Our trip began May 21 in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Wow, what a beautiful country and so relaxed and friendly. We had 3 nights there and 1 day we took a 8 person van tour with Slovenia Explorer (suggested by our hotel) to see the Cave, Castle & Lake Bled all in one day!). The guide was wonderful and we loved the cave, didn't go in the castle but stayed outside and had coffee and took photos, and enjoyed Lake Bled very much. We stayed at Mrak Hotel. I cannot say enough good things about this hotel but here goes. They are a great boutique hotel close to everything, the room was so comfortable and perfect for us, not huge but also spacious enough and very relaxing to be in. We slept well there. Their breakfast was outstanding, the best of our trip, but the best feature of the hotel is the staff. The reception helped us with our many questions and we felt very well taken care of and it meant a lot to us.
From there we took a Flixbus to Zagreb for 1 night at Hotel Jagerhorn, which was a sufficient room and a good but modest breakfast. The purpose of Zagreb was to take a Get Your Guide 1 day tour the next morning to Plitvice National Park where we hiked/walk for a few hours with the group then got on a different bus for the long ride to Split. The tour is set up to take Zagreb people to Split and Split people to Zagreb with a Plitvice visit in between. We got to Split around 7:30 pm so it was a very long day but a great way to do all of this without a car. Plitvice was beyond words beautiful.
We spent 2 quick nights in Split and stayed at the delightful Hotel Villa Diana, a charming place with a small restaurant attached. We loved it and the hotel manager and restaurant staff were great as well and offered a wonderful breakfast. We had dinner the 1st night at their restaurant, a very delicious pizza and salad plus good wine.
We took a ferry to Hvar for 2 nights, stayed at Hotel Park Hvar, it was okay, mostly good for the location but there was a mix up in the room which was unpleasant but we worked it out. Customer service lacking there and the breakfast mediocre. While in Hvar we took a 25 minute boat ride to Pakleni Islands (the beach known as Palmizana). We loved it, stayed a few hours. We thought Hvar itself was just okay but it was fun having drinks at various places along the port but thought the restaurant food mediocre.
Next we took a 3.5 hour ferry to Dubrovnik. We stayed at the Hilton Imperial as a huge splurge for my big birthday (not saying which one, lol). While it was overpriced and the big breakfast buffet mediocre, we loved the location and the spacious room with great comfort and amenities. In old town, we climbed the old wall and that was great, strolled the old town, enjoyed time having drinks up above the port just outside the old town walls with great views and walked to Banje beach for the a look but we didn't want to lay out and rent chairs this trip. We also used the hotel's indoor pool which was relaxing. Next day we took a Get Your Guide van tour to Montenegro. They picked us up at 7:45 am and we returned at about 7:20 pm. We thought the tour was great except Budva (the 3rd stop) was not that interesting. I signed up for Perast & Bay of Kotor and not Budva but after we got in the van they said they were going to Budva too so I was a bit disappointed but these operators have to fill up the van and we had to go with the flow. We loved Perast, it was so beautiful to sit with a drink at the water's edge and enjoy the spectacular scenery. We drove for hours that day and the country landscape and bay was so interesting and fairly untouched. The guide gave us too much time in Bay of Kotor and in Budva and I wish they would have shortened it as most of us were getting tired but we are very happy we took this tour. Our entire trip was great!
Posted by
SF Bay Area
527 posts
Your TR caught my attention as I have been wanting to visit that region. And so great to see someone who did the trip without renting a car! Looks like you had a great itinerary and utilization of Flixbus and day trips/tours. I'm bookmarking this for the future for me.
How was the weather and do you think that time of the year worked well for the trip?
And happy birthday!
Posted by
OP
Newport Beach, CA, USA
64 posts
Hi Joy, the weather was darn near perfect for all places. It got really hot a couple of days in Hvar, and I think the first day in Dubrovnik a little but then a nice breeze set in a it cooled to normal hot day. Keep in mind if you go into the cave in Slovenia you are there about 1.5 hours so you need a jacket and pants for that but you can survive if you don't. I always pack my rain jacket (a great one I bought maybe 12 years ago in Germany) for emergency rain situations but I only used it once in the cave but I was glad I had it as it was very cold in there. I also brought a thin Patagonia jacket that is more for cute color and I wore when the nights were chilly and wore it on the plane. We traveled for 2 weeks and we only take carryon luggage so I am pretty good at getting a lot in the suitcase that is functional as well as color coordinated so mixing and matching gives more outfits (white, black, beige, light or medium blues mostly in my packing).
I packed a black Wallaroo Hat that has a medium brim and packable but when in Hvar I decided to buy a straw hat with bigger brim that had a wide weave so that hat protected my head but the air also circulated through a little with the open weave on the brim as it got in the 80s plus it is beige caramel color with an elastic tie inside to pull it to stay on my head. It kept me cooler than the black hat I bought.
We always try and travel around 3rd week of May for weather and to avoid the worst crowds. Any sooner and you risk things not being open or shorter hours of operation. We tried travel in April a couple of times years ago and it wasn't good weather at all.
Posted by
OP
Newport Beach, CA, USA
64 posts
Thanks for the birthday wishes!!
Posted by
Republic of Texas / U.S.A. / Magyarország / Budapest
26575 posts
Sounds like a lovely trip. I am glad you did this report.
Ive never been to Slovenia so that part is really useful. Thank you.
You didnt spend the night in Plitvice? What time did you get to the gate and how long did you stay and how were the crowds?
Dubrovnik is what it is, but for some reason I keep finding myself back there and I have yet to regret it. I just like it for reasons I can not explain; and by definition its the sort of place I generally dislike and regret.
I dont know if you noticed that I love Montenegro but when people want to do day trips from Dubrovnik to Kotor I sort of ehhhh, ahhhhhh, I mean its tough and you did it right with at least a small group van. Still 12 hours! G-d bless you, you have more fortitude than I do.
I love Perast too. If someone has to do that day trip ... stop in Perast and end it there. I dont get the trip on to Budva at all. There are a few places in Budva perfect for a few beach days but that wasnt your intent. Budva works pretty well as a base to explore from, and that wasnt your intent. There are some interesting stops on the P1 road if you go that way but you didnt. Made no sense to drag you do Budva. If you got deceived and they took your precious time, do a review on the Get Your Gudie site so others can avoid it.
Very nice report. Thank you again.
BUT!! It really all does sound lovely. I leave for a return trip in 6 days.
Posted by
OP
Newport Beach, CA, USA
64 posts
Thanks Mr E! I didn't look at my watch as there was some traffic and then we stopped at a rest stop for a 20-30 minute break. We met in Zagreb meeting point at 7:45 am and the bus left at about 8:15 am I think so maybe we got to the gate at 12 noon. The crowds were medium so it wasn't too bad but seemed as the day went on it got worse. Our guide collected cash from each of us at the beginning of the tour and she bought all of our tickets at once which saved time. As mentioned, when we arrived we met up with the Split group and one guide led us and talked while the other guide stayed back to make sure no one got lost from the group. That part was all organized well. There was a little confusion with the switcheroo of luggage with the 2 buses so there was wasted time there that should have been more organized. We walked the the upper half first and then the lower half (I don't have a map in front of me so that is what I remember). It was so stunning, and the water in some places was crystal clear and bright turquoise. I have never seen water in a national park look like that. We had no idea it was going to be that unusual and beautiful. I also think we caught it at a good time with the snow melting and hot weather starting. I agree with you on Montenegro. Knowing what we know, going to Perast and back would have been plenty to see as the drive is part of the tour. Bay of Kotor old town is just a walled town of souvenirs and we were not interested in buying anything so had a quick sandwich and walked out where the water was but there wasn't much to see there. When we got to Budva we were herded to "the best restaurant" and I didn't like that so we took off and went into a couple of shops in the little town but eventually came back to that restaurant and ended up having a good meal but we were the last of the group to sit and eat. There was nothing else to do but waste time. I hope you have a wonderful trip!!
Posted by
Lexington, KY (formerly Southeast US)
4695 posts
Nice trip report! Thanks for sharing.
Posted by
Republic of Texas / U.S.A. / Magyarország / Budapest
26575 posts
Teri, I did something like you a few years back, but I sprung for a transfer to Plitvice from Zagreb. We got there about 11am and it wasn’t unpleasantly crowded. By the time we left 3 hours later I could see the line behind us, but we were still good. Yes, it is beautiful and I wish I were up to more than 3 hours of walking but that was my endurance. As much as I enjoyed it, I am glad I spent the time saved by not spending the night or walking 6 hours seeing other things ... but that’s just me. Unfortunately, on my trip we got to Split in time for European Trust fund Brat party week. Too many drunks. I had one good day then wanted to get out. Sounds like it was perfect for you and that is good because it really is a beautiful and interesting place.
The trip back Montenegro is number 5 for me. I am hosting a friend for her first visit so its a lot of repeated stops for me, but I enjoy the country so much I may be looking forward to this trip more than the last one. Trouble is I only have 8 days, and I needed 16 to do what I wanted. Sticking to the coast from Budva to Ulcinj with a few forays a bit deeper. Maybe I go back and finish in late August after it cools a bit.
I am glad you enjoyed your trip.
Posted by
Lexington, KY (formerly Southeast US)
4695 posts
As I read your report, I kind of wondered what your Plitvice experience was like, too. Was it a positive one?