zac495

I'm starting a new thread as it's not about my mother.

Last thing we're trying to figure out.... Travel agent in Croatia offers, for 1500 euro, private transfers from Split to Brac (their person would accompany us to buy the tickets, etc and get us to the hotel - Lemongarden (She says ferry Split to Supertar Port). THEN private transfers and a chauffeur to get to Dubrovnik. That's a lot of money. To me - it sounds like getting to Brac and the hotel will be easy. She suggests it's not as easy as we think in the summer (July). It does seem a bit complicated to get to Dubrovnik and she says they would stop on the drive along the way to see nice sights.

If we did this on our own, would the cost be similar? Would we rent a car (we wouldn't want to take a bus)? Is this easy?

Thanks for your help. Ellen
Below is from the travel agent:

She says:

Ferry goes from Sumartin on Brač Island to Makarska on the mainland from where coastal drive continues to Dubrovnik (approx. 3 hour long)

From Lemongarden in Sutivan to Sumartin - approx. 1 hour long drive
Ferry Sumartin - Makarska - approx. 1 hour long ferry ride
From Makarska to Dubrovnik - approx. 3 hour long drive

neckervd

Supetar - Dubrovnik:
You can choose between:

Public transport:
Supetar - ferry - Split - catamaran - Dubrovnik
Supetar - ferry - Split - bus - Dubrovnik

Car ride:
Supetar - Sumartin - car ferry - Makarska - Dubrovnik

yorkshire

My god did you add an extra 0 by mistake? That is more than the cost of an airline ticket to Croatia(!), and Croatia is an easy place to travel. These are the companies to check:
http://www.jadrolinija.hr/
https://www.krilo.hr/en/

The bus system is fine, but if you really don't want to ride on one, then car rental is easy enough (but I would use it on the island to explore). Use google maps or viamichelin to map your drives, and be sure to note whether you are looking at catamarans (passenger only) or car ferries when checking schedules.
If you skip the car and take the ferry from Split to Supetar, I would have the hotel pick you us from there to avoid waiting for a bus to Sutivan.
Also without a car, returning to Split and taking the four hour bus would be easiest.

Woyzeck

One thing to watch out for is that some (many) car rental companies will not permit the car to be taken to the islands or on the car ferry from the mainland. Before you book a car rental, you need to make sure that this is explicitly permitted. I don't really know if you'll need a car in/around Split or Dubrovnik.

One option would be to take the ferry from Split to Brac, rent a car just for the island, and then take the fast catamaran to Dubrovnik (from Milna).

neckervd

Woyzeck has the best solution indeed:

direct Krilo catamaran from Milna (or Bol) to Dubrovnik
https://www.krilo.hr/en/sailing-schedule/

zac495

Okay I agree. We don't want a car in Dubrovnik as we'll only be there 2 nights. We're flying back to the US from Dubrovnik so we don't need to get back to Split.

So let me make sure I understand. Take a ferry (just our bodies) to Brac. Then do we need a car on Brac? Maybe one day to explore - and 2 days to relax. So maybe rent it one day...

Then there's a fast catamaran - no need to drive at all??? That's amazing. Why drive??? I don't understand why anyone would do anything else.

Do we need a car to get to Milna? Is Milna on Brac?

zac495

Looks like cost from Milana to Dubrovnik is 200 each. What's the cost Split to Brac? And yes, I can find out if they'll get us or we can take a taxi.

Is the catamaran fun? How long of a ride is it? I was told by travel agent the view on a boat is blah and by car is gorgeous and a fun day along the coast. Of course she's trying to sell us, but she is nice and I don't think she's trying to rip us off - just sell us her package.

kja

"I was told by travel agent the view on a boat is blah and by car is gorgeous"

Hmmm, I told you the same thing on your other thread, and I'm not getting anything in return -- except I said "meh," not "blah" (a fine distinction, but perhaps a meaningful one) and I encouraged you to take the bus from Split to Dubrovnik, because IME, you can't actually see that stunningly gorgeous scenery if you are trying to drive. JMO.

zac495

Kja I know you said the same thing and I do think I said thank you so much . However we will be in Brac after Split. So knowing that, what do you suggest?

kja

Go back to Split and take the bus.

Or, as I've suggested on your other thread, skip Dubrovnik this trip and go to the Plitvice Lakes instead. You've spoken of difficulty getting a reasonable flight out of Dubrovnik, and that would "solve" your problem by giving you the option of flying out of either Split or Zagreb AND would give you the chance to see the breathtaking Plitvice Lakes.

Croatia has magnificent scenery, and the two most spectacular places to see that are, IMO, (a) in the Plitvice Lakes National Park and (b) from the bus south of Split to Dubrovnik. Your current plan gives you neither option.

But as I've also said on that thread, it depends on what you want.

zac495

Yes Kja - but we decided we can't miss Dubrovnik. I switched threads since this isn't about Mom. Zagreb is another thought. The flights seems less complicated than I thought.

I wish we had more than 10 days but that's all my husband's job is willing to give him at one time. I'm a teacher so I can stay all summer - wouldn't be fun alone. Want to meet up?

neckervd

"Is the catamaran fun? How long of a ride is it?"
Open the link I sent you above

kja

Makes perfect sense to have started a new thread.

You said above that you wouldn't want to take a bus, and clearly, you shouldn't plan on something that doesn't suit you. But FWIW, the buses are very comfortable. And those views!!! it really is a delight to see them, and to really be able to pay attention them.

Woyzeck

The catamaran is comfortable and has nice views from the Adriatic to the coast and between the islands. There are refreshments on board. I wouldn't say it's "fun" like a cruise. It's just a ferry ride. We took it in the reverse direction in August and it was about 3 hrs.

zac495

Okay then We will take the bus.
Okay sounds like we should look into that.

Still - according to the travel agent, we need to get to the ferry. Maybe rent a car for a couple days in Brac and see Brac- then drive it to the ferry station and get the bus.

I found all the links to the ferry and bus, but they aren't selling yet. I'm sure that's not a big deal. I think it's the right thing to do.

THANK YOU!

yorkshire

The Krilo catamaran to Dubrovnik departs from Milna, and you are staying in Sutivan. I am sure your hotel can be accommodating in getting you to the catamaran. You would likely not need a car all three days on Brac, but a day rental for exploring would be nice.
If the catamaran schedule works for you, then I see no reason to return to Split for the bus. I think the views are pretty great either way, but a lot of people do not like catamarans because you cannot go on deck like on a car ferry.

zac495

Thank you Yorkshire and Kja and everyone,

The hotel is picking us up in Split and getting us to the hotel for 80 euro! That's a good deal.

Yes, they said it's easy to get us to Milna. So catamaran sounds easy.

But the bus sounds lovely. But how do we get to that port (and what is the name of that port?) And then how do we find a bus? I would LOVE to take a bus or rent a car, but it sounds like there are a lot of schedules that would have to be coordinated. Or is it easier than I think?

THANKS again,

Ellen

kja

A good guidebook will have a map that clearly shows the location of the bus, along with an address and a link you can use to get additional information. Please consult one -- it will save you a great deal of angst and confusion.

In the meantime, use rome2rio.com -- but check all the links carefully, as that site is not sensitive to seasonal variation.