mrsgo

Hi! Planning a first trip Croatia this September. Excited! I am hoping to find satisfied travelers who have enjoyed using Jay Way Travel to design, book their trip. Are there any cons concerning this company?
Also, is a week trip too rushed? We want to see Dubrovnik, Split, Zagreb, etc.....the typical touristy main attractions.
Thanks so much!
Suzy

Travel_Nerd

I've planned all of my trips to Croatia independently, so may not be a good resource. Is there a reason why you'd prefer to use a travel company vs. on your own? Maybe those of us here can help.

With that having been said, looks like they have pretty good reviews but are pretty pricey for the service they provide. If that is your preference, far be it for me to dissuade you.

Edit: I do think a week might make your plans a bit rushed. There is a lot of distance from Zagreb to Dubrovnik. And a week does not afford you much time for such places as Plitvice National Park or Krka National Park, both of which are very beautiful and worth seeing if that is your interest.

kja

IMO, a week is WAY too rushed for even the highlights of Croatia.

mrsgo

We truly appreciate your time/response! We know so little about the area that it is comforting to have experienced, knowledgeable folks guide us. We just want to be sure that they are honorable and take pride in their work. It is like paying a bit extra for safety. If you do not mind, we will send you any questions we have.

We hope someone is nice to you too!

Suzy

Travel_Nerd

Totally your preference. If it at all helps, my most recent trip was a month solo (female, 40s) to Croatia, Montenegro, Slovenia and Bosnia. I believe kja also traveled in the region solo as well. It is a safe region to travel to. So, if you decide to do this trip independently, it is totally doable.

I see you have done a fair bit of traveling and planning a trip to Croatia is no different than planning a trip to say, Paris or Germany, for example.

Marysmith0901

Croatia in September is fantastic! Jay Way Travel's great for tailored trips, though some find them pricey. A week could feel rushed for Dubrovnik, Split, Zagreb, but you can hit main spots. Prioritize must-sees and keep it flexible!

kja

Travel_Nerd is correct: I spent a month as a solo female in Croatia and surrounding areas; about 3 weeks were in Croatia itself. I felt completely safe throughout the area. That was a trip in 2009 planned almost entirely with guidebooks. No harder to plan or manage than anywhere else in Europe!

If you have a week, consider just the south -- Dubrovnik, Split, and either Hvar or Korcula. Or the north -- Zagreb to Split with the Plitvice Lakes or Krka National Park. OR Istria and Zagreb. OR.... Even with a week and even limiting yourself to a just a part of the country, you will not have time to see everything of interest, unless your interests are narrow (no judgment attached -- I think the world would be quite boring if we all had the same interests and preferences).

mrsgo

Thank you, Fodor Folks! Your comments have been a tremendous help in planning our upcoming mid Sept. trip!

Dubrovnik.....Hvar ...Opatija....Montenegro

Since the tourism is high at that time, we would not want to miss any event, restaurant, or treasure off the beaten path ...because we did not do our advance homework and make reservations/ tickets well in advance. Is there a DON'T MISS moderate/ moderate + restaurant that we should consider for ANY good reason? Is there a special, under the radar attraction that most tourists are not aware of or fills up fast and worth the early effort? (Academic/ Funky Fun/ Surprisingly Different/ etc etc)

One more concern...Do men commonly wear shorts in the warmer weather at tourist attractions and restaurants?

When you head to NYC, let me know!!
Much thanks!
Suzy

kja

Your itinerary (if that's what it is) makes no sense to me -- Montenegro is southeast of Dubrovnik and is an entire country; Hvar (an entire island) and Opatija are to the northwest. Moreoever, Opatija is not a major destination. In fact, it's the one place I visited in my month-long trip to the area that I wish I'd skipped! But that was a long time ago, so maybe things have changed.

kja

If you tell us a bit more, we might be better positioned to help. How long do you plan to spend in Croatia? From your previous post, it sounds like you're aiming for a trip of about a week. Perhaps that has changed? When will you go? Where will you begin and end your trip? How do you plan to travel while there? What are your goals? Why these four locations?

Travel_Nerd

Ditto to the questions kja asked. Your destination list has changed pretty significantly from your other thread, with exception of Dubrovnik.Do you still only have one week? Or are you able to add more time?

Where in Montenegro? I dont want to assume Kotor and environs, although that is a common addition given its proximity to Dubrovnik. But, don't want to speculate.

Of your current named list (citywise) I have only been to Dubrovnik. Do you have a particular budget in mind for dinner or even cuisine type? I will say this, though, even some causal places in Dubrovnik in September, reservations were a necessity.

rialtogrl

I’d reserve catamaran tickets in advance. If you plan to go to Plitvice National park, reserve that too.

