP (permit). It is very easy to get at any AAA office and you'll need one for several different countries (including Italy)