Leaving Dubrovnik, feeling sad.

[ColinOfficeTrolley]

AIBU? Anyone ever been on holiday that feels a bit more special than any other holiday? I know it's why holidays are holidays. If we could come all the time it wouldn't be special, but me, DH and 16 yo (just finished her GCSE's) DD booked this because of Game of Thrones, to sightsee etc. But honestly, this place is so breathtaking. We only came for a week and it's been the most I've packed into a week. Normally I'm a lazy bastard. Lounge by the pool/out in the evening type of person, but that's just not an option here.

There are so, so, so many fucking steps, and we're in an air BnB near the top, but the views,. THE VIEWS!!!!!!!

I am going to miss it SO much.

I mean, I'm not screaming in the Sistene Chapel or anything like that, just feeling a bit deflated, watching the sunrise from the balcony and feeling a pang of melancholy.

It’s a beautiful place, we are going again later this year - in Croatia but different town. We
also went to Montenegro an really lovely place.

We really enjoyed it, unspoilt by tourist, people are lovely. Food good! We went with a 14 and 21 year olds and both enjoyed!

There was only one touristy place that a cruise ship arrived - that was a little manic! But only slight bad day in a wonderful week.

We also recently went to Crete - South Island again really lovely place.

As I get older I realise AI for 7 days sat by the pool isn’t for us - we want a more balance alternating chill days by the pool with places to go and see. Enjoying trying to find that balance.

Late 20s low 30s.

The steps tho 😂 not for the faint hearted. Dunno if Split is the same for the steps. But I had a meltdown the first day 🤣

😆🤣🤣....

Thanks. I can't see myself doing steps in that heat. Off to have a look at the pics again.

Having a mini panic as I would avoid somewhere like that in August, but was persuaded by kids! 🙄

Ohhh I’m off to Prague for the first time in August.

Staying 4 nights (in zone 1) by myself (feeling a bit apprehensive as a 60 year old woman, but also quite proud of myself for doing it!)

What 3 things would you say I should definitely not miss?

Buza bar!!

Yes there are holidays like that. My trip away with ds in 2019 to California was like heaven, I 100% didn’t want to come home. Partly because I answered any question about ‘shall we…’ with ‘Yes!’ and a credit card… but also it’s so spectacular and so much to do. Usually I’m quite happy to come home. I think there’s something special about a successful holiday with teenagers, seeing the world open up through their eyes, they don’t need caring for like the younger years, and a slight melancholic knowledge that there aren’t many years like that.

We've stayed in Rovinj twice - its lovely. Going to Split this year. Croatia is a lovely country.

We don't normally go back to holiday places but this year are going back to Dubrovnik in August and to the same hotel. I'm really looking forward to taking boat trips to places instead of big organised trips. Last time we went a day trip to Mostar in 40+ heat and with all the faffing about at border controls, made it back just in time before dinner finished. Never again!

The only thing I wasn't keen on were the cruise ship invasions but I'll try to work out when they're due and avoid the Old Town at those times.

Googling flights as we speak!!

Me too! Though I’m wondering if it’ll be too hot. Me and 2 kids (13/10). They may whinge a lot…

I would love to visit Croatia. Dubrovnik sounds beautiful. We looked at it for May just gone but I was overwhelmed and couldn’t decide where best to stay? Any tips? My kids are 10 & 14. Love the beach, boat trips and nice towns.

We went around 10 years ago, we had eaten at the restaurant and just waiting for dessert, the restaurant at top of the cable car when a storm and lightening strikes started and we were all shipped out super fast and none of us paid for our meal it was that quick.

The authorities closed the restaurant.

The wasps around the walls were hell. But it was beautiful. Best thing we did was sea kayaking from Cavtat. And swimming in the natural pool in Lokrum.

Not sure I would go back but def pleased we visited. Was interesting to see the banned paths off the beaten tricks due to potential explosives and the old houses with littered with bullet holes, certainly made you think about how vulnerable they were.

If you liked Dubrovnik please visit Montenegro! The town Kotor is a smaller version on a drop dead gorgeous bay.

