I have a ton of questions. Next year my sister and I are planning a trip to Slovenia and Croatia, part of trip is to see where our long lost relatives came from. I plan adding about 10-12 days to visit Germany, mainly to revisit the USAF Hospital I was stationed at in Wiesbaden Germany about a hundred years ago (actually 1971-1975). We plan on a 7 night cruise for Croatia and 14 nights for Slovenia, Zagreb, and Plitvice Lakes. We plan on going mid May to mid June. I will have an additional 10-12 nights.
First question - would it be best to start in Dubrovnik, take the cruise from there and take land tour starting in Split? I am thinking this may be best for weather as south is warmer and will be in north with temp heats up more. Also will have better idea of where I may want to spend my extra nights. I would probably fly home from Frankfurt.
Second question - Would there be plenty of local tours where we could hire drivers that double as tour guides? I have looked into TrekTrek which is affiliated with KimKim. I was quoted about $4200 for 13 nights, assuming a party of four (my cousin and her husband will probably travel with my sister and I). This includes lodging and just a few meals. We would be driven by them and have some flexibility. My sister is getting a quote from a similar type tour. I am thinking of finding more localized tours. I have been watching YouTube videos and purchased rick Steeves kindle book on Slovenia and Croatia. My thinking is we could spend nights in Bled, Piran, Zagreb, maybe other places in Julian Alps. We already have a contact where we could spend night at an educational farm near where our grandparents were born (the owners daughter is most likely a relative). We could hire local drives as well as use Ljubljana as a home base for tours.
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
7328 posts
We visited many of the places you mention, way back in 2005, using a rental car on their brand-new highways, but not using a guide, except for hiring one at Diocletian's Palace in Split. Split was one of our favorite places. Squid ink pasta in Solin, just north of Split, was a highlight!
So is Split in the middle of the cruise agenda, or is that where the cruise ends? Sounds like going from South to North makes sense in several ways.
It also sounds like less than $100 per day per person, including lodging, guiding, transportation, AND some meals is a bargain, as long as their agenda includes where you want to go, and what you want to see.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
We have not booked the cruise yet as we are going in 2020 and schedules not out just yet. According to Unforgettable Croatia, the organization that books the cruises, the cruises can go either way, from Dubrovnik to Split or Split to Dubrovnik. I am still planning and debating if we should start our trip from south to north or north to south. The tour price was per person so actually $16200 for our group of four for 13 nights. To me not such a bargain price. I do understand we are paying for lodging, food, fuel, etc for our tour guide. But do I need same guide for all 13 nights or can I find individual guides for day or overnight trips that could drive our small group around? I have been checking out room prices and there are many nice places for $120 or less for two beds, I would share this cost with my sister, my cousin would share another room with her husband. Even at $150 a night, during shoulder season, my share should be no more than $1,000 for rooms so we each are paying $3100 for a tour guide and their provided transportation for two weeks. So guide is making over $12000 less cost of room and food for two weeks. Our tour includes a lot of free time but clearly we are paying for that free time.
Posted by
UK / SLO
50 posts
Slovenia and Croatia are countries where you can easily go around by yourself and save a ton of money. Yes, you need more planning, rent a car, booking hotels where you want, eat where you want etc. Each city has free walking tours to show you around or you can book some local tour guides if you want. In the main season, some places are packed - Bled, Plitvice, Split, Korcula, Dubrovnik so better book in advance hotels or B&B.