Julian Alps to Plitvice: where to sleep inbetween?

You don't need to go the entire way to Zagreb. You can exit the motorway at Novo Mesto and take 105 to Metlika where you cross the border. Once it Croatia, the road number changes to 6. Continue on 6 through Karlovac and about 15km south, where you'll pick up 1 to Plitvice. I drove that route from Lubljana to Plitvice. If you spot an ATM around Karlovac, stop and get some kuna. The ATM's at Plitvice hotels seem to be out of order more often than not.

Thanks. that is helpful info. Still not sure where we should spend the night: I see that hotels in Ljubljana are a little more expensive than other places, and we won't have time to do anything there so might be better off staying somewhere else along the way towards Plitvice.

I've only stayed in Ljubljana and Bled, so I can't make any informed recommendations for other good overnight stops in Slovenia between Tolmin and Plitvice. Rick's guidebook has a hotel recommendation in Kobarid, but that keeps you in the Tomlin area. Novo Mesto is a decent size town and it's just off the motorway, so it might be a possibility. If no one has specific experience they can share, you could always leaf through Rough Guide or Lonely Planet for an interesting town along the way. Their hotel suggestions are usually similar in style and quality to Rick's.

There are several routes you can take from Tolmin to Plitvice. One option would be to go southeast--could take in the Skojcan Caves on the way--towards Rijecka, Croatia. There are farm stays near the caves mentioned in RS book. We went the opposite direction than you are going and stayed in a larger town, Opatija, after coming along the Croatian motorway from Plitvice.

thanks guys. We have been spending some time with ViaMichelin, looking at driving times. Looks like there are some good choices. My husband is leaning towards trying to drive as far as Novo Mesto: it is 2.5 hrs from Tolmin -- and then it is another 2.5 hrs from Novo Mesto to Plitvice in the morning (either taking your route, Frank, or taking the route that goes near Zagreb, same amount of time, it says--we would take your route, slower, more to see I hope). However, I also think the Rijeka area might be a good choice. These are the decisions that are fun to make!