Transportation to the airport from Dubrovnik

My host arranged private transportation for us, I think it was something like 40€. I don’t have any experience with Uber, etc., in Croatia, but I would look into that or ask your host. At the time of day, you’ll be leaving, I’m not sure if the bus would be running.

DBV is not a large airport. I think you can bend the 3 hour rule a bit, especially
at that time of the morning. I suspect the check-in desks may not open until
5am anyways, and it takes ~30 minutes to get to the airport from Dubrovnik.

This is the website for the airport bus:
Platanus Bus

I do believe they schedule buses to try and accommodate the daily flight schedule.
Main issue is that they only pick up at main bus station at far end of town where the
cruise ships dock, and the Pile gate.

My early morning experience at Dubrovnik airport included crowded conditions in a tight space for several airlines with checkin desks not yet opened or with lines moving very slowly. The security lines moved very slowly as well. I’ve only flown from there once. It may have been an anomaly. There were no flight delays.

My experience flying out of a couple of other airports in Eastern Europe (Serbia and Slovenia) were much superior. However what stood out is that the checkin desks opened either 2 hours, 2.5 hours, or 3 hours before flight departure time depending on the airline. Thankfully my airline provided this detail in the 24 - 48 hour advance email notification.

We arrived yesterday and used the Uber ap to take us to our location at a hotel down by the cruise ship area. Easy to do and about 40 min

My hotel simply pre booked a taxi for me to get to the airport.

Thanks to all of you who responded to my question.