Travelling from Croatia to France

Not only the drop-off fees, but just the time required to Drive or take a train. Try doing some searching on WhichBudget.com. It allows you to a departure point, then explore destinations, showing cheaper airlines available. You may be fortunate to find something that works. Another option, though it seems odd, is to link together a couple of budget flights. Most are intended to be direct flights, but it may be cheaper to, for example, catch a Ryanair flight from Zadar to Germany, Brussels, even the UK, then a flight into Southern France. You will need to flexible with departure and arrival points, maybe worst case, layover for a night, but it is an option.

Thanks for the information Paul. I will take a look a the site you suggested and see if I can piece together a route!

Just a warning that if you do two legs as budget flights there will be no guarantee of a connection or any attempt to help you if the first flight is delayed and you miss the second leg. You would probably have to buy a new flight which could be very expensive.

Good point Philip, this particular route seems to be more complicated than I expected! Maybe we will have to bus/train or fly via Italy. We have already "done" Italy (not that we would mind seeing it again!), so was hoping for something more direct from Croatia to France. I can't be the only person who has made this particular route! Back the the books for me I guess...

It looks like you can fly from Zagreb or Dubrovnik to Nice for around $500 (via Frankfurt or Milan). That's definitely more than budget-airline level, but doesn't seem horrible. I would definitely pay that price rather than spend 20 hours on a train or bus.

Easyjet has flights from Dubrovnik to Rome starting July 1, 2012 for around $75. If your trip is after that date, you might fly into Rome and from there to France.

Beginning in July 2012 easyJet also will have flights from Dubrovnik to Milan Malpensa and Paris Orly. You could take the train from Milan to Cannes. You could fly easyJet from Orly to Nice or you could take a TGV from Paris to Cannes. You also could take a direct night train from Zagreb to Venice, departing at 23:50 and arriving at 07:04, and continue on by train to Cannes. You would need to change trains in Venice, Milan, and Ventimiglia. The whole trip would take 17 hours.

Thank you all very much for your input! I think we will look at Easyjet via Paris as an option. This was my first time using the helpline (although I often refer to it to plan a trip) but I'm an even bigger fan now, thanks again!