Croatia and Montenegro

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bmwmike

Original Poster:

7,706 posts

121 months

Friday 14th March
quotequote all
Hi All

Looking for advice on this area as i've never been before, please.

Have flights booked late August into Dubrovnik for ten days.

We are considering spending 5 days in Dubrovnik, hire car and spend 3 nights in Cavtat, 2 nights in Montenegro and then driving back to flyout of Dubrovnik. This itinerary was suggested by a travel firm i'm considering using as i've used them before, but i'm not sure if its packing too much in or spending too much time in Dubrovnik?

Travelling with two teenagers too.

Is it worth maybe a couple of extra days in Montenegro, or bothering with all that at all and just focus on Dubrovnik and Cavtat?

Mainly sightseeing and chillout, but need something for the teens to do - 15/16 age range.

Any suggestions welcome. Also was wondering about cross border driving Croatia into Montenegro, but travel agent seems to suggest thats not an issue.

Thanks

Edited by bmwmike on Friday 14th March 12:15

sleepezy

2,007 posts

247 months

Friday 14th March
quotequote all
Been to Dubrovnik and Cavtat - can't help with Montenegro

For just Dubrovnik I'd say 5 days is ample, if a not a little OTT - but I am not sure your teenagers will enjoy the place - Old Town is just a walled town (albeit an interesting one) that can be walked around in a day - start early to do the walls before it gets too hot.

We went up to the war museum on the hill overlooking Dubrvnic, mooched around, spent afternoons on the beach, went to Lokrum Island, hired a kayak for a day, walked to Lapad harbour, had asome great food - had a nice few days as an adult couple but pretty much all of this (other than the kayaking) would have been lost on our children at that age.

We then went to Cavtat for one night/one day - stayed in possibly my favourite hotel ever - but there's really not a lot their either.

I think what I am saying is that to entertain your kids you need to be thinking about getting out of Dubrovnik - as a romantic short week break for two adults we had a fabulous time and loved the place. If we'd taken them our daughter would have just stayed on the beach - the boys would have been doing my head in on day 3. I am sure there are things to do, and others will contribute with suggestions - but we didn't do much else.

Enjoy though - it's a great destination and everyone welcomes the tourist trade with open arms.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

2 GKC

2,133 posts

118 months

Friday 14th March
quotequote all
I’d skip Cavtat, pleasant but certainly not worth three days.

Think you’ll have to pay extra to take the car into Montenegro.

Skodillac

7,430 posts

43 months

Friday 14th March
quotequote all
There's nothing to do or see in Cavtat, it's just a pretty(ish) place to buy an expensive meal.

Ask your car rental firm about cross border insurance, you may have to pay an extra charge.

Kotor town and Kotor Bay in Montenegro are far more interesting to visit than Cavtat, it's second only to Dubrovnik along that coast. The other interesting place to visit on the Montenegro coast is Sveti Stefan. Budva Old Town (Montenegro) is also worth a visit and a walk around.

Taking the Kamenari-Lepetane ferry is a cool little part of the drive from Dubrovnik to Kotor, but you do miss out on some nice scenery, and the village of Perast is worth a visit on the longer route around the Bay. Maybe use both routes, one in each direction.

Beware hero overtakers, and stick to speed limits unless you want to test your Serbo-Croat with the local Police.

theboss

7,251 posts

232 months

Friday 14th March
quotequote all
Skodillac said:
Beware hero overtakers, and stick to speed limits unless you want to test your Serbo-Croat with the local Police.
There is a common language they understand, it's just not English!

okgo

40,215 posts

211 months

Friday 14th March
quotequote all
Kotor is lovely. When I went I also cycled up to the top of the Lovcen national park. Was beautiful in there and an awesome view from the top which is around 5000-6000ft above sea level.

Ruined a bit by cruise ships mind you.

Alex Z

1,712 posts

89 months

Friday 14th March
quotequote all
Cavtat is a lovely place to visit, but it’s really just a day trip from Dubrovnik for a nice meal and a mooch rather than a place for a few days.

I’d spend more time in Dubrovnik and Kotor. There’s several other day trips you can do that are worthwhile, like visiting Mostar.

Skodillac

7,430 posts

43 months

Friday 14th March
quotequote all
Lovcen is a good call. Beyond my cycling abilities though! I went up there in a rented Yugo Cabriolet...

chip*

1,319 posts

241 months

Friday 14th March
quotequote all
Skodillac said:
Ask your car rental firm about cross border insurance, you may have to pay an extra charge.
.
Yep, need to check with rental if you are planning to use the same hire car across countries. They are particularly fussy with cross border trips or ban them outright to the Eastern European countries for the obvious reason!