In Dubrovnik I love the restaurant Taj Mahal, and you must reserve but it doesn’t have to be months in advance. It’s become a bit pricey but it is worth it. On Hvar if there is some specific fine dining restaurant you want to go to, I’d reserve.

Men wear shorts everywhere. It might be nice to wear pants to some of the nicer restaurants. I was in a bar in Kotor a few days ago and a couple came in to use the bathroom as a changing room coming off the beach. Don’t do that - I’m just showing that one can get away with pretty much anything, unfortunately.

maitaitom

"One more concern...Do men commonly wear shorts in the warmer weather at tourist attractions and restaurants?"

I know one guy that did, although he was much younger than he is now. Agree with Rialtogrl that at higher end restaurants, I'd wear long pants, but at outdoor cafes during the day (and night), we often wore shorts.

mrsgo

Thanks so much for your time!!! So very nice of you to do this for us! We changed our plans and are now taking a tour...much easier to plan and we get to see more...motorcoach.

Wondering...are walking boots smart or unnecessary for basic touring sites?
Are jeans acceptable for evening indoor restaurants or does my husband have to take along slacks?
Might you know how far it is (walking????) from the top of the Dubrovnik cable car to Panarama Restaurant?

Cloudy in NY. Where are you?
Suzy

mrsgo

Thanks so much for your interest and kindness in helping us!!!!!!!!

Where are you? If you need help with NYC, let me know.

We listened to you and changed our trip. We booked a longer tour...with less for us to arrange and navigate personally. Easier!

Some basic questions lingering: Are hiking books practical in lieu of sneakers for routine tourist sites?
From the Dubrovnik cable car, how far away is the Panoramic Restaurant? Walkable? Worth it?
Are jeans okay for indoor evening restaurants or does my husband have to bring slacks?

With appreciation!
Suzy

KTtravel

Be sure to check out the Buza Bar in Dubrovnik. I think there may be two similar bars but I found information on this one: https://hellojetlag.com/buza-bar-dubrovnik. It's a fun place to be at sunset.

Travel_Nerd

Sounds like you are going via a tour? Unsure exactly what that might entail in terms what leisure time you would have and also if you are on your own for meals?

I disagree that a motorcoach tour would mean you would see "more," as they often spend more time going and moving and very little time seeing and visiting. Are the towns you mentioned upthread included in this tour? Or are you choosing them? I know you have another thread that lists different towns and I'm a bit confused, to be honest.

As far as clothing: people in Europe tend to dress up more for dinner. Jeans might be worn, but I've seen locals look very fashionble out to dinner even in jeans. If you are planning on more casual places to eat, then jeans are fine. But a nicer place, slacks may be more appropriate. Depends on your preferences.

How much walking you do depends on what you want to see. Dubrovnik has a lot of steps in many areas. If I remember correctly, the cable car itself is just outside the Walls and might involve some walking to get to the "depot' depending on where you start from and get there.

FYI: the views are nice at the top, but there is not a whole lot up there. There is a restaurant/bar and if you want to eat there, especially at Sunset, make sure you get a reservation. Otherwise, there is a fortress which has been (mostly) devoted to the Homeland War and is pretty graphic They have not utilized the fortress space much beyond that, unless they have updated their exhibit(s) when I last visited in 2022.

Moderator1

Your two threads have been merged into one

maitaitom

"Be sure to check out the Buza Bar in Dubrovnik. I think there may be two similar bars but I found information on this one: https://hellojetlag.com/buza-bar-dubrovnik. It's a fun place to be at sunset."

The original is best. As I once wrote: "This might sound a little dramatic, but at a few minutes before four in the afternoon on a gorgeous afternoon, June 5, 2008, my life changed forever. Tracy, Kim, Mary and I stepped through a little hole in the Dubrovnik Wall, walked down some steps and were thrust into a place that I modestly refer to as the Eighth Wonder of The Modern World. We had entered the most mystical spot on earth. Others know it simply as the Buza Bar.

 Yes, I’d seen pictures. Yes, I’d read accounts by people who had visited, but nothing could have prepared me for this wine and beer bar set in the ultimate paradise."

rialtogrl

Unfortunately Buza Bar (the one in the above pictures) is closed. Apparently the city leases the land to the bar and they are in an argument about money. Maybe it will reopen some day but might be different owners. It might be open by September, but I’d check before trying to find it.

the second Buza (the one with a sign “cold drinks”, not as dramatic as this one) might be open.