How would you do Croatia?

[glasshalfsomething]

It was on our pre-children bucket list, but we never made it. Now want to go back, either in September or next June.

Go all inclusive; easy with a toddler but miss some culture?

Eurocamp; and miss out on the luxury?

Self cater and car hire; feels like most work but best way to see the country.

Would love opinions, recommendations and more.

I went this year to Zadar, avoided the tourist heavy cities. Then did half board with lots if day trips. Loads of buses. Great easy place.

Zadar has been mentioned by a friend before. Great camp site apparently.

There's a Neilsons nearby which is perfect for family can be pricey though.

Croatia can get very hot in summer- like roasting. Also avoid between June - September. It's heaving with tourists. I know that's not helpful when you have kids but it's something to just be aware of
Split is a pretty good place to go

Recently back from a 3 week road trip from Zagreb to Dubrovnik. Weather 37 degrees plus from Split onward. We had apartments at each of our stops (Zagreb, Rovinj, Plitvice Lakes, Split and Cavtat). Our longest stay was in Spilt, for necessity, as we used it as a base to visit a couple of the islands and Trogir. Actually wasn't keen on Split itself.

Everywhere except the islands was very busy and it is more commercialised than I expected. However, it is an incredibly beautiful country and there is a view around every corner, I've never taken so many photos.

I should have said we liked Istria and the islands best and would go back to that end of the country. Like another thread saying they didn't hear a Brit accent in Tenerife we never hear many Brits until we got to Cavtat! I was constantly being addressed in German in Istria.

Thanks for sharing your experience @fussychica

I might wait until toddler was up for car travel. We hired a car with dc went to Bosnia and Montenegro as well. Actually preferred them. Croatia was very busy in August, huge volumes of cruise ships.

DS and I were there in early/mid June for a few nights split (pun not intended!) between Trogir and one of the islands. It was seriously hot and much, much busier than I expected for the time of year. I was last there some 25 years ago so expected change but even so was surprised. I would only go back if visiting Istria.

How old is your toddler? We were considering it this year with a 2.8 year old. Having been a few times, I was looking at staying in Jelsa on Hvar. In the end the cost of flights put me off, and we have plumped for a AI holiday elsewhere instead. We have been pre DC and stayed in Split and a few islands (Hvar, Vis) as well as Dubrovnik which was busy and hot. Didn’t need to hire a car, travelled by bus and ferry, but mostly didn’t move very far; it very much lends itself to slow travel.

We’ve done Croatia a couple of times, and are going again next month.
First time was pre-kids, and we stayed in spilt, trogir and Dubrovnik, before heading north to stay at Plitvice, then a night in Zagreb before heading into Slovenia. Basic but nice b&b accommodation, ate out and the food was amazing, used public transport, and all was grand except for the hellish drive between split and Dubrovnik.
Second time was with DC (3&1), flew to Zadar and mostly based ourselves there, but spent a few days in the middle visiting other towns (Sibinek and Nin, both gorgeous). We really liked Zadar, calmer and less touristy than Dalmatian coast but still lots to do and a lovely waterfront area. We stayed in a an Airbnb in the old town initially, and a Falkensteiners hotel next, which was perfect for families and v reasonable.
This time we do cavtat and Korcula, then head into Bosnia and Serbia. Can’t wait.

@EleanorofCastile toddler will be 3 if we go in June, which we are swaying towards.

Have air miles to use for flights + car hire if needed.

Zadar is looming good at the minute.

WE’ve booked an air bnb on the island of Cres for 10 nights. Driving from the Uk with 2 nights stopovers each way (Nuremberg, Lake Bled then Munich and Luxembourg). Especially looking forward to the Karawanks tunnel on Austria/Slovenia border 😂😂

Eat a lot of truffles.