I haven't had the time or energy to post the trip report I have promised so I will post where we visited. Feel free to ask me questions! Croatia is an incredible country and I know I will be back within three years! I have started my trip report in Word and will post it when it is complete.

Zagreb
Plitvice National Park
Rab Town on Rab Island
Trogir Island
Split
Hvar
Dubrovnik
Side trip into Mostar, Bosnia-Hercegovina

welcome back - looking forward to hearing your impression and about Mostar and the reconstructed bridge.

eurotraveller--looking forward to your report. Did you stay in Trogir and bus it over to Split or the other way around? I was going to just decide when I get there, but would appreciate your input.

Offwego, We had originally planned to stay in Split and take a day trip to Trogir but after spending a couple of days in Rab Town on Rab Island we decided to switch it and we were very pleased that we did! I will have time to post my trip report tomorrow. I have actually started it in Word and will transfer it over when it is complete. I have a great recommendation for a place to stay in Trogir if you decide to go that route.

Can't wait, Eurotraveller. I hope you also have a good rec for Rab!

alohatoall -
here's a website for Rab I found

http://www.tzg-rab.hr/

Eurotraveller: Sorry, I somehow sent the message below to the wrong forum, so you probably did not see it.

Message: eurotraveler: Looking forward to your trip report and especially the good place you mentioned to stay in Trogir.

Have not been back to Croatia for over 30 years, and then I came by sea on a sailboat. Have always wanted to go back. We are going in late September and early October, and will be trying the Sobe route for part of the time as it sounds interesting and fun, not to mention inexpensive.

My question is whether you leave a tip at the end of your stay in a Soba? I have always left a few bucks per day for the maids in a hotel in a lot of countries, but wonder if that is the practice in Croatia. When I was there before it was very communist, and after having a few tips shoved back with a glare, I stopped trying.

Appreciate any advice you (or anyone else) may have on good places to stay in Dubrovnik, Hvar, Korcula, Vis, or the Markaska region.

Thanks

Hi Nukesafe, I have now posted most of my trip report but I am still working on Dubrovnik. The number of Apartmani Bakica on Trogir is 385(0) 21 882 731 and the email address is [email protected]. I did not leave tips other than small change in the sobes although I generally do in hotels. Croatia is fabulous and I will return soon! I am going to work on gathering my close friends and chartering a sail boat to cruise around the island for a couple of weeks. I did that with 6 friends through the BVI's on a dive vacation and found it is a great way to get a taste of the islands. Cheers!

eurotraveler, I would like to become one of your close friends! Where do I apply?

Seriously, we chartered a sailboat a couple of years ago in Greece and had the best time.

Grasshopper, if you are serious I will notify you when we put it together. I think we are looking at 2-3 years out though. I think Ireland is my destination for next year and New Zealand and Fiji the following year. Are you patient?

Actually, I'm thinking about doing this sooner. But thanks. If you could email me anyway, I'd love to have the connection. [email protected]

looking forward to your trip report. I am trying to put a trip together also and would love to read it.

Euro....We just retuned from Ireland & spent a month in New Zealand last year.....if you need any info??

Thanks, Bailey! Did you post as report? I would love to read it. I think we will spend most of our time on the west coast of Ireland because we heard it is the most beautiful. Who knows where we will go in New Zealand! We might rent an RV and try that route. Gives us the freedom to roam and also provides our accomodation for the trip.

Eurotraveller: I do envy you for your plans to sail the islands with friends. As I said, I did that with my "practice" wife and kids over 30 years ago and cannot imagine it has changed much. Clear water, sheltered ancnorages, secluded beaches. Watch the Bora that comes blasting in from the north, but you cannot get into too much trouble because ports of refuge are always close at hand. Holding can be poor on rocky bottoms -- but the charter company will fill you in on all the local details.

We hit many of the islands and found people almost invariably friendly and honest. Didn't lose so much as a screwdriver even though we often left the boat unlocked. Quite unlike Italy. Once, when I was away from the boat, a kindly Croatian gent even dove, fully clothed, in to rescue one of my five-year old daughters from the harbor in Gruz after she fell off the boat. He delivered her to my hysterical wife and walked off with out even waiting for a "Thank You"!

The only unpleasant thing that happened was when my wife was catching the bus from Gruz (the main port of Dubrovnik) into town. We were used to people being very kind to women with children all over Europe. When a bus would come some one would say, "Here is a woman with four little kids". People would usher them to the front of any line, help the aboard, find them seats, make much of the blonde twins, and try to give the boys candy. Not in Gruz! Bus came, everyone pushed the wife and kids aside, boarded the bus, gbus full, door closed, bus drove off -- leaving wife and kids with jaws agape.

We put it down to the stress most Yugoslavs must have been under from the restrictive communist regime. Life was real and earnest and they could afford no time for the niceties. From what I can gather the more open society now has allowed the natural kindness of the Croats to shine through.

Fair winds and gentle seas to you.

Euro.....Sorry no trip report....but I jump into forum when I have an answer that may help!!
Also photos.....
www.pbase.com/baileyzim

West coast of Ireland...YES!!! We spent most of our time in the west. Donegal, Slieve League......
Achill Island...Dingle Penisula...Ring of Kerry.......then onto Kilkenny.

New Zealand....Make sure that you spend time on BOTH islands....many people rush to the south...missing many adventures & beauties of the north.


Thanks again for the great Croatia report!!

Eurotraveller, We are leaving in mid august ( yes i know it'll be hot)to Croatia and our itinerary is, by coincidence,very similar to yours;
Zagreb (we were going to the Ilica but have decided against it now (bugs, etc..)- it's the Sheraton for us now although I am not fond of those large, west-style hotels but i hear this may be the way to go in Zagreb)
- Plitvice National Park (one night @ the Plitvice Hotel)
-3 days in Trogir (as a base - reservations at Hotel Concordia)
-3 days in Dubrovnik where I plan on splurging for real/then 3 nights with friends north of DBV in their summer home. Undecided about the Hotel Argentina or the Excelsior. Don't mind the splurge if it's worth it though. Any thoughts, recommendations, places to eat, great shopping experiences,markets, local art galleries, etc...?I'll have a car the entire period so....
It's still not too late for us to modify the plan. I thought this provided us with some geographic diversity. This will be our 1st trip to Croatia and we, well,'totally psyched!' Appreciate any input. Thank you. Tony/Miami, Fla.

Hi Tony,

I'm glad to hear you are psyched.. you will be even more so when you return!

We stayed in both the Excelsior and the Argentina a little farther up the hill. We liked the Argentina much more. Be sure to book a sea view room with a balcony.

We think Proto is the best restaurant in Dubrovnik.

Have a great time!

From Croatia travel, would anyone have the name of a private boat company or captain...we are trying to hire a boat to sail the islands out or near dubrovnik for about about 5 or 10 people Thanks

There are a couple articles at The Guardian about sailing in Croatia:

http://travel.guardian.co.uk/countri...413050,00.html

http://travel.guardian.co.uk/countri...059510,00.html

Also - this boat was recommended by the travel agency that books my flight from NYC to Croatia:

http://www.skardacruise.com/

Hope this helps....