Croatia

Any one been? Thinking of going next summer for a couple of weeks. The place, people, hotels etc. Any info to help make up my mind. Thanks

I went to Croatia this year. I spent 5 nights in Opatija. It is a very nice resort on the Istrian peninsula. It has the feel of somewhere on the French Riviera. Much cheaper though, especially if you get off the main street and seek out the lovely bars and restaurants not used by elderly Germans. http://www.opatija.net/

I stayed in this hotel: http://www.ugohoteli.hr/grand/e00home.htm . My room was in the modern bit overlooking the harbour. Parts of it are in converted mansion houses from the Imperial days. Very good service, restaurant has a good value buffet breakfast and dinner if you can't be bothered finding somewhere else.

Plenty to see on the peninsula itself - Pula, Porec, some nice mountians and of course the Adriatic.

I took a cross country route to get to the Plitvice Lakes (a must see World Heritage site). The roads are not in the best condition and some scars from the civil war remain. The people in the villages are great though. They are so pleased to have tourists back.

The mountains in the north that run parallel with the Slovenia border are lovely. They have built a new road to link Zagreb with the coast. It's a fabulous piece of engineering with some impressive viaducts.

I didn't have enough time to go further east than Karlovac or south of Plitvice.

They don't have much of a traditional telephone network. However, there are mobile masts everywhere so your phone will work in even the remote areas.

One of my group, on a ZZR1100, had a wheel bearing break. No problem: his RAC cover worked as well as if in France. The bike was whisked off to a Kwak dealer (sells mainly dirt bikes) in nearby Rijeka. The rider got a taxi back to the hotel (£5 for 12 miles), spent the following day exploring Opatija whilst the parts were located and fitted. Another £5 taxi ride to get the bike.

So, the people are friendly, the scenery is stunning and they have an infrastructure that works. Recommended.

Oh, I went in late June and it was very hot then so I'd recommend that you don't go in July or August as it could be unbearable on a bike. I was being very irresponsible and riding in jeans, t-shirt, trainers and factor 30. It was brill.

We passed through Croatia last year on our way home from Budapest. Wish I'd known about Plitvice at the time.

Zagreb was not that impressive when compared to Prague, Bratislava, Budapest etc. Stayed one night in Porec on the coast, very nice.

Ride report here: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52824

Photos here: http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel

Scroll down to find galleries for Zagreb, Porec & Croatia.

Click the link for some photos from my trip.

http://www.kodakmobile.co.uk/I.jsp?c=b3zl0zd.oddvu75&x=0&y=g2aa6o

Ignore the request to sign up - just click the view photos button

Here's a sample:

Thanks for the information. Now all I have to do is save some money!
Still makes the winter bearable. Something to look forward to

croatia

on way back from turkey trot, stayed in krk on an island, just off coast great fishing village , good roads and scenery, and 4 star hotel , 30 eoros b , and b

Really need to get a BIG MAP

All sounds great !

Just need the worlds biggest map and planning table !

Does Croatia border the Black sea (bound to get the dumbo award for that one !)http://www.ukgser.com/forums/images/smilies/aidan.gif