[Alfisti]

Yeah agree, don't go for the sake of going. Maybe do Amalfi but pack a TON of patience and be prepared to do things early morning. Personally, I'd do Italy or Croatia and do the other next year, it's far, far easier and so much to see man.

You need to account for the hassle factor driving through these places in July and August. Traffic can crawl, parking is a minefield, you will go down a one way street with no room to turn and have to reverse with 4 other people in the car and scooters and suicidal pedestrians etc.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by Watching The World Burn

The Pope might also die around the time of your travel, leading crowds to the Vatican City...who knows. Plan on crowds to be safe.

It is a pretty busy itinerary though, I'll give you that. If you think you can get away again for two weeks next year, then I'd do that - drop Italy and do it proper next year and just do Croatia (or vice versa, do Italy this year and Croatia next).

Amalfi traffic is just simply terrible if you are going that way, take a train and bus. If you are heading south, the Blue Grotto is super touristy, but still neat and good to see, but you are going to have to take a boat to Capri. Its good though, you can walk along the island itself before hitting the Blue Grotto which is over way to quick.

Yeah definitely busy no doubt.. I'm going in with that expectation, while also trying to see where I can cut certain things out. Potentially heading south instead of North would be one way to cut some of the travelling out since we can fly out of Naples instead of having to backtrack to Rome.

If we do head south and stay near Amalfi, I'll definitely check out the blue grotto!

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Yeah agree, don't go for the sake of going. Maybe do Amalfi but pack a TON of patience and be prepared to do things early morning. Personally, I'd do Italy or Croatia and do the other next year, it's far, far easier and so much to see man.

You need to account for the hassle factor driving through these places in July and August. Traffic can crawl, parking is a minefield, you will go down a one way street with no room to turn and have to reverse with 4 other people in the car and scooters and suicidal pedestrians etc.

Yeah I wonder if it's more crowded than many of the Asian destinations I've been to. It seems like there's no perfect answer to this - if we go north, it's a ton of backtracking and movement. If we go south, it's slightly less movement but then we'll have crazy crowds at Amalfi. And if we cut out a big chunk of the trip to focus on one country, we'll inevitably feel like we're missing out (now that the expectations to see 2 countries has been already established).

We likely won't be driving. I think most of Italy will be done via train and private transfers. As for Croatia, will likely hire private transfers there as well. We have some family joining as well so our group will be 9 people including the nanny. If we were to rent something, it would probably have to be at least 2 vans.

[Alfisti]

You have 9 people for all your time in Coratia?

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

You have 9 people for all your time in Coratia?

Yeah for the entire trip. Me, wife, nanny, 2 kids - and being joined by 2 brothers in law, one of their wives, and a cousin.

Thankfully, I'm only responsible for myself, wife, kids and nanny.

[Alfisti]

Jesus H christ.

Even more reason to limit the moving around.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Jesus H christ.

Even more reason to limit the moving around.

I gotta say... the airbnb options in Croatia are freaking incredible from what I've been seeing. Mansions straight out of Miami for very reasonable prices.

[Alfisti]

THat's your dollar speaking. 45% more for me. One last time, i'd skip one country and do the other the next year. Croatia especially is awkward as it is long and narrow and limited flights.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

THat's your dollar speaking. 45% more for me. One last time, i'd skip one country and do the other the next year. Croatia especially is awkward as it is long and narrow and limited flights.

At this point, if we don't do 2 countries, then the thought of having missed out will weigh much heavier post trip than the hassle of being on the move throughout the trip.

That being said - I think the decision to go south instead of north will help ease some of the stress.

It'll look something like this:

---Flight into Rome
3 nights in Rome
---Train down to Amalfi Coast
4 nights in Amalfi Coast with day trips to Naples
---Flight from Naples to Split
3 nights in Split with day trips to Plitvice Lakes & Zadar
---Drive down to Dubrovnik
2 nights in Dubrovnik
---Flight back home from Dubrovnik

The Croatia part I'm still trying to figure out. I looked up one of the resorts you had mentioned on the Island of Rab and it looks really good. So may do the - fly into Zagreb, do a day in Plitvice, then spend 2-3 nights in the Island of Rab before heading down to Dubrovnik.

