We are going to Croatia for 14 days in August (soon!). Flying into Split, out of Dubrovnik. (Or could do the other way round!)

Problem is....My family do not enjoy relocating too many times -everyone needs a rest, and don’t love packing/unpacking. But I'm really overwhelmed trying to work out the itinerary.

Ideally my family don’t want to relocate more than once, but I’m not sure if this will work?

We are going for 14 days, Wed-Wed. We are travelling with two teenage boys, we like a mixture of active days and rest days. We will have a car and happy to drive a reasonable distance for day trips. Happy to do old towns, water sports, adventure, hikes and beach.

How would you split (no pun intended!) the days?

Should we:
1. do a 2-centre holiday, a few days (10?) in Dubrovnik and a few days (4?) in Split?
2. Do a 3-centre holiday (less popular with my family) and do a few days in split — an island (which? Korcula? Bol?) and then a few days in Dubrovnik?

Are the hot-spots do-able as day trips from Split and Dubrovnik? Or are we much better off making that third stay on an island.

Please advise an overwhelmed holiday-booker!!!

Thank you!!

It really depends on what you want to do, but FWIW, I would find a week too much for Dubrovnik. OTOH, there's a LOT to do in / around Split. If you want to add a few days on one of the islands, you should have time for it. If you haven't already looked at it, I recommend the Rough Guide for Croatia.

A car will be an advantage for many things, but not for the cities themselves. There, you might find having a car quite a disadvantage. You might want to wait until the end (or near the end) of your time in Dubrovnik before picking uo a car.

Which order and whether to include an island might depend on where you can get lodging. If you don't already have that booked, you might want to do so ASAP!

Kja Thanks. Yes, I've left it very late, but life got in the way this year.
Thank you, I think you're right - availiability of accommodation will probably be a deciding factor.

But good to know that a week in dubrovnik is too long.
Thanks!

Life does have a way of interfering with vacations!
A week in Dubrovnik would be too long for me; YMMV.

Following, we’re looking at about a fortnight between Dubrovnik and Split, including day trips, want to visit Kotor too. I haven’t really sat down to work the itinerary as we’re still just trying to figure out our plans, this will be for end April/early May of next year.

IME, the activities trudoors has listed for Dubrovnick -- Old Town and city walls, Lokrum, and Montenegro (Kotor+) can all be easily completed in 3 days.

If all you want to do in Dubrovnik is what you listed, then yes, only 3 full days would be needed. There are many other options, though, in the area: Elephati Islands, Cavtat, Mljet National Park, day trip to Mostsr (though is nuch better if you can overnight) or even a stop in Neum if you're inclined. So if you find you want to keep the 7 days in the area, you'd have plenty to keep you busy.

Kudos for not rushing it like I see so many do.

While I firmly agree that Mostar is better with a night or two, note that if one does choose to visit it as a day trip, it's actually a bit closer to Split than to Dubrovnik.

Thank you each of you, this site is so wonderful, I really appreciate you taking the time to share your expertise.

Not surprisingly, at this late stage, I'm finding it tricky to find decent accommodation in Dubrovnik. We may only be able to stay for 3 nights.
I think I’d have preferred 4 nights so we can explore all of the places you suggested.

Thank you!!

Four nights might have been better, but three nights will give you time to see the main sites in / around Dubrovnik, and at least it sounds like you found something for three nights -- awesome!

If you cannot find accommodations in Dubrovnik, you could look in Cavtat (close to the airport) and take day trips in.

In August, everything will be expensive. For a family I can recommend the Banje beach apartments on this page:
https://www.dubrovnik-tours.hr/accommodation/
If you can be flexible with your dates in August, maybe they have one of them available. You really don't want a car there, though.

I would definitely try to stay on an island, at least for a few days. Honestly, in August, I might just stick to Split and surroundings and an island, and save Dubrovnik for another trip. Also I would not recommend a day trip to Montenegro in August, unless you want to spend several hours waiting at the border in the hot sun.

Thanks Rialtogrl, good advice. This apartment does look great! I think we'd prefer a pool though...

The sea is right across the street. I’m not sure you will find too many places with pools.. unless you go to resort type places outside the cities.