Bus questions for Dubrovnik

I’m not sure how it is since Covid. Pre-Covid you just paid the bus driver of the shuttle. The Public bus you can get a ticket at any kiosk that sells newspaper. Each ticket has two rides. Each end of the ticket can be used.
There is one where the shuttle driver drops you off. A cab from that point would be pretty inexpensive. I know people have written about countries/cities going contactless but we were in Croatia last October and we used mostly cash. Even paying the B&B. I believe the return shuttle bus you pick up outside the Ploce Gate. The stop is right outside the entrance to the cable car to Mt Srd. Ask the shuttle driver.

Just returned from 3 days in Dubrovnik. There is a kiosk in the airport, right before exiting, that sells bus tickets for the shuttle. The shuttle will follow the schedule of arrival and departure planes, so is not always sitting there waiting, but will be shortly. We arrived from Vienna and waited maybe 10 minutes. The bus ride into Dubrovnik to the first gate is approx 25-30 minutes, all very scenic, sit on the left side of the bus for best views. I cannot comment on getting to your hotel, but the airport shuttle schedule times are from the Depot, so adjust your return on the shuttle depending on where you get on, as example as stated above, the shuttle bus will pick u up right in front of the cable car ticket stand, approx 10 mins after the schedule states.