Family holiday in Croatia - Any help/advice?

NeilF · 1 May 2015 at 16:48

So thought we'd look at going to Croatia for a family holiday this summer.

I'm wondering if anyone here has been over there who could comment on locations? So far we're considering Zadar or Rovinj?

Idea would be to have amenities (town) near/around us, and beaches with a short drive (hire car).

We could then use the car to visit elsewhere too. But a couple of beaches nearby is a must. It seems for example from Zadar, Nin is a nice beach only a short drive away?

Any advice/help would be very useful! Thanks!

NeilF · 7 May 2015 at 12:23

Anyone been to/stayed at Pula?

If so is it a reasonable base camp? We'd be looking to be able to drive to beaches in 20-30mins? Eat at Pula so nice restaurants etc? And venture off for day trips elsewhere. eg: Rovinj.

NeilF · 7 May 2015 at 12:45

Zefan said:
What Super Tigers said - Hvar is awesome. Those little islands just off the harbour are to die for.

But is Hvar a little cut off? So if we were to get a villa there (with hire car), would it make travel to elsewhere a lot longer? ie: To get off the island and back to a main road? And beaches on Hvar?

NeilF · 7 May 2015 at 20:29

Super Tigers said:
Finally got those links working after transferring to photobucket.

Looks lovely... Many thanks!

So as a family villa destination it's a fairly pretty/friendly/scenic place then to act as a base?

NeilF · 7 May 2015 at 21:27

^^ I assume ice lollies are OK though :/

NeilF · 13 May 2015 at 14:15

OK, we're booked up to stay 7 days in a villa un Umag - We didn't have a lot to choose from TBH as we've left it a little late.

It's about 6-10km from the coast. We're tucked away so will need to drive to go any where but not too fussed about that.

On the last day (when we have to leave the villa) might look at going to Plitvice Lakes (3+hrs drive). If it makes sense (flight wise) we can always then fly out the next day so spend an extra night in a hotel that night where appropriate...

From what I can gather we'd be flying in/out of maybe Pula?

NeilF · 13 May 2015 at 14:27

Qitarah said:
Plitvice Lakes are truly stunning, but get very busy during the season.

Actually from a quick skim it looks hard to get a flight out on the Sat and a return flight back other than the following Sat... So the idea of staying over an extra night and flying back on the Sunday may simply not be practical/possible

NeilF · 17 Jun 2015 at 11:36

OK... Quick word of advice hopefully...

So we're booked into a villa in Umag for 7 days, and I've booked the return flight 2 days later.

The plan is when we leave the villa (Sat morning) to have a nice (3hr) drive down to Plitvice Lakes National Park area. First thing Sunday we'll then visit the park and in the afternoon do the 2hr drive back upto Zagreb for our flight Monday morning.

So my question is, on our long (3+hr) drive down from Umag to the Plitvice Lakes on the Saturday, is there anywhere obvious to stop off and visit to make a day of it? A nice village/town/beach? Something along this route? - https://www.google.co.uk/maps?biw=1...ved=0CCMQ-A8wAGoVChMIj7H_-cOWxgIVLCrbCh2e_AHl

ps: We would have done everything where locally by then I'd expect. eg: Pula.