we are planning to rent a car in zagreb and drop off 1 week later in split. are we able to drop a car off on the weekends in split (enterprise)? can you drop off a car if the place is closed?
we are also planning then to ferry from split to dubrovnik. anythoughts on ferry vs. keeping the car for a few more days to make that drive?
Most car rental companies let you drop the car off after hours - I have done that numerous times in Croatia and elsewhere. Just check with the individual car company. Sometimes you drop the keys in a drop box; sometimes you leave them at a hotel front desk nearby. Always take pictures of the car where you have dropped it off as well, to verify no damage or anything.
Try EconomyCarRentals and Auto Europe for decent prices - or Sixt (www.sixt.com).
Whether you'd want a car after Split depends on what you wish to do afterward. If you are just going directly to Dubrovnik, it will probably save you a few hours just to drive there and drop the car. Having a car in Dubrovnik itself is kind of a pain - expensive to park it or forcing you to stay away from the old town where parking is easier. A car could be handy for day trips away from Dubrovnik though, but you could do that by bus or by taking a tour.
DO KNOW that driving from Split to Dubrovnik actually requires driving through a small slice of Bosnia ("Neum corridor") as you drive south - look on a Google map. That means that, technically, you must cross a border and drive out of the EU into Bosnia (and then right back into Croatia soon after), and that may cost more or require a green card (insurance card). Some car companies make exceptions for driving just through this small slice of Bosnia - check with them.
With a car longer you could also stop somewhere between Split and Dubrovnik - a detour to Mostar, BiH or maybe stop at an island like Korcula (which you could also do by ferry/catamaran). Depends how much time you have and what you are interested in doing.
thanks so much for your reply. i appreciate it and will definitely check about the insurance card as well as drop off hours
Dear backbones there is no ferry from Split to Dubrovnik, just a hydrofoil from www.krilo.hr company. This ride lasts for about 4.5 hours and you do not see a lot from that boat. It's much more scenic to drive along the coast to Dubrovnik.
Croatian coast is very scenic and there are some pictresque towns along the way from Split to Dubrovnik (Omis, Makarska, Ston). You would need to pay a little more money for the rent-a-car insurance since you'll be driving across Bosnia for 15 km (there is also ID check over there).
thanks...i think plans are changing and we may continue the drive to dubrovnik....thanks again
I'd take the ferry - you get to see the coast, you stop in 2 islands to drop-off/pick-up, and you don't have to drive in Dubrovnik - lots of 1-way streets, and if you miss the turn, it's a long roundabout to find it again. We were going to our sobe late at night, with a driver who knew this kind of town and it was not easy to find the place. Walking is much better in most cases, there are buses from the ferry dock to the old town, and Dubrovnik was built for walking, not cars.
I once dropped off a rental car off in Dubrovnik. I know exactly what Paul means about the one-way streets and the confusion. However, that was before I had any form of GPS, plus I didn't know exactly where I was supposed to drop the car, and that was confusing. (Oh, AT THE HOTEL, duh!) I wouldn't hesitate to drop off a car in Dubrovnik today.
I didn't take the catamaran all the way between Split and Dubrovnik - I took it from Korcula to Split (stop in Hvar). As Spalato says, you can't really see much from the boat. I wouldn't take the catamaran for the scenery. A big ferry where you can sit out on deck instead of being cooped up inside would be much more fun and more scenic, do doubt.
thanks so much for the advice...turns out that we will be driving from split to dubrovnik and look to return the car there asap....thank you all
