Croatia - something for everyone?

[missymousie]

Hello! Would really appreciate some advice for a dysfunctional family holiday in Croatia this summer.

Scenario is ex left me at 6.5 mths pregnant and now lives in NZ. Every year we meet for a week for him to spend time with ds now 8. This year after I suggested Usbekhistan is unsuitable (no sense of adventure me ) and he vetoed SE Asia (sigh) he has agreed to meet up in Croatia.

He won't go in an organised tour or package way so need to book everything separately - but need to start off with finding a place that offers fantastic scenery with lots of different outdoor things to do (ex + ds)with sea and great swimming (me) that has places to eat and nice places to stay....

...does anybody have any idea about locations? or books? to get me planning

Many thanks

MissyM

I'd love to go to Croatia and I've heard great things about Dubrovnik, and Split (or the villages outside of Split). The Coastline is utterly beautiful and there are lots of flotilla's you can join (with or without sailing experience I think, if you don't know how to sail they teach you), Sunsail and Neilson are both UK co's that do them. Otherwise there are some lovely sandy beaches and great weather in the summer.
The Lonely Planet guide is a good place to start.

try tripadvisor forum.

www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g294453-Croatia.html

try this www.visitcroatia.proboards21.com for good adviced from people who live there.

Its hard not to get beautiul scenery on the coast www.photo-croatia.com but you need to decide between basing yourself on the islands or the mainland and between Istria and Dalmatia. Briefly Istria is the top part of coast next to Italy (so day trip to Venice a possibility) but a little colder and fewer islands to visit. Dalmatia is the more southerly part fo the coast running from Zadar to Dubrovnik. It takes abot 5 hours to drive end to end and it is scenic all the way. The main islands (Hvar, Brac, Vis etc)are off Split in the middle. Dubrovnik offers the possibly of a day trip to Montenegro (border is just 40 mins away). Split is a good base for islands though not a nice city itself - better stay a fewmiles away near Trogir. Highly recommend Mostar day trip - fantastic place. Its in Bosnia - about 2 hour drive from Split

I have been to Makarska in Dalmatia twice and it is lovely. Stony beaches but beautiful scenery, a lovely town and plenty of watersports available, Hvar and Brac nice but preferred Makarska. It's about two hours from Split airport. Would also second Mostar as a day trip.

I've been holidaying in Croatia for 15 years ( at least) I would strongly reccomend any of Dalmatiam islands. my favourite is Korcula, but Hvar and Brac are lovely too. Old town Dubrovnik as a day trip, Mostar(?) a bridge is not the original one but the town is wort a visit if you have time. If you don't want the islands go to Istra and visit Brioni.

The only problem with Makarska is that the beach gets so busy in July and August that ofte there is no where to put your towel down. Same for Baska Voda. If you visit in May, June or September though it is lovely. (The water is cold in May though although a few hardy people are in the sea right now - I live next to the sea in Dalmatia).