Dayne

Need some advice from my fellow travel enthusiasts. I am female 43 traveling alone and am trying to decide whether to go to Croatia or Turkey - Sept 06. Wild Scenery, beautiful beaches & clean water (snorkeling - diving), culture/ancient sites/interesting architecture, nice people, easy to get around, relatively safe, affordable - these are important to me. I plan on having a backpack and thought that camping/hostels might be a good option in Croatia - looks like they have abundant camping facilities. I have about a month to travel. From Croatia, it seams I can get to many places (including Italy). From Turkey, there are the Greek Islands that could also be visited. Any advise would be wonderful.

socal

Dayne... for what it's worth, I'd try Croatia over Turkey for a couple of reasons. First I think it's a bit less expensive. Last year we drove over to Croatia from Hungary with my wife and a couple of friends. We I found the people to be friendly and eastern Croatia was still very untouristy and reasonable. About 10 years ago we did a week long drive across western Turkey from Istanbul, to Bursa, to Izmir, to Kusadasi, to Bodrom, and finally to Marmaris. There we met another couple from Australia and they talked us into taking a 3 night sail on a small turkish boat (gullet) that we were able to rent for a very reasonable price and it was great if you like swimming in clear blue water. However, as a single woman, I think you might feel more comfortable traveling alone in Croatia than in Turkey. I recently found a web site that you might find helpful if you are looking to take some trips along the Adriatic coast, which is also clear blue water and great for snokeling. It is www.adriatica.net click on the Adriatic cruise icon and you will find some wonderful trips that appear to me to be very reasonable. After you read up on the history of this region I think you will find it to be your first choice. I also think that we will look at Croatia as our next vacation in 2007. This year we have done Portugal and Spain in the spring and we have a week in Florence coming up this October. After Croatia you could catch a ferry down the coast and see some of Greece, however, I think that you would be better off with a two week vacation all in the same country. that web sight offers both cruises of the islands and coastal cities as well as inland tours that will afford you the opportunity to see some of the beautiful lakes and mountains of Croatia. If neither of those options appeal to you look at renting a car and spending 2 or 3 days in various rental/B&B's that they recommend. I hope this helps...Mike Sullivan

Dayne

Thank you so much for the advise. I will check out the website. I have a month so it would be easy to spend some time in either Greece or Italy. I am also now apprehensive about Turkey with what's going on in Lebanon & Israel. Who knows what could develop! I also found it cheap to fly from CA, USA to London and then from London to Zagreb or Venice. Happy travels and thanks again.

eurotraveller

I posted an answer on one of your other threads.

I don't think you are any less safe in Turkey than you are in USA (assuming you are from USA).

You could always fly into Rome, take the train to Ancona and ferry over to Split. The train takes about 3 1/2 hours and the ferry takes all night although it could go much faster but since it is an overnight it just putts along across the Adriatic.

propertravel

As this is Turkey forum, may I Vote for Turkey ? Travelling alone is not a problem in Turkey. Or at least I know you wont be the first one
Hospitality, culture, good food, great hotels and great sites, good weather, nice shores, and again nice people.....Dollar or Euro is strong against YTL will make the vacation a bargain.

Happy Travelling,
Murat
You should come to Turkey....