Mimar

Have you confirmed that you can rent a car in Rovinj?

According to the 2017 schedule (http://venezialines.com/wp-content/u...17-Draft-1.pdf), the ferry for Rovinj leaves late day so you'll have most of that day for Venice. Good thing! You need more time in Venice -- for Venice and for getting over jet lag.

I'd rent the car a day earlier and use it to explore hilltowns on Istrian peninsula. We especially liked Groznjan and Motovun.

Have you considered Plitvice national park? It's a beautiful World Heritage Site, a succession of beautiful blue lakes connected by waterfalls. I'd skip Zadar and go to Plitvice.

I think you could drop the car in Dubrovnik if not before. Parking would be difficult there also -- depending on where you're staying.

Gabrielle11

Thanks, Mimar. I think there are car rentals (like Sixt) in Rovinj but will confirm. Stopping at Plitvice National Park is a great idea, I'm assuming thete are hotels there we could spend the night to split up th drive?

I would love to explore the hilltowns but not sure we will have enough time this trip. If possible we would like to tour the wineries nearby Rovinj one day and explore by bike another. Any idea if the wineries are worth a day?

Once we get to Dubrovnik I think returning the rental car would be our first stop so we don't have to bother with parking.

Thanks again!

Andrew

I rented from Oryx (booked via EconomyCarRentals) which has an office just south of Rovinj's old town - I actually rented from Oryx in Rijeka but walked past the Oryx office in Rovinj on my walk into town. Oryx has offices in the major Croatian cities including Dubrovnik.

There are hotels right in the park in Plitvice, but I hear they have been getting booked up very early recently, so you might want to book something early via Booking.com which has free cancellation. There are also plenty of B&B ("Sobe") near the park.

kja

Visiting the Plitvice Lakes National Park is an excellent idea, IMO. That park is, IMO, the single most un-missable of Croatia's many splendors. Not only are the lakes connected by travertine waterfall formations, each lake has unique microbiota, and as a result, the lakes are different colors. The best way to see that is to make a single, long loop through the park -- something on the order of 6 hours or more (including time for the boat that connects the lower and upper lakes), and by all means, start at the lowest part of the park so you are facing the falls as you proceed. Plan on spending a night. There are some hotels in the park, and also some nice half-board B&Bs nearby that generally offer absolutely delciions fresh fish dinners. If you visit this park, I would recommend picking up a car in Rovinj, spending the night near the park, then driving the next day to Split, where you can return the car and take the bus to Dubrovnik.

When traveling by intercity bus in Croatia one’s luggage goes into an undercarriage compartment, so it’s extremely easy and convenient.

I suspect the message about lodging in the Plitvice Lakes area to which Andrew refers is the one by rialtogrl at Oct 11, 17 at 11:51am at/near the end of this thread:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ional-park.cfm

I didn’t visit any wineries in Istria and haven’t heard much about them. The Croatian winerries that get more attention seem to on Hvar and the Peljesac Peninsula. Doesn’t mean that spending a day in Istrian wineries might not be worthwhile!

Gabrielle11

Thank you all again for your input - much appreciated! Here is what we are thinking as our (near final) itinerary. We were able to add a couple of days to our trip which helped.
Day 1 Arrive in Venice
Day 2 Explore Venice
Day 3 Explore Venice, Ferry to Rovinj
Day 4 Explore Rovinj
Day 5 Rent a car and head to Plitvice
Day 6 Explore Plitvice early morning, head to Split in afternoon
Day 7 Explore Split
Day 8 Hvar day trip
Day 9 Drive to Dubrovnik (return car)
Day 10 Dubrovnik
Day 11 Dubrovnik
Day 12 Day trip from Dubrovnik (Montenegro?)
Day 13 Dubrovnik
Day 14 Head home

yorkshire

Looks good to me. I would consider moving some of your days from Dubrovnik to Split or Hvar. Dubrovnik is really really tiny, and it is inundated by cruise ship passengers. You could stop over in Hvar and stay a couple of nights in between Split and Dubrovnik.

neckervd

Don't forget Porec, Pula, Sibenik/Krka Falls Park, Trogir.
You may also return your car at Split and go on by catamaran to Hvar - Korcula - Dubrovnik

kja

That’s a LOT of time for Dubrovnik. Seriously! A day or day and a half is enough for most people, maybe another day for a trip to Kotor….

You could not pay me to drive the Dalmatian coast between Split and Dubrovnik – I would want to see that spectacular scenery, which the driver really can’t do because the road demands attention. I'm glad I took the bus -- but I think we've already covered that....

Begue70

Maybe because we went to Venice in March (no crowds), I found it to be the most wonderful, magical place I have ever been to. We did stay in an airbnb on a little canal, and our "landlord" had provided us with lists of his favorite restaurants. These were the type of places that only had Italian menus and NO pictures!! hahaha So, they didn't feel touristy. I find staying in Airbnb's helps with the non touristy experience. Also, PLEASE do this. I am a HUGE fan of Flytographer. We use them when we travel. Go on their website and you will be quite happy. They are a photography service and they do gorgeous work. Flat fee, and you OWN the pictures and print where and what you want! you won't be disappointed! They have done great pics for us and our family!!!