Questions about going to Croatia with kids

[SabsFabulous]

Hi,

We're thinking to go to Croatia this year for a week, either in April or August. When would be the best time of the year to go? Kids are 5 and 9. We want to do a mix of beach and visiting tourist attractions like the game of thrones sites. We like the heat but don't want it to be too warm that we can't walk around and enjoy the sites.

Where would be the best place to be based in, Dubrovnik or elsewhere?

Any hotels or self-catering recommendations?

Finally, how easy is it to drive around there or is public transport quite accessible?

Sorry for all the questions but thanks in advance!

Bump

I realise I've asked quite a few questions

If you're going for the GoT locations, then base yourself in Dubrovnik. Valamar Club Dubrovnik is definitely the most child friendly accommodation in the area but from a parent's point of view it wasn't amazing. Yes, it has kids clubs, a great coastal location and kids pools, but the buffet was a bit meh and we're not really into nightly poolside entertainment. If I was going again, I'd try airbnb. August won't be too hot, especially if you're spending some time on the beach.

Croatia is beautiful with incredible history. But if you’re looking for sandy beaches, it won’t give you that - they’re pretty much all rocky, pebble and/or shingle. I went in August and it was extremely hot. If you don’t try to do too much in one day, you’ll be fine. Sorry can’t help with hotels as we stayed on a boat.

April might turn chilly, August is better. My sister booked an apartment on airbnb, spent there a month with 2 kids, liked the hols very much.

It will be hot in August and crazy crowds in Dubrovnik, I went in October and it was still warm (mid twenties) and still pretty crowded then. The locals said temp often goes up to high 30s in July and August and that the volume of people is enormous in the Old Town in those months...

April is a bit early though and sea will be too cold for swimming. June or September better if either of those are possible?

Consider Split as an alternative to Dubrovnik, less crowded and easy to get to several islands from there. It's also slightly less hot than Dubrovnik if you do go in August. www.yr.no/place/Croatia/Dubrovnik-Neretva/Dubrovnik/statistics.html

OP is probably wanting to visit in school hols Easter or summer hols. May half term might be a compromise OP rather than April
or the extreme highs of August heat.

Thanks everyone for their responses. Yes we need to stick to school holidays unfortunately. May half term isn't possible.

Would end of August be better do you think?

buttermilkwaffles is Dubrovnik easy enough to get to from Split if we wanted to do a day trip? Split was the other place we were thinking of but really want to go to Dubrovnik too to visit the old town and game of thrones filming location

@overandunder9 you stayed on a boat? Following as I want to do this next year but camping

No, Split is way too far for a day trip, I think the Catamaran takes 4 to 5 hours one way from Dubrovnik, including stops. Not sure how long driving or bus takes (check on Google maps), but the coastal route involves a border crossing as a small part of Bosnia extends to the coast.

You could go down to Kotor (Montenegro) for a day trip, but obviously that also involves a border crossing. Even that takes about 2 hours each way by bus, plus maybe 20 minutes at the border, depending on queues..

Oh, sorry just realised you meant Dubrovnik as a day trip from Split, not the other way around, but same difference regarding long travel time. However Mostar would be a day trip option if you are based in Split, whereas Kotor would not, but would be from Dubrovnik, although both are worth an overnight stay as are much nicer when all the daytrippers have gone home... especially Mostar with the bridge floodlit.

Plitvice Lakes or Krka also possible day trips from Split, but as above Dubrovnik too far I would think...

Ideally I would split a trip between Split and Dubrovnik with at least 3 nights in each, maybe fly into one and out the other if possible?

Public transport (I used buses, ferries and train in Croatia) was mostly pretty good, although the roads are excellent too, so would probably be a pleasant place to drive as well, with the advantage of being able to stop wherever you wanted to...

If you take the buses make sure you have 10 kuna in cash (worth about 1 pound) for each piece of large luggage as you pay the driver for that to go in the luggage hold.

I OP I have been wanting to visit Croatia for a few years now on Trip Adviser forums they always advise June or September which is why I haven’t visited. I had a friend that went last week in August and first week in September and they had a lot of rain storms one year.

@importantkath We sailed around the coast stopping at a different place each day. It was in my pre-children days on a boat that was very much targeted to the younger market. Not sure if such boats exist for families.

I haven't been in Dubrovnik for a few years now, but I got married there so was there for a few years in a row. It's gorgeous, but absolutely crowded (last there in 2012 before the GoT thing was really going and it got noticeably busier every year) and will be sweltering in August.

If you're set on Dubrovnik, I'd stay in Lapad or Cavtat, easy to get the bus into the old town, but you're a bit removed from the bustle.

However, if you can face missing the GoT stuff, I'd recommend Istria in the North. We stayed in both Rovinj and Opatija which were both lovely (Rovinj would be my preference for a family holiday). Much quieter and cheaper than Dubrovnik.