We have taken and enjoyed 10 previous Rick Steves tours. For our 11th, we are considering the Best of the Adriatic. Would love feedback from those who have done the trip especially during the fall shoulder season. It is a region we have not yet explored in our travels. Curious about the hotel accommodations. Also my only hesitation is the three “1 night stays” on this itinerary. Again after 10 RS tours , we know the drill but have always benefited from fellow travelers opinions. Thanks in advance, Tess
Posted by
Idaho, USA
9323 posts
I did that tour in 2023 and enjoyed the chance to see this region that was easier with a tour than trying to do public transportation myself, plus the benefit of the wonderful tour guide & group! The hotels were consistent with all RS tours.
Plitvice is gorgeous! That morning walk was beautiful & serene! The cities were all very nice, and the locals speak excellent English. And I arrived two days early in Ljubljana to take a half-day tour of the nearby caves - one of my favorites I’ve seen.
Okay - the three 1-night stays: I don’t mind having 1-night stays; I do it very often during my independent solo trips. But, what made these hard for me was that the bus time before & after all 1-night stays were long. For example, before Plitvice - 5 hrs bus. Next day - 5 hrs bus. So it felt like we were spending more riding time than enjoyment time in sections of the tour. And maybe that’s because when I am doing my own 1-night stays, it’s about an hour train ride, and I am out enjoying the 1-night cities by 10am. That’s why it felt significant to me.
I think the tour does a great job of giving you a nice variety of experiences in these two countries. I would recommend it!
Posted by
6535 posts
I think it would be ideal to have some time on either end, especially if you like nature activities. Croatia was only my second big trip, and if I could plan an easy trip back then, you certainly could with so may RS trips under your belt, so I just have to give that plug how easy I found traveling in Croatia—I have returned three times.
But as always, it depends on what you are looking for— If you want to do a hybrid approach, the tourism infrastructure is very good. Mr E a frequent poster also has a guide he recommends. happy to answer any questions, I loved it there and it really ignited a love for the Mediterranean.