Sept. Trip: Dubrovnik-Hvar-Split

Old Jul 6th, 2006, 05:19 PM
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Sept. Trip: Dubrovnik-Hvar-Split

Posted another msg before about whether anyone knows of the hydrofoil schedule b/t Hvar and Split. Seems there are a bunch of others going to Croatia in Sept., so I'm sharing my full itinerary per some requests (dont know how to delete old messages).

We arrive in Dubrovnik via overnight ferry from Bari on Mon., Sept. 4 (our 2-yr anniversary!). Will stay at the Hilton Imperial for 3 nights, with one day trip to Elafiti Islands.

Leave Thurs. by bus to Split. Debated taking the ferry (to do Korcula also), but due to limited schedule, thought the bus made more sense.

Arrive in Split and will immediately look to catamaran or hydrofoil to Hvar. Will stay in Hvar for 2 nights, but still have no accomodations here. Looking at Hotel Croatia, Amfora and Adriatic, but only seeing some really expensive prices for some really average reviews on here and TA for these hotels. While in Hvar, may day trip to the Pakleni Islands or go diving.

Leave Hvar for Split on Sat., Sept. 9th and waiting for confirm from Hotel Peristil for final 2 nites. Fly from Split to Rome on Mon., Sept. 11th for a transfer back to NYC and then back to work!

Questions:

1. How to find the hydrofoil schedule?
2. Is it the left side of the bus that we should sit on for coastal view when we go North to Split?
3. Anyone staying at any of listed hotels in Hvar above? Know of anything better? Since we don't get to travel too often due to work, looking for something clean, nice and local, but also dont want to pay too much, since we're staying at nicer places in Dubrovnik and Split.

Thanks so much!
rcormier is offline  
Old Jul 6th, 2006, 05:56 PM
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Hi Rcormier,

I'm one of the "September Croatia Contingent" and will share some of the information I have.

There are ferries and catamarans from Split to Hvar. Jadrolinija is the ferry company I don't have their website address at the moment, but if you google the name the website comes up. And you can check the timetables. The ferry takes about 2 hours.

I found there is also a catamaran called the KRILO that goes from Split to Hvar and, I don't have that website at the moment, but when I google the name Krilo catamaran it gives a website to check out the sailing schedule.

I can't help with which side of the bus to sit on as I will not be taking the bus. But there are other fodorites here that will probably be able to answer that question for you.

As for hotels in Hvar I decided to rent a studio apartment and did that through a travel agency called
hvar-travel.com

I booked my accommodations back in January for my September trip and even at that time I found that rooms were being booked very quickly. So it may be difficult finding something now in July for a booking in September.

Happy Planning and keep asking questions!
LowCountryIslander is offline  
Old Jul 7th, 2006, 01:10 AM
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Check these for schedules:
www.jadrolinija.hr
www.krilo.hr
www.splittours.hr
Most car ferries go to Stari Grad, not Hvar town, but there are connecting buses from Stari Grad to Hvar town.
In Split, the long-distance bus station is by the harbour. There is a left luggage office, if you have time to spare and want to look around Split or have a meal.
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Old Jul 7th, 2006, 03:49 AM
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We just returned last night from a 3 week trip, 2 spent in Croatia. For the catamarans from Hvar to Split, the companies that GeoffHamer mentioned, all make the trip. At 7:45 a.m. Krilo and SplitTours both send catamarans to Split from Hvar, at least in the summer. Buy your tickets 1 or 2 days in advance. The Pelegrini Travel agency right at the harbor sells tickets on these catamarans. They sell the Krilo tickets first, the nicer of the two, then sell Splittours tickets for the overflow. We were on this catamaran, and actually liked it more since it was much less crowded.

