Rick Steves Best of the Adriatic 2025

Posted by Patty (Used to be Steilacoom, now it’s Las Vegas) on 06/26/25 04:58 PM

**Each Rick Steves tour has a certain amount of individuality and your experience may not be our experience (i.e. hotels, meals, etc..)

Wish we knew...**
-Majority of the people we encountered spoke fluent English. It helps if you use the polite phrases.
-There were places that insisted on cash only. It may have been that is was early in their tourist season and they weren't set up for using cards. Needed cash (20e) for pletna boats at Old Town dock in Lake Bled, the laundry stop in Split and some restaurants on Korcula.
-The pletna boats are a round trip deal where you pay on the return trip. They assume you go with the same group you came with. The boat from Old Town dock brings you to an uphill walk, but not the 99 steps climb - much easier for for us.
-Ljubljana is a foodie city and there are lots of fabulous restaurants
-There is a department store in Ljubljana's Square of the Republic that has a grocery store in the basement
- If your hotel has AC, make sure the windows are shut or it may not operate
-some mornings are earlier, some mornings are later
-Best bathrooms while we travelled from one place to the next; everyone had a proper seat and all but one had adequate supplies

Who: Bill (79), me (72)
WhenMay 13-26 2025
WeatherSpring weather, some cool days, some rainy days, some sunny & warm days
GuideMarijan Kriskovic
Age range 24-80+

Packing:I brought a puffer vest that I used frequently. Otherwise, typical RS packing list. Bill brought 1 pr. Brooks Ghost and that was all he needed.
TransportationBA/AA codeshare flights were difficult to coordinate
Pre-booked2 nights additional at Hotel Mrak and Go-Opti shuttle from Ljubljana airport

Bon Voyage
05/10 - AA LAS to Phoenix, (REALLY long walk between AA gate and BA gate); BA to LHR Terminal 3 (everything stayed in bags going through security);
05/11-BA Terminal 3 to Ljubljana; arrive 21:30 and followed signs to Go-Opti shuttle;
-Hotel Mrak lobby closes at 22:00 on Sunday so make sure to have them email you the entry code before you arrive.
-Twin beds, 2 night stands, luggage rack, clothes rod & shelves, electric kettle, AC, vanity kit, hairdryer, full-length mirror and great wi-fi
05/12 - Breakfast buffet with additional made-to-order selections
-walked the river bank; most attractions are closed on Monday
-walked to the Museum Zone; Slovenian National History Museum and Natural History Museum- walk-up tickets and excellent audioguide; all one ticket
National Museum covers period from last ice-age to Middle ages and is well-curated; no crowds; helpful staff who are happy to answer questions
-dB (CVS/Rite Aid) for sundries like toothpaste, etc...
- Romantika for gelato - Dvorni Trg 1 near Congress Square on the way back to hotel; ordered Bourbon vanilla w/ pumpkin seed oil and roasted pumpkin seeds; delicious and they make it onsite
-made reservations at noon for Marley & Meonline for 18:00; the place was full by 18:30; goulash and Slovenian sausage; beer
05/13 - walked from hotel after breakfast to Slovenian Ethnographic Museumby following signs; celebrates Slovenian culture; elevators; there are other museums in this square
- 16:00 group orientation
- orientation walk on the way to Bregfor group dinner: soup, wine, beef cheeks, potatoes & cake for dessert
- optional group walk to Preseren Square

Posted by Patty OP

Used to be Steilacoom, now it’s Las Vegas

06/26/25 05:53 PM

2407 posts

05/14 - 9:00 city walk with Barbara (excellent guide who loves her city); comfort stop in the middle at Preseren Square; free afternoon
-Barbara recommends lunch at Paninoteka if they still haven't sold out of their popular sandwiches; we split a sandwich, french fries and drinks
-afternoon plan is for Plecnik House; the photo in the guidebook does not show the street view and we miss the small sign on the first try; hourly guided tours but there are things to look at while you wait; enthusiastic English-speaking guide; walk-up tickets
- late afternoon walk to Ljubljana Castlefunicular; walk-up tickets; no line; gorgeous views from the castle and no crowds
- dinner outside at Marley & Me
05/15 - 8:15 bus to Lake Bled
-castle visit
- Lake Bled on our own; Marijan walks anyone who wants to visit the island to the Old Town dock for the pletna boats; cash only-round trip, pay 20e on return; there is a gradual uphill walk from our dock; one person didn't understand that the plan was for the group to return together and boatman waited and waited, eventually arranging with another boat to bring him back;we lost some of our lunch time waiting; others walk around town or the lake
-Planica Nordic Center - this is an amazing facility for ski jumping and indoor cross-country ski track; happy hour
Hotel Mangart, Bovecalpine hotel; twin beds, 2 night stands, wi-fi, mini-bar, hair dryer, corner shower
- walk to Martinav Hram for group dinner; choice of trout or goulash, goat cheese and potato appetizers, salad, dessert

05/16- 7:55 departure on winding ride to Kobarid WWI Museum and Battle of Caporetto excellent guide Jakob presented all sides of the conflict, surrounded by photos, videos and artifacts; short coffee and comfort break before back on the bus
- winery tour and lunch at Visjak Winerywe get a tour of the winery, how is was affected during the war by the owner, and a hearty wine tasting; wine, bread, cheese, salami, prosciutto, olives and pound cake; many buy wine for later consumption
- off to Bale-Valle and Hotel La Grisa- reservations for hotel dinner that night booked solid when we checked 2 days before; charming maze-like hotel with lots of amenities; bar, restaurant, indoor pool; twin beds, double night stands, couch, luggage rack, vanity kit, full-length mirror, wi-fi, best towel warmer rack for drying sink washing
-out the hotel front door, turn right and walk uphill in search of dinner; eventually make a left turn and walk under arch, settling on Kamene Price which was one of our best decisions of the tour; Davor Tojcic & and his wife gave us quite the dinner experience; he apologized that we would have to wait for the home-made pasta to be prepared but gave us an olive oil tasting while we waited and in general happily interacted with our group; wine, beef stew with peas and homemade pasta with fresh vegetable ( so worth the wait)

05/17 8:30 departure for Pula - another excellent guide gave us a tour of the amphitheater and town walk; comfort break with time for sitting at sidewalk cafe or walking around the town
- the next stop was the Chiavalon Olive Farm the hysterically funny guide who was a sideshow in himself explained how the farm operates; the tour was followed by a tasting; wine, cheese, olives, vegetables and cured meat on a photo-worthy charcuterie board
Rovinj - free time; beautiful waterfront; we walked uphill to St Euphemia and then walked behind the church for a slippery cobblestone walk back down; some stayed in Rovinj for dinner;
-hotel dinner reservations - staff very proud of excellent farm-to-table; delicious rib-eye, wine