Mallorca or Croatia?

[Piggywaspushed]

I can be terribly indecisive and am stuck in a more of procrastination over booking a holiday in August. Plus, DH and I do have different ideas about what constitutes a holiday.

I spent ages looking for 10 day holidays but really would rather go to a villa which tends to cancel out 10 days : we have done 10 days before with 4 days caravan, 4 days villa but I have found the whole thing stressful.

Anyway, I think we have eventually found a nice looking villa near Puerto Pollnesa versus a nice looking villa near Rovinj (although it appears to be just off the main road in : does anyone know what that is like?)

We have been to Mallorca before, many years ago and know It is nice. Croatia looks lovely but the beaches bother me and I wonder what there is to do and see and what the roads are like.

DH likes to go somewhere new and likes to drive around. He quite likes the idea of a hotel and not being stuck in a villa every night (I like to just sit in shorts and a t shirt and drink a few glasses of wine on the patio and maybe go out one night) If I could find a villa walking distance to a nice resort I'd be very happy but these are like hen's teeth. We got stung last year with Owners Direct so have stuck to James/ Villa Plus.

Two DCs surly 17 year old and a 14 year old. Neither are into making friends, clubs etc so like a villa. DS1 does A level Spanish but didn't speak a word of it last summer!
Flight times to both are acceptable, rather than great.

Any thoughts on pros and cons of each??

Any help in making a decision, or joining in the havering welcome!

I like both Puerto Pollensa and Croatia. Would return to both.

Croatia, we found the roads fine, and hired a car for two days to explore.

We had the car for a week in Puerto Pollensa and there were lots of places to explore, from beachy places, villages and places up in the mountains.

Sea was lovely at both places, pebbly in Croatia so wear jelly shoes. We loved visiting Dubrovnik, especially my older DS as he's really into Game of Thrones and of course they had done lots of filming there.

Puerto Pollensa was just really easy, boat trips, loads restaurants, nice little shops, lots of beach to lounge on.

I don't know if that's helped at all!

Thank you bluesky- I suppose it just confirms they are both nice really!

We won't be near Dubrovnik if we go to Croatia but I know a lot of the towns look similar.

Is it comfy to sit on the beaches in Croatia? I'm being a bit of a wuss about these beaches!!

It's fine, there are big rocks, stones, there is usually someone around to hire loungers or chairs/brollies from.

It's so pretty and gorgeous, the sea so warm and clear, you don't think about the stones really.

I do like a warm sea!!

DH is a tightwad and never ever hires loungers!

Croatia is really one of the lovely places on earth.
You'd find the Croatia area far less commercialised than Majorca.

Yes, I did think so and it does look very lovely!

Where did you stay?

(I don't mind a bit commercialised actually as long as we aren't talking Magaluf commercialised!)

We flew into Dubrovnik and stayed in a small town called Cavtat.

Hi draylon yes, we too have done with drizzly, colder than expected holidays and have done villas in bits of Spain (Costa Brava last year). I think DH has just got a bit bored of caravans and villas and sitting around every night so I think he thinks a hotel will be more fun : but his budget doesn't get me a hotel I like, thanks v much!

Annoyingly, the villa in Croatia has now gone and the one in Mallorca has gone up in price. Humbug.

Wish I could get one for £3000! Struggling tbh

So, I have found a villa in Mallorca which DH has said is his 'maximum' and not to book tonight. If it has gone tomorrow I shall hit him about the head with a croc.

Any links to these Vila's..and the one gone in Rovinj..would love a peep 👀

I am not v adventurous so they are on Villa Plus and James Villas.

the one near Rovinj is called Villa Selo. James has its next door neighbour at £1000 more! Hence why the Villa Plus one got snaffled...

Villa Plus has some beautiful villas throughout Croatia : they are a bit pricy. I know there are some nice ones on OwnersDirect, too.

Rovinj was probably my favourite European holiday - and I got married in Dubrovnik, so never thought somewhere would pass it. It's also cheap when you're there, unlike Dubrovnik.

Our day trips included Venice, lake bled, some caves in Slovenia, Plitvice (sp?) National park ( beautiful but insanely busy).

Thanks liv . Sounds lovely.

We have been to Venice and I would like the DCs to see it - but probably not in high summer!

I think DH has now ruled out Croatia because : villas I like too pricy , no sand, no waves (he has this THING about waves! He hated his DF but seems to want to keep recreating bits of his own childhood, bless him). And I may have ruled it out because I am not allowed a nice villa and the flight times are awful, to be fair.

I went to Croatia as an older child, when it was Jugoslavia. I remember it as one of my best holidays ever. Lovely people, beautiful country. The clearest sea water ever (don't worry about the pebbles). The national parks are amazing (if you are near, Plitvica is the best) I would love to go back.

Have you tried airbnb for the villa? I have used it 3 times now (Portugal and Lanzarote), and I've been very happy. There is something for all budgets and it's easy.

I have this innate fear of Air BnB. Got a bit stung using Owners Direct last year.

I did message an O D guy who has a lovely villa recommended on MN. He didn't reply

Not outdoorsy at all. own no trainers. Honest.

I like scenery . Being a Scot I believe mountains are to look at from the bottom!

With airbnb I always choose hosts that have lots of good reviews. And I read the reviews thoroughly.

I'm struggling to find properties with reviews in Mallorca : there are just too many to filter tbh.

What filters are you using? I apply a fair wack, I would make sure that it has the amenities I need like air conditioning, washing machine, dish washer etc. I also filter amount of bedrooms and beds. Then I narrow down to period, price and area and I click on the ones that look interesting. It does take a while to find the right place, but it's always been worth my time.

I couldn't see a way of filtering for aircon, pool etc, so I must have been doing it wrong!

I am taking the DC to Croatia this year. We are staying on Lopud, a v small, car free island just off the coast nr Dubrovnik. It is the only place in Croatia with sandy beaches and the beaches look amazing. We are staying in a cheap guesthouse but there are fancy hotels and villas there. Worth a look.