On Hvar, the Adriatic is closed. It is totally covered with a big sign saying opening soon. The TI office had a good laugh over this sign, they have no idea when it is to open. At the airport last night we spoke to someone who reserved Hotel Palace. It has no a/c so they left and stayed at Hotel Amfora. They were not impressed. Hotel Croatia looks nice from the outside. It is quite a walk into town, but may be the best hotel choice.There is a new hotel open right at the harbor, Hotel Riva something, looks nice, but I know nothing about it. We rented an apt. and were very happy with it, but it was very far from the harbor.

Those I spoke to that did the Elafiti Island tour in Dubrovnik would have prefered only going to Lopud for the day. It has a wonderful sandy beach. We spent all day there and loved it. If you click on my name you will see the details. I reported many days from our trip there and you can get more info.

I'll write more later. Need to get the mail at the post office now Have fun planning, your trip will be wonderful!
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Old Jul 7th, 2006, 04:12 AM
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We took the hydrofoil from Split to Hvar. It arrived in Hvar town. There are several large hotels a distance from the main part of Hvar town. If all else fails you can probably book there. Go to suncanihvar.hr and check it out.
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Old Jul 8th, 2006, 04:02 PM
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Howdy again Rcormier:
It looks like we will be running in to each other in Croatia in September, we have practically the same itinerary.

Hubby and I arrive in Dubrovnik on Mon., Sept 4 from Zagreb. We will be staying in Dubrovnik at Apts Antonella until Friday, when we drive to Hvar Town via the ferry at the east end of Hvar Island.We stay on Hvar til Monday when we are ALSO flying from Split to Rome. We are using $99 Europe By Air vouchers on the 4:20 flight. From Rome, however, we head off to the Amalfi Coast area for a week.

Congrats on the 2nd anniversary, hubby and I just passed 23. It was just like 23 minutes. Underwater. JUST KIDDING!

I think you will love the Hilton in Dubrovnik, I have heard great things about it. We are not using hotels in Croatia, a first for us. The apts we are renting in Dubrovnik and Hvar are 80 and 90 euro per night. I think it will be a fun (and frugal) change for us.

Now, how shall we recognize each other? A red rose in the lapel? The secret Fodors handshake? The elusive Fodors PIN?
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Old Jul 11th, 2006, 06:11 PM
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You will love the Hotel Imperial in Dubrovnik! The breakfast is great. Special order your breakfast besides the buffet. I had mushroom and cheese omelettes and DH had two 3-minute eggs. I found the sausage and bacon extremely salty. The buffet eggs are also lardy tasting. Fresh-squeezed orange juice and good coffee. The breakfast was so satisfying that I skipped lunch.
I adored this hotel, from the lovely venetian plaster walls to the wonderful staff! Did not make it to the indoor pool. Enjoy!
If you enter through the parking garage, you can avoid all those stairs uphill!
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Old Jul 16th, 2006, 08:41 AM
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Hi, This question is for Images2 (or anyone else who has been to hvar recently ). Do you really mean the adriatic is closed on the island? I'm wondering if I should sty on korcula instead for the 4 days I have blocked for Hvar. We leave in August -- maybe things will be different by then. .. cheers.
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Old Jul 16th, 2006, 09:41 AM
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Just returned last week from Hvar. I think the post meant that the HOTEL Adriatic is closed (and it is, with no visible signs of oepning any time soon). The Adriatic Sea itself is certainly open and inviting and being enjoyed by many!
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Old Jul 16th, 2006, 09:41 AM
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I concur. you will love the Hilton Imperial. It is perfectly located right outside the walled city. and you will love Dubrovnik. We have a family home on an island off Zadar and last year we decided to take our adult kids touring the coast. My husband is very picky on where he stays and the year prior refused to stay Sobe. but since all the decent hotels were booked we had no choice. He/we just loved it. We stayed for 25-35Eur. per person in some beautful homes. He loved it so much that all along the coast we stayed in Sobe. Can't wait to do it again next summer. P.S. driving along the coastline you want to sit on the left side of the bus.
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Old Jul 16th, 2006, 09:49 AM
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I'd only do one night in Split at the end and add that extra night to Dubrovnik or even Hvar. Just my two cents!
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Old Jul 16th, 2006, 10:18 AM
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Hi
gld,