Oh I loved Dubrovnik. Had a magical time there last year with friends. I didn’t want to leave either but my goodness there were a lot of steps!!

Any hotel recommendations for Dubrovnik / Croatia in August? 2 adults & 2 kids age 8&10. Thanks!

We've just got back from Pula, another beautiful Croatian city/beach resort on Istrian peninsula. We absolutely loved it, swimming/kayaking in the Adriatic, dolphin watching on dinner cruise, the old city and the amphitheatre. We stayed in Verudela, which is a gated tourist complex made up of various hotels and self catering accommodation. It wasn't obvious that it was a complex from the websites, but we would definitely recommend as everything on hand if you don't want to venture far and the city just a 15 minute bus ride away. There's something for everyone within the complex, whether you want chilled adult only vibe or family holiday. Also, there are shared pools and restaurants too, so you can easily change the vibe from day to day.
We would definitely go back to Croatia, it is so clean for one thing, and we'll look at Dubrovnik next time, so thanks for the tip.

I almost always cried on the way home from Eurocamp in France. I think it was because the kids had such a great time, we were totally relaxed, and I didn’t want to go back to work!!!

We loved Dubrovnik, but preferred Split, which was less crowded, less touristy and cheaper than Dubrovnik.

While in Split, we spent a couple of nights on the nearby island of Brac for a change of pace and change of scene, there wasn't much to do but relax. We did book to visit an olive grove for a tour, but a car picked us up instead of a bus / coach and we were the only ones on the tour, so it was just like being invited round someone's house. It was lovely.

It gave us the bug for former Yugoslavia TBH.

Day trip to Krka National Park and waterfalls was magical.

Day in Mostar is Bosnia was amazing.

We more recently went to Montenegro. Did a dray trip to Perast (sat in amongst fjords) which was just breathtaking. Then to Kotor which was gorgeous and we want to stay in Kotor next time.

Albania is next on our list.

Dubrovnik was the first place DH and I went on holiday together, 21 years ago when we were 21. I have no idea where I got the notion to go there - when I mentioned it to other people they had no idea what I was talking about. When I said it was in Croatia, some people asked if the war was still going on! Maybe there was a special offer to get tourists back?

We rented an apartment from a local, long before there was such thing as Air BnB - I think I just found his details online and messaged him (seems so dodgy now when I look back!). He picked us up from the airport in his absolutely tiny car. His mother came over the next day and gave us a local tipple - can't remember what it was now. She tried to talk to me in Croatian and when I didn't understand she did the trick of speaking louder and slower. She was so sweet.

I was totally amazed at the place. I had never heard of it, but it was so beautiful and perfect for a holiday - small, with loads of things in walking distance, great weather, fantastic food. We had a brilliant time, even though at one point I slipped down the steps onto my arse. DH and I had our first serious fight there, but we made up.

We got married there a few years later!

When DH and I went there first, it was in 2001 and Goran Ivanesevic had just won Wimbledon and there was lots of merchandise everywhere with his face on!!
We also had people asking us if the war was still on and whether it was safe.
It was quite quiet that first time though- no cruise ships-when we went 2 years ago with the kids it was very busy!

Lapad is a lovely place to stay. It's 10 10-minute bus ride from the Old Town. Beautiful beach (Uvala Lapad).

I was born and raised in Dubrovnik but left at the age of 23, thinking that the grass was greener elsewhere. After a few years, I realized that Dubrovnik is beautiful, but I didn't appreciate it while living there.

My English husband loves it, and my daughter enjoys spending summers there with her family. She speaks perfect Croatian and has many friends and cousins there.
Dubrovnik is the safest place I have ever been, and I have travelled a lot.
As teenagers, we would swim at midnight and stroll down the Stradun for ice cream at 11 PM.
As my brother has a speedboat, we sometimes go to Kalamota as it's the closest island. Lopud is lovely too.
For us (locals), going to Lokrum is free, so we would sometimes go there and spend the whole day.

We stayed in Lapad and agree with a PP about it being super easy to get into town and the sea is just gorgeous

If you are on FB and planning to visit Dubrovnik, I recommend joining the group called Dubrovnik Croatia Travel 2025.