Croatia/Slovenia 13-day trip

Hi,
I am going to Croatia/Slovenia in mid-July. Here is my itinerary:

Day 1: London -> Ljubljana -> Zagreb

Day 2: Zagreb -> Dubrovnik (Flight)

Day 3: Dubrovnik
Day 4: Dubrovnik -> Split

Day 5: Split (Day trip to Hvar)
Day 6: Split (Day trip to Trogir)
Day 7: Split -> Zadar

Day 8: Zadar -> Plitvice -> Zagreb

Day 9: Zagreb -> Ljubljana -> Opatija

Day 10: Opatija -> Rovinj

Day 11: Rovinj - Ljubljana
Day 12: Bled
Day 13:Ljubljana -> London

My constraints:
1) I have already booked my return tickets from London to Ljubljana so my trip has to start and end there
2) My friend will have a shorter trip and will end on Day 9. That's why I prefer to be back to Ljubljana on Day 9.

Questions:
1) Is this itinerary ok?
2) Any recommendations for hotels/restaurants?
3) Is the Day 8 itinerary feasible?
4) Is day trip to Hvar feasible? Do you recommend other islands over Hvar?

Thank you very much.

First, let me say I've traveled throughout Slovenia and Croatia over two trips for a total of about eight weeks. I'll be there again this summer. I really feel sorry for people who plan itineraries like yours. It's the classic travel blunder of trying to see/do far too much in way too short a time. You'll end up rushing from one place to the next without experiencing your destinations. When it's over, you'll have no real knowledge or understanding of these countries.

Ljubljana is a beautiful, vibrant, and fascinating city that deserves to be explored. You're basically passing through it several times in transit elsewhere. By the time you get to Zagreb, you'll have little time to see anything and you leave the next day. It will be the same when you return there. Staying in Split and trying to do day trips to Hvar and Trogir is folly. I recommend you skip Split except for catching the ferry to Hvar and spend a couple days on Hvar basing yourself in Stari Grad or , even better, in Vrboska(see my response to"savvyshoos" thread from 6/19). I would spend an overnight in Trogir rather than Split. I'd skip Zadar to gain time elsewhere, it's no big deal. You could also cut out Opatija or Rovinj to add time elsewhere. Seeing both is unnecessary.

What is your transportation other than the flights? If it's trains or busses you'll be spending major time just making connections. If you have a car after Dubrovnik, I could make several suggestions re: going to Hvar. My best advice is to see less for longer and return for another trip in the future.

thanks for your message. I am from Asia and it is difficult for me to come back for a second trip in a short period of time and that's why I am trying to fit more into the schedule. I agree with you and I will try to adjust the schedule. Thanks for your advice.

1) I intentionally keep the time in Zagreb a minimum as I hear ppl say it is not that special and should spend more time on the coast. Is that the case?

2) So do you prefer Opatija or Rovinj?

3) Would you prefer Hvar, Brac or Vis?

4) I will travel on public transport so please kindly advise if my trip is feasible (e.g. does transport exist between 2 places, etc)

Thank you very much.

In general I would agree with 1. But not everyone has a luxury of 4 weeks per trip. Given the time frame you have you could use it more rationally:
DAY 4. Dbk - Split - Hvar (it takes 4hrs by bus to Split; ferries to Hvar are frequent)
DAY 5. Hvar
DAY 6. Hvar - Split (visit Diocletian palace, right in the port) - Trogir (40min by local bus, there is a ferry connection also, but not as frequent)
DAY 7. Trogir
DAY 8. Trogir to Zadar (3hrs by bus)
DAY 9. Zadar - Plitivce - Zagreb (bid farewell to your friend)
Day 10. Zagreb - Rovinj
Day 11. Rovinj - Ljubljana - Bled (Lj to Bled frequent buses)
Day 12. Bled
Day 13. Ljubljana

While Zagreb and Ljubljana have a lot to offer, the summer months are not the prime time to visit them. However, you could skip Rovinj (only to simplify the itinerary) and spend more time in either one of them or in Bled (my suggestion).

Edited by: dlmtn

Thanks. In fact, the flight between Zagreb to Dbk is not booked yet so can be altered. Do you think it makes any difference if I reverse the trip and fly back Zagreb from Dbk using flight?

Split is more base destination then Trogir.. 300 000 people...

Split to hvar catamaran at 11 am ..

I suggest that make some Split walking tour

To answer #4: it does not make any difference timewise or itinerary wise.

In response to 3, I fully understand "tpking" doesn't have "the luxury of a four week trip". My comments and suggestions are geared to help him have the most rewarding experience possible with the limited time he does have. I think dlmtn's suggested itinerary is quite good and realistic. I would certainly favor Rovinj over Opatija but would also consider skipping it entirely to gain time on Hvar.
I would spend two full days on Hvar because the islands are one of the best aspects of Croatia and an essential experience and Hvar is one of the best islands. I would stay in Vrboska with Stari Grad as second choice as both are close to the main ferry and much less crowded and nicer than Hvar town, which can quickly be reached by bus from either. A half day in Split to see the palace and maybe the old town is all that's needed. Other than that, Split is just a big crowded city without alot to offer.
I totally disagree with dltmtn's statement that summer is not the time to visit Ljubljana. During the summer the outdoor cafe scene along the river and around Presernov trg is fantastic and there is live music and other events everywhere. It's center is compact and can be readily explored by walking. The views from the castle are great.
I'd use private accommodation whenever possible as it's cheaper and plentiful -- look for "sobe" (rooms) signs on houses or enquire at a tourist or travel office. You'll often see people looking to fill their rooms when you get off the bus or ferry.

Edited by: Travels2Live

The same outdoor cafe scene is even better (and less hot) in late spring, early fall which in general is far better time to visit any inland city in Europe. Every sensible soul knows that the summertime is best spent along the beach or in the mountains, just ask any lucky soul who can escape Zag or Ljub during that time of the year.

For many of us, traveling in the spring or fall is not an option and, since we don't live in Europe, if we want to see the cities we must do it in the summer. I've never found Ljubljana or any other European city to be so oppressively hot they were unbearable in the summer and have always enjoyed my time in them. If that makes me an unsensible soul, so be it.

Hm, there are no connections with Euroland outside summer from your neck of the woods? So sorry for you. I am in NYC and get the best deals on airfares outside the high summer season. So long.

I'm a teacher and work from September - the end of June. Many others, not just teachers, have similar restrictions for any number of reasons. No need to cop an attitude about it.

Sorry for the attiutde. At least teachers get plenty of vacation; different time of year.

I find Zagreb to be a great place to be during the summer holidays - especially because half the city is away on vacation, so the streets and roads are empty (the reason why I rarely leave it during July/August). It's a great time to see the city in detail as you can get everywhere quickly and easily and see everything you want to see without queuing for hours.

Despite that, everything in the city still works - there's no "tourist season" work time (except some shops may work an hour or two less) - so you can get everything you could get at any time of the year, with the added benefit of no crowds. It can be quite hot - up to 40C in the city - but there's always something blowing and I find it much more bearable than down at the coast