Yes, the Hotel Adriatic is closed on Hvar. The TI has no idea when it is to reopen, even though the sign says Opening soon. Don't miss Hvar. Stay where you can, but don't miss this island and the surrounding islands!
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Old Jul 16th, 2006, 01:18 PM
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I am arriving in Dubrovnik on Aug. 7 and plan to stay 2 nights then leave on Aug. 9 for Hvar...now the only problem is - How to get there? Two options: (1) take freaking long ferry from Dubrovnik to Hvar (I think it's 6 hours) or (2) take bus from Dubrovnik to Split and then take hydrofoil...

For those of you who booked the bus, how did you book? Online? Is there a website? Can someone recommend where to book? THANKS!!!
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Old Jul 16th, 2006, 03:51 PM
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We took the bus. It took 4 1/2 hours and was easy. It stops enough for bathrooms also. You don't have to book ahead, but if you want to, you can buy your ticket a day ahead at the main bus station. You'll take the public bus, I think it's 1A from the Pile Gate to the main bus station. The driver can tell you where to get off. At the main bus station, buy your ticket at the outside window. There are many, many buses a day that do this route. They are all different bus companies. Some are better than others, but they all get you there. We were on Autotrans and it was excellent.

We took the 8 a.m. bus, arrived in Split at 12:30, then checked our luggage at the left luggage at the bus station. It's cheap. Then we walked to the Jadrolinija Ferry ticket stand. It's the 2nd stand you'll see. The one closest to the bus station doesn't sell the catamaran tickets. The catamaran to Hvar Town leaves at 3 p.m.
After we bought the tickets, we had time to tour through Dio. Palace, but not much else. Be at the catamaran at 2:30 or 2:40ish.
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Old Jul 16th, 2006, 05:41 PM
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You are getting good advice on this thread. We were there in September two years ago and the tourist season had begun to slack way off. Took the catamaran (there are no hydrofoils) from Split to Hvar town.

Have not taken the catamaran or ferry into Stari Grad, but the approach to Hvar town from the sea is an experience not to be missed; the old city walls snaking up the mountain just took our breath away.

For us, we had no prebooked hotel. Just got off the catamaran, walked about 100 meters to the square, and the Tourist Office fixed us up with a sparkling clean Sobe. They called the lady, told us to go sit on a bench a on the square. She soon collected us and led us to her home on a street running parallel to the harbor.

You will love Croatia.



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Old Jul 26th, 2006, 08:35 AM
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thank you for all your responses. fell off the board for awhile, but amazing how much info gets put on here! so looking forward to the trip. happycheesehead...we will definitely be on the same flight from split to rome. i dont know how to send private msgs, so sorry to everyone else for this. wont be hard to miss me...im small and asian and my husband is blonde hair, blue eyed. dont think there will be too many interracial couples. ill make sure he wears his green celtics cap!
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Old Jul 26th, 2006, 09:04 AM
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Hi Rcormier!

Glad you are back. Did you find a place to stay in Hvar?

Hubby and I (me - green eyes, hair will probably be brunette with blond highlights by then, him - blond and blue eyed like your hubby, but probably twice his age. I won't mention weight, but we are posterpeople for Wisconsin beer and cheese, LOL ) will keep our eyes peeled for you two in Dubrovnik and Hvar, and will see you on the flight to Rome!

Count down is on!
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Old Jul 26th, 2006, 09:11 AM
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rcormeir,

As you are following my Trip Report right now, all the info about the ferries is correct here.

We did not do the bus either, we took the 6 hour ferry from Dubrovnik to Hvar ( stari grad) and then the catamaran from Hvar to Split( easy as pie)

E mail me as I offered on my Trip Report, so we can discuss the hotel situation in Hvar since I am not up to it yet in my report, but I want to help you out.
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