I will be in Dubrovnik for 6 nights in July. Is this an expensive time to be in Croatia? I will be on a tight budget and traveling with 2 others. It seems apartments are more abundant than hostels, where are the good neighborhoods to stay?
We are interested in some day trip/ nice beaches, any budget friendly recommendations?
Croatia is always relatively cheaper than other parts of Europe. Booking ahead is the best way to ensure that you find an apartment or sobe/B&B in your price range.
Dubrovnik is still reasonable, price-wise. Apartments or sobe (rooms for rent in homes) are good value especially if you are in a group. Food from the grocery stores/ supermarkets can save you money. My friend and I became a fan of the Croatian brand of cured meats! Try Dubrovnik Apartment Source, Air B&B or Housetrip for apartments. Dubrovnik Online is a web portal that lists more places to stay, sights to see, tour operators, etc. I found a nice cheap apartment through this portal on my first trip there. Good areas to stay are just outside the two main gates of the city- Pile and Ploce gates. There are usually lots of steps to navigate, but it's possible to find reasonably priced apartments with views of the sea and the walled city. The best beach I visited was Sunj beach on the island of Lopud, you can get there by ferry from the Dubrovnik port of Gruz. Unlike most beaches there, it's a long sandy beach. The water is calm and is shallow for quite a long way out, great for swimming.
Great tips! Does anyone know some good restaurants or bars to try in Dubrovnik?
You might want to try booking ASAP. I booked about 2 months ago for 3 nights in Dubrovnik in July and it took me a few tries to find a place that was available. Rick Steves' chapter on Dubrovnik and descriptions of the various neighborhoods was very helpful for me in the booking process.