Many years ago, I did this on pick up with Avis at Graz airport / Austria, and informed them I was travelling to Italy and Slovenia, but there was no charge.

Here is Hertz driving restrictions for example:
https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/reservation/policy/...


okgo

40,215 posts

211 months

Friday 14th March
quotequote all
Skodillac said:
Lovcen is a good call. Beyond my cycling abilities though! I went up there in a rented Yugo Cabriolet...
Yes. Experienced road cyclists only I should have said, e bike hope be fun though but it’s a long way, 20 miles from sea level to the top at average 5%.

superpp

483 posts

211 months

Friday 14th March
quotequote all
For Montengro, get a boat trip to Kotor from Herceg Novi harbour.
Hopefully you can prebook online nowadays.
It's a gorgeous journey and will also stop at Perast and Skrpjela island.

There are a couple of WW2 submarine tunnels as you enter the bay, that lots of private boats go in and out of; but I couldn't find a trip boat which went.

Pedro25

355 posts

43 months

Friday 14th March
quotequote all
Been to all of the places mentioned by the OP 2 years ago, August likely to be very hot indeed, we went mid June and it was in the early 80's most of the 10 days, Montenegro not part of the EU so border crossing required with full passport checks, they are also not part of any roaming plan for mobiles, I took a call from my daughter whilst there and it cost me £30 on my bill, if you've got mid teens that will be an issue with data etc. We stayed in Cavtat and had great fun on the water taxis visiting different islands around the coast, Dubrovnik is lovely but seems to be full of GOT enthusiasts walking tours etc, food and drink was very good indeed, not sure if the areas you've mentioned will be enough for your teenagers though.

Skodillac

7,430 posts

43 months

Friday 14th March
quotequote all
Yes, good shout on mobile phone stuff, unless your network has a good offer then best to switch off roaming on your device and get a local sim card. I was in Bosnia this week and it was £10 for a 10 day, 10gb sim card.

okgo

40,215 posts

211 months

Friday 14th March
quotequote all
Airalo app allows quick and easy e-sims to be purchased anywhere in the world.

Lotusgone

1,465 posts

140 months

Friday 14th March
quotequote all
chip* said:
Skodillac said:
Ask your car rental firm about cross border insurance, you may have to pay an extra charge.
.
Yep, need to check with rental if you are planning to use the same hire car across countries. They are particularly fussy with cross border trips or ban them outright to the Eastern European countries for the obvious reason!

Many years ago, I did this on pick up with Avis at Graz airport / Austria, and informed them I was travelling to Italy and Slovenia, but there was no charge.

Here is Hertz driving restrictions for example:
https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/reservation/policy/...


Did just that with Hertz, started in Vienna and went Slovakia/Hungary/Croatia/Slovenia and back, charged for every day outside Austria without being warned.


Skodillac

7,430 posts

43 months

Friday 14th March
quotequote all
okgo said:
Airalo app allows quick and easy e-sims to be purchased anywhere in the world.
How do you use an app to purchase something online if you aren't online? I suppose you have to find a wifi connection, right?

okgo

40,215 posts

211 months

Friday 14th March
quotequote all
Skodillac said:
How do you use an app to purchase something online if you aren't online? I suppose you have to find a wifi connection, right?
You can buy the sim before you leave and it activates when you join a network in the destination country.

Skodillac

7,430 posts

43 months

Friday 14th March
quotequote all
okgo said:
Skodillac said:
How do you use an app to purchase something online if you aren't online? I suppose you have to find a wifi connection, right?
You can buy the sim before you leave and it activates when you join a network in the destination country.
I see. Thanks.

elise2000

1,627 posts

232 months

Friday 14th March
quotequote all
5 nights in Dubrovnik is too much. It’s nice, but not worthy of that time!

I recommend driving up to split area to stay. From there island hopping is easy. Hvar, Vis and Brac worth a visit.

Plitvice lakes also do-able in a day.

We know the area well (just emigrating to Hvar) so just ask any questions.

Bobtherallyfan

1,407 posts

91 months

Friday 14th March
quotequote all
elise2000 said:
5 nights in Dubrovnik is too much. It’s nice, but not worthy of that time!

I recommend driving up to split area to stay. From there island hopping is easy. Hvar, Vis and Brac worth a visit.

Plitvice lakes also do-able in a day.

We know the area well (just emigrating to Hvar) so just ask any questions.
Agree…Split is far nicer than Dubrovnik and has better connections.