Advice needed for my trip to Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro and Italy

Once you are in Dubrovnik take a day tour (or longer) from Dubrovnik to Montenegro. After you return to Dubrovnik take a ferry from there to Bari. I took overnight ferry at 10 pm and at 8 am we were in Bari. I recommend you book a cabin so you can sleep in bed.

Did you book the ferry before you arrived in Dubrovnik?

This is a lot of traveling for a 9 year old in what will be busy peak season. You have 2 one way drop offs for car hire, which is expensive.

IMO 7 days is not enough to cover Zagreb to Dubrovnik. It can be driven but you will not have enough time to explore. You need 3 days in Dubrovnik if you are going to cover Montenegro from here, which only leaves 3 days to cover Istria, Plitvice, Krka, Trogir, Split etc. This should be a 10 to 14 day trip to do it justice. You also have to get back to Rome, which will take time.

If you can only manage 7 days, I suggest that you go from Ljubljana to Dubrovnik straight away and spend time here and a few days on one of the nearby islands and forget the northern and central part of Croatia.

Of the places you mention I have only been to Montenegro and Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik is stunning on the surface its only worth one full day in my mind, while I could spend another week exploring Montenegro.

Agree with James E. regarding Dubrovnik. Also, spendy and very crowded.

Yes, Victoria, I booked ferry while in Split, about 5 days ahead. No problem. People were still buying ferry tickets while boarding in Dubrovnik but cabins were already sold out. It was September.

I have been on Dalmatian Coast trip and visited Dubrovnik 3 years ago. It's Montenegro and Slovenia I really want to see, but I would like to visit Plitvice Lakes, so thought that my rough itinerary looked okay.
Still plenty of time to plan

The time we would spend in Montenegro would be extra to the week in Croatia, and I am using that week to get down to a town that I can ferry to Bari, Italy. Then 2 weeks in Southern Italy before 5 nights in Rome( apartment booked). What are the" Must see "places in Montenegro? If tempted I might spend my Croatia week there instead

Check out the TripAdvisor reviews of Montenegro Lines. The reviews are very mixed. I think as long as you approach the ferry service with nice low expectations for the state rooms, you'll be fine.

People usually see Bay of Kotor and towns Budva and Kotor in Monte Negro. There is also beautiful island Svaty Stefan. It is private and they don't let commoners in. You can see it from the road on mainland high above. This is what I saw in one day visit.

It is private and they don't let commoners in. Aren't we all uncommon folks posting on the Travel Forum?

I agree with you, Bruce, unfortunately they probably don't.

Hi Victoria,
There are hotels in Sveti Stefan where you can book, if you're so inclined, FYI. It is very beautiful there.
You will find that the highways in Slovenia and Croatia are new-ish and fast, so you should be able to cover a lot of territory in a short span of time. The only thing is if you like a place and want to stay a little longer, it might cut into your time elsewhere. It's going to be a great trip and I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time. Your grandchild will have many memories. What a fabulous gift!

Sretan Put!

Janet

Thanks Janet for the advice.
I am considering cutting Venice and Trieste from the itinerary, going straight from Munich to Ljubljana, and spending extra time in Montenegro. After much research and speaking to a few people that have visited Montenegro, it has become a "must see" for this trip.
So it's looking like this-
Munich 4 days
Train to Ljubljana 2 nights
Hire car for a week Lake Bled, Karst region ect
Return car to Ljubljana
Train to Zagreb
Hire car for 1 week to see Plitvice Lakes, Zadar, Split
Return car to Dubrovnik
Transport to Kotor to stay in Montenegro for 1 week. I will make sure to visit (or stay in) Sveti Stefan
Ferry from Bar ( or Dubrovnik) to Bari