Croatia

[Daisychain789]

I’m keen to travel to Croatia next year with my husband and 6 year old but I’m a bit overwhelmed with all the choice.

we’re looking at 5-10 days, budget of up to £10k and happy to travel between two hotels.

is there any must see places? And where is the best place to base ourselves?

thanks

We went to Split during October half term and I would highly recommend it. Beautiful small city to explore with a few small beaches nearby and nice walks. You could also use it as a base to explore inland or do some ferry trips to the islands. Possibly combine with Dubrovnik?

You haven't said what time of year. Croatia is fabulous, one of my favourite places to spend time, you can't go wrong with whatever you pick, but if you are thinking July/August it will be busy. If you are going in summer and don't like crowds maybe head to the islands or to Istria? I haven't been to Dubrovnik in more than 20 years, it's gorgeous but given it has cruise boats docking and also many many tourists staying locally, I might avoid it in summer. We have a really lovely trip through Istria: Rovinj, Pula, Porec and Motovun and also visiting Plitvice Lakes pre-COVID but that was in October and people on here have said Plitvice Lakes is also heaving in summer, but I think Istria would be quieter than either Split or Dubrovnik.

Sorry, I meant to say we are looking at August/september

Croatia is also one of my favourite places - it has everything! Historic cities, beautiful beaches and the clearest sea to swim in that you'll ever see plus natural features and great food.

Do you like to be busy and explore or relax or both? Will you be hiring a car?

I went August 2023 with DH and (then) 7 year old DD. We stayed three nights in Split (had one day on a day trip to Krka National Park to see the waterfalls), then got a ferry to Brac Island and stayed in Supetar which was stunning. Then a final night in Split before flying home. No car. We like to explore but it was mid 30Cs and very humid so impossible to do much in the daytime although we had a nice time swimming in the sea and in the pool at our apartment. We explored Supetar town in the evenings when it was cooler but it was small. I wouldn't go again in August.

I also went many years before with a friend in mid September and did loads of exploring. We flew to Split, did a week organised sailing trip around the islands (Korcula, Milet, Hvar, Brac and others) that was spectacular with lots of great swimming and exploring the islands, then picked up a hire car in Split and drove to Krka National Park, Plitvice Lakes then down the coast to Dubrovnik. Left the hire car, flew to Zagreb, explored and flew home!

So many options in Croatia (we'll go to Istria next trip). But August might be very hot.

I should add that our 9 day August 2023 trip cost around £3k (although our flights were a bargain and we stayed in apartments apart from our last night) so you should be able to have a wonderful trip on your much higher budget.

I love Croatia and have been a few times. We head to the north and fly into Pula. A beautiful city with its own colosseum. We like the Labin area and the beaches at Rabac are nice. Porec is also beautiful. I would recommend hiring a car so that you can get out and explore as there is so much to see.

We were in Croatia in early July. Flew to Split and then caught the ferry to Brac and stayed in Bol which was lovely. But so hot ( and we are used to very hot weather). We stayed in Split the night before we flew home and it was horrendously packed. And very dirty.