kleand

Dear all,

Looking for advice about upcoming trip to Croatia. We'll be arriving on Good Friday into Dubrovnik and fly out nine days later from Zagreb. So, a short-ish trip with travel necessary and built-in.

We'd like to spend time in Dubrovnik, Plitvice and at least a night in Zagreb. We'd also like to see a bit of Montenegro, and islands if possible, and wineries up the coast.

My concerns are these:
1. How much can we expect to see over Easter weekend? (Ie. will transport, museums, activities, shops, etc, shut down, and if so, should we just plan on hunkering down in Dubrovnik until Monday or Tuesday? Will things re-open on Monday?)
2. What's the best way to get around out-of-season? Is public transport a good option? What about ferries to the islands? (I'm assuming some shut down?) Would car hire be recommended, either for convenience or for better sight-seeing?
3. What's the feasibility of slipping into Montenegro into a trip of this length, and if it's feasible, where would people recommend? (Kotor?)
4. Besides Plitvice, what are other must-sees (bearing in mind our time constraints) up the coast?
5. In general, what are recommended itineraries for this short but, we hope, scenic trip?
We're not particularly wealthy, incidentally (well, we're not wealthy at all, really), so we'll be travelling on a budget, albeit one that can accommodate decent accommodation and nice meals.

Thanks so much.

yorkshire

1. don't know
2. Ferries are reduced but not eliminated, it just depends on what day you want to travel. Check schedules at http://www.jadrolinija.hr/.
2-3. You may want to rent a car for the Montenegro day trip, as the bus schedule is not convenient for a day trip. Kotor is nice, but since you have limited time, research further to see if you want to head south on this trip.
4. I shy away from the term "must-see" (because everyone has different ones)--with the notable exception of Plitvice, which I feel is special enough to warrant the term.
5. You just need to work out how many days you want to spend in Dubrovnik, then decide if you want to visit an island (which I recommend) and for how long, then decide how many days you want to spend in Plitvice (I like overnight there to see the park in afternoon/evening and morning) and Zagreb (a city I find underrated) before deciding if you can squeeze in a stop at Split/Trogir. All in all, a great first trip!

bilboburgler

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croatia

Go to Split and see Diocletian's palace.

Montenegro, well if you like the largest collection of paintings from between the war by artists of Montenegro (a perfectly nice but tiny country) then visit. You could even spend hours driving to the prince bishop's tomb or rub shoulder with the russians who have bought up the best bits but I'd stay in Croatia.

There are buses along the coast (who would want to go to the interior). The ferries keep going so you could go out to Hvar or Brac or other island. I'd alos go to Trogir, it is another part of the discarded Venetian empire and very pretty (bus from Split)

You should find that booking.com has some great deals on rooms as you are in low season.

Pula has a roman ampitheatre in good condition

Plitvice, you've seen a lake, this is not as pretty as Bled.

maitaitom

We spent three days in Dubrovnik, two in Trogir, one at Plitvice and three nights in Rovinj. It's all in my trip report (with photo) that you can link to below. Go to the appropriate chapters.

http://www.travelswithmaitaitom.com/...nice_2008.html