Croatia - 12 days in Sep '08

[photoprospect]

I need your help with planning the itinerary for following:<br>

<br>

Me and my pal are going to spend 12 days photographing Croatian landscapes.<br>

We land in Rijeka on Sep 3 and take off from Dubrovnik on Sep 15.<br>

We'll have a car during our stay.<br>

<br>

Our <i>very</i> preliminary itinerary <br>

<br>

* <b>Rijeka</b> - we land very late, so we'll pick the car on Sep 4th and will probably spend the day in the

city.<br>

Should we leave the place right away or it has some photography potential (well, any place has the potential, but

I'm asking compared to the other places in the list)<br>

<br>

* <b>Gorski Kotar</b>: Lokve, Lokvarsko jezero, Risnjak mountain and source of Kupa<br>

Are Lokvarka Caves worth a visit?<br>

How long should this region take? 1/2 days?<br>

<br>

* <b>Krk island</b><br>

Towns Krk and Vrbnik) 1day?<br>

<br>

* <b>Plitvicka Jezera</b> (1 day)<br>

We'd like to stay in the lake's vicinity the day before in order to get to the place as early as possible. <br>

Is there a recommended (and relatively cheap) place to stay?<br>

Is the entrance allowed on certain hours only?<br>

<br>

* <b>Split</b> - any special sights there?<br>

I see it as a recommended place, but didn't find any special attractions there...<br>

<br>

* <b>Southern Islands</b> (3 days):<br>

<ol>

Hvar?<br>

Kornati<br>

Korcula<br>

Mljet<br>

</ol>

We'll probably have to skip at least one of the islands - which ones are a "must" from your point of view?<br>

The islands aren't small - what specifically should we be looking for there?<br>

<br>

* <b>Istria</b> <br>

What places to go there (nature and small towns)?<br>

<br>

* <b>Dubrovnik</b> (we'll spend a day there and will take off at nights 23:00)<br>

<br>

Presuming we'd like to stay in double rooms and the car is already paid for - is it possible to fit a

EUR40/person/day budget?<br>

<br>

Please let me know if:<br>

<ol>

The order of some of the place strikes you as illogical<br>

There are places you think are a "must" and aren't on the list<br>

You can suggest the places to stay/eat<br>

You have any comments at all<br>

</ol>

<br>

I know I've asked a lot of questions - thanks a lot for your time.<br>

<br>

Jean<br>

<br>

[michael_yew]

Split has Roman architecture/ruins and Diocletian's Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Btw, the Croatian coast have very clear blue waters, particularly around Korcula and south to Dubrovnik.

[photoprospect]

Thanks Michael, I kept wondering about writing bad posts that never get answered ;-)

[premo_o]

Been to Croatia twice in most of the placves tyou mention

 

Dubrovnik is a gem - I would recommend you stay a little longer there.

Istria is very touristy - lots of tourists and prices highest in Croatia. I prefer the south where it's more beautiful, quieter and cheaper, but harder to get to due to the long trip.

Driving around the coast is an attraction in itself, but the very bendy cliff road there is longer than it looks on the map due to constant bends and no place for overtaking other cars/trucks

allthe best

[john fleshin]

See if you can buy some film, I hear that Efke still makes 127 there. ;-)

 

My Croatian friends here say it is still reasonable in most places, and as you have a car, you should have no problem staying on budget.

 

I had no problem staying in very neat places in France reasonably a few years back, because we had a car and got off the road. There must be a ton of Pensions, and there are generally tourist offices to help, plus they might have a free guide for you from the Consulate.

 

A small guide book from the book store, old school, should help and tell you how to order beer.

 

If you bring enough 127 film back, you might pay for your vacation. ;-)

[photoprospect]

Thanks for your replies (and reading this long-winded post)!