travelbugCarrie

Hello - A group of 5 of us are going to Croatia next year at the start of September. We are thinking of Split (3 nights), Hvar (4 nights), Korcula (3 nights) and Dubrovnik (4 nights). Any thoughts/suggestions - for example, would it be better to stay 4 nights in Hvar and reduce Dubrovnik to 3 nights? Also, we would like to book our land accomodations soon but we know everything is "riding" on the ferry/fast boat schedules. Should we have no problem "winging it" and booking ferries when we are there or could we get into trouble?....for example - limited ferries on Sundays or find out there are no ferries leaving on certain days (for example - Hvar to Korcula). WE DO NOT WANT TO GET STUCK!!! Also we prefer catamaran - fast boats....we won't have a car to load onto a ferry. Can anyone help?

croatiantravelady

Begin with checking the schedules on Jadrolinjia, that is the ferry service on the Dalmatian coast. Rather than stay 3 nights in Split, check out Trogir. It is close to Split, much smaller, quiet and absolutely beautiful. Don't think you need 4 nights in Hvar, unless you're going to party everynight at Carpe Diem. Cutting your nights short in Dubrovnik doesn't make sense, it is the "Pearl of the Adriatic".

Korcula 4 nights, well you're going to be able to walk the entire town of Korcula in one day. Instead go over to Orebic for 2 nights and visit the Mali Plavac vinyards and go wine tasting.

September is NOT low or shoulder season here, it is high season. You must have land accomodations and not try to wing it. Take another good look at your priorities and start researching more details. Also you should be careful when booking rooms here, the noise level in the old town is staggering until 2 to 3am and trash pickup starts at 5am.

Dobrodosli
An American in Dubrovnik

GeoffHamer

There are several ferry operators on the Croatian coast, but none of them will have schedules for next September. Use this month as a guide. This website has a summary of all services to Korcula:
www.korcula.net
The peak season in Croatia is from mid-July to the end of August when Italians go on holiday. Jadrolinija, for example, charges peak fares on departures from Italy from 25 July to 17 August, and on departures from Croatia from 8 to 31 August.
I've been to Croatia several times in September, and never had a problem travelling around or finding accommodation.

croatiantravelady

On Saturday, 20 September there will be 11 mega cruisers in port, a total of 15,000 tourists in town. September has become high season here and next year the number of mega cruisers is increasing.

Please do make your plans prior to arrival, you will be much more comfortable in knowing you have a place to sleep.

Dobrodosli
An American Living in Dubrovnik

GeoffHamer

The cruise ship passengers sleep on their ships. In the evening, they return to their ships for dinner and sail off somewhere else. They will not be staying overnight in hotels. That's the whole point of a cruise.