Croatia/Slovenia

I will share my experience with you so you feel more secure. I started working on a website myself to help travelers, but for now I will help people here. Train from Ljubljana to Zagreb the useful link is here: http://www.slo-zeleznice.si/en/passengers/abroad/destinations/croatia/zagreb Journey time: 2h30m+ Bus from Zagreb to Plitvice: http://www.autobusni-kolodvor.com/en/timetable.aspx or http://www.akz.hr/default.aspx?id=260 Journey time: 2h15m+ Bus from Plitvice to Split: http://www.autobusni-kolodvor.com/en/timetable.aspx Journey time: average 5h+ Ferry Split to Hvar: http://www.jadrolinija.hr/default.aspx?lang=2 if they have not posted their 2013 schedule, more general info can be found: http://www.dubrovniktravelinfo.com/2009/05/travel-from-dubrovnik-to-hvar.html Journey time: it's a quick one depending on speed boat or ferry boat. Hvar to Dubrovnik: This is a tricky one. The ferry only operates from what I remembered one or two days out of the week on specific days during high season stopping at Korkula on the way. You can use that ferry. Or you can go to the other end of the island through some dangerous winding roads and take a ferry from Sucuraj to Drvenik then bus to Dubrovnik. Or you can go back to Split and take a bus down to Dubrovnik. Ferry link is the same as above. Bus link is: http://www.ak-split.hr/EN/vozni.red/VozniRedOdlazaka.aspx Journey time Split - Dubrovnik by bus: roughly 5h Dubrovnik to Mostar: use that same link above for the bus.
Journey time: 1h30m +/- My wife and I did the complete opposite from you. We travel by bus from Sarajevo to Mostar to Dubrovnik. From Dubrovnik to Split. From Split to Hvar. Back to Split and up to Plitvice to Zagreb. Then onto Ljubljana, then to lake bled. from there we trained to Venice. Have fun!

Thanks to Frank for his input. My husband and I will be arriving in Dubrovnik (3 nights) on June 2 via ferry from Bari, Italy. We have arranged a day trip to Mostar with a guide. We are going to Korcula next for 2 nights, then on to Split for 1 night and on the Plitvice for 2 nights by bus which is the most confusing part of the trip. From there we bus to Zagreb then by train to Ljubjlana for 2 nights and then to Bled for 3 nights. I have made all of our hotel reservations. Any comments or questions welcome. We are 69 & 72 yrs old.
Barb

Hi, Two years ago we did a mass transit tour from Budapest, Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik Ljubljana, Bled, Ptui, to Trieste. This took the entire month of March. There was snow in Budapest the day we arrived so we felt at home (WI). Will things be open for you. Most were open for us. Although Plitvice was closed until April or May. And those that were closed we skipped and didn't notice. The ferries out to the islands (Hvar) from Croatia were mostly down for the season. My wife (58 then) and myself (57 then) found Slovenia a very pleasant surprise. Lots of physical activities, hiking, kayaking, etc in this beautiful place. Really. Who knew such a clean, vibrant country was nestled there. Getting to Split from Zagreb can be done by train, Split to Dubrovnik required bus. And Dubrovnik to Mostar would take a bus also. We flew out of Dubrovnik to get to Ljubljana, We rented a car there from Aete or some such car rental that was GREAT. New car at a great price. You will love slovenia.
wayne iNWI

Monica, I'm not sure you can do your trip in two weeks - especially via public transit. That's a super-aggressive pace. One thing to consider: there can be a dramatic change in the frequency and availability of some public transit between "low season" and "high season". High season = June 1 - Aug 31. During this period, bus and ferry schedules run frequently. Outside this period - even a day or two outside it (eg the last week of May), some things will run only on certain days of the week, and some things don't run at all. If your trip is "tightly scripted", it's critical to know about the schedules (and given your itinerary and number of days, it seems to me like it must run like a Swiss watch or the wheels will quickly come off). I would not worry abouy things not being open. I'd worry about ferries and buses that only run 1 or 2 days a week or not at all. As of June 1, the worry then shifts to "everything is booked up". We went in May and loved it, but we rented a car (one in Slovenia and one in Croatia). I think it'll be tricky to do all this (especially linking Plitvice to anything on either end) in the time you have allotted. You'll want to nail down any schedules ASAP - those can make or break it. Hope this helps.

Monica,
I would consider renting a car in Zagreb and driving to Plitvice and beyond. It is an easy 2 hour trip to Plitvice from Zagreb. Beyond that it depends on where you go next. You will enjoy the flexibility. Is Lake Bled part of your trip? I highly recommend it. My wife and I are both in our 60's and did Slovenia/Croatia last year. Lovely trip!