[chassis]

The Radisson Blu in Split is good. Beautiful sea view rooms available, excellent terrace breakfast, great staff.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by chassis

The Radisson Blu in Split is good. Beautiful sea view rooms available, excellent terrace breakfast, great staff.

Crazy expensive and they have you trapped onsite with food etc. It's sorta isolated unless you drive everywhere, the charm of europe is walking to whre you need to go to eat etc, having options. The food is outrageously priced.

That stretch of water is shit to swim in, it's quite narrow and 10 billion seagulls sit on the water, if the wind blows the wrong way, and often does, your swimming in bird shit and feathers.

I'm not fan of Split as you can tell. Cannot recommend Omis enough.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Crazy expensive and they have you trapped onsite with food etc. It's sorta isolated unless you drive everywhere, the charm of europe is walking to whre you need to go to eat etc, having options. The food is outrageously priced.

That stretch of water is shit to swim in, it's quite narrow and 10 billion seagulls sit on the water, if the wind blows the wrong way, and often does, your swimming in bird shit and feathers.

I'm not fan of Split as you can tell. Cannot recommend Omis enough.

Omis looks awesome. No airbnb availability so if we stay there we'd have to split up into individual hotel rooms... which is OK with me.

I did find an amazing airbnb just northwest of split in Okrug Gornji. Any thoughts on that area?

[Alfisti]

Never been but I am not a fan of bays that have marinas in them. Boats going back and forth etc, ruins the water and the experience and there seems to be an industrial port nearby.

[wtwo3]

Think our itinerary is finally taking shape.

Any restaurant/food recommendations for:

Rome
Florence
Naples

Split
Zadar
Dubrovnik

It'll be a large group of us along with 2 children.

[Watching The World Burn]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

Think our itinerary is finally taking shape.

Any restaurant/food recommendations for:

Rome
Florence
Naples

Split
Zadar
Dubrovnik

It'll be a large group of us along with 2 children.

Depends - do you like steak?

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by Watching The World Burn

Depends - do you like steak?

love steak

[chassis]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

Think our itinerary is finally taking shape.

Any restaurant/food recommendations for:

Rome
Florence
Naples

Split
Zadar
Dubrovnik

It'll be a large group of us along with 2 children.

I have never had a bad meal in Europe.

Restoran Donat in Zadar Old Town.

In Split near Diocletian’s palace are many restaurants. We ate at one of these and were 100% satisfied. The procedure below is how I choose a restaurant anywhere in Europe. Google Translate app with camera usage means zero language barrier from a reading point of view.

Read the menu posted at the door, and read the hand written daily board, usually on the sidewalk. Look at what others have ordered in the restaurant. If you like what you see and have read, get a table and enjoy. This procedure has never failed me. I have travelled around the world and extensively across Europe. The procedure works and is robust.

[Watching The World Burn]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

love steak

Bistecca alla Fiorentina at Trattoria dall'oste chiniari (sp?) is something you must eat if you go to Florence. There are a number of dall'oste's locations, but the chiniari one which is near il dumo, is a must try. Came recommended by a chef that was doing our cooking class that we took that day.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by Watching The World Burn

Bistecca alla Fiorentina at Trattoria dall'oste chiniari (sp?) is something you must eat if you go to Florence. There are a number of dall'oste's locations, but the chiniari one which is near il dumo, is a must try. Came recommended by a chef that was doing our cooking class that we took that day.

Awesome... it's about a 15 min walk from where we're staying in florence.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by chassis

I have never had a bad meal in Europe.

Restoran Donat in Zadar Old Town.

In Split near Diocletian’s palace are many restaurants. We ate at one of these and were 100% satisfied. The procedure below is how I choose a restaurant anywhere in Europe. Google Translate app with camera usage means zero language barrier from a reading point of view.

Read the menu posted at the door, and read the hand written daily board, usually on the sidewalk. Look at what others have ordered in the restaurant. If you like what you see and have read, get a table and enjoy. This procedure has never failed me. I have travelled around the world and extensively across Europe. The procedure works and is robust.

