Hello! This summer our family of 4 is planning to visit Croatia and Slovenia. I understand that this is already looking very last minute but didn't want to plan ahead due to covid uncertainties.

Before I ask questions, sharing a little about ourselves
- We do a fair amount of traveling, physically fit, don't do luxury travel but not on a budget. We are open to doing car rental when needed but also ok with using public transportation. We pack light (no checked bags)
- What we enjoy - wandering in old towns on foot, local markets, unique landscapes, water activities, moderate hikes, music, photography
- What we don't care about - nightlife/partying, shopping, food scene

Croatia & Slovenia planning challenge

This time the planning is looking extra interesting since my husband and teenage can only take about 2 weeks off while my younger child (age 12) and I would like to travel for ~6 weeks. Ideally, we all will start our trip late June, two of them will return early July, I will continue the trip with my younger one until end of July/early Aug.

My current thought is
Part 1 (first 2 weeks) - All 4 of us start in Dubrovnik. Rent a car and travel north covering the highlights (still figuring out details) to Zagreb. DH and older kid can fly back from Zagreb.
Part 2 (~4 weeks) - My younger kid and I backtrack from Zagreb. This time go at slower pace and visit smaller towns/islands. Fly back from Dubrovnik.

It would be great to get advice on this plan. Is there a better option? How would you suggest we focus on specially during Part 2?

Many thanks in advance for your help!

I think it sounds fine, although it isn't clear to me where Slovenia fits in your plans. Is that part of your second 4 weeks? Where you focus depends a bit on where you visit in your first two weeks. Do you have a tentative plan for us to comment on?

btw, I have travelled in Europe with my two kids (separately) and it's been wonderful - an opportunity to grasp.

This is a real planning challenge. By necessity your second half will back track and re-do parts of your first half. That said, how does the following sound for a start. Highways in Croatia are great. Expressways are toll roads but the toll stations take American credit cards, no problem. Driving in Slovenia is also easy but you have to have a vignette on your windshield for the expressways. Older, two lane roads in both countries will be more crowded and slower.

Part One (14 nights) --
Dubrovnik area -- 4 nights -- city (very crowded), bay of Kotor, pick up car
An island or coastal village -- 1 night
Split -- 2 nights
Plitvicka Park -- 1 night
Istria -- 2 nights
Ljubljana -- 3 nights -- city, Lake Bled, Triglavski park
Zagreb -- 1 night

Part 2 (28 nights) -
Zagreb -- drop car, subsequent travel by bus or train
Side trip to Budapest
Side trip to Vienna
Side trip to Venice
10 days on islands -- Hvar and Korcula
Tour to Mostar
Might want to consider a small boat cruise for a few days
Back to Dubrovnik

Suggest you put an itinerary together and ask for more details.

Late June is already getting busy in Dalmatia but July and August are so busy that it can be uncomfortable. I’d focus on Dalmatia with your family late June, but do something different for the final four weeks. Istria will also be very busy in July and August. Get your accommodation locked in NOW if you want to stay in Istria or anywhere on the sea in Slovenia.

Parts of Slovenia will be very busy too (Bled and the coast) but not as bad as Dalmatia. Ljubljana is great in July, there are nice towns like Kranj and Ptuj to explore, and all kinds of outdoor activities.

I am having such a hard time deciding what to focus on for the second half! Too many wonderful options - perhaps we will spend a few more days in Croatia and then head over to Italy or Austria. Your suggestion have got me thinking MichGuy !

For the part one, here is what I am thinking right now.

4 nights - Dubrovnik
2 nt - Hvar or Korcula
1 nt - Plitvice lakes
4 nts - Ljubljana (haven't narrowed down day trip options yet)
2 nt - Piran
1 nt - Zagreb
After looking at travel videos and some guides, I am thinking of skipping Split so that we can add some more time for Slovenia. It would be fun to spend a day biking or rowing. I would completely cut Zagreb too but it's needed for flight back and car return.

dreamon traveling with one kid at a time in Europe has been very rewarding and memorable experience, hence this trip again! I haven't figured out a plan yet but I know it will be simpler compared the first part.

rialtogrl I will start booking hotels/airbnbs this week. I am already fearing that everything is going to be packed this year.

About part#1, with 4 nights in Dubrovnik, you may find you have time to head out to one or more of the nearby islands for the day. You can do kayaking/rafting on the Soca river in Slovenia (in the far west of the country) but it would be best to stay closer than Ljubljana I think.

About part#2, in many respects your plan will come down to whether you fly home from Dubrovnik. You could very, very easily fill your four weeks by spending more time in Slovenia and Croatia (your first two weeks just skim the surface) and that's what I would do (I had 6 weeks in Croatia and Slovenia - a second visit to both - and found there were many places I just didn't have time for). However, if you want to explore countries like Italy, Austria or Hungary then I would definitely want to fly home from one of those countries and not Dubrovnik. The choices really are endless but f it were me, I would not rush around trying to stay in too many places over too wide a territory. I'd pick a country or region that you want to focus on.

Hvar or even more, Korčula is a bit of a trek to Plitviče lakes. First you have to get to the mainland, then drive three hours or more. When are you planning to visit the park? Are you bringing a car to the islands? Have you looked at the logistics of getting on and off them?

And then three to four hours to drive to Ljubljana. The border will be busy.

it might be better to save it for the second part where you can travel more slowly.

rialtogrl is absolutely right about the journey to Plitvice. I would say something similar about travelling Ljubljana - Piran - Zagreb (not exactly direct). If not keen on Split, you could perhaps consider visiting Trogir, Primosten, Sibenik or Zadar instead of Piran.

If driving from Plitvice to Ljubljana, I would investigate whether you can cross the border via the Karlovac and Metlika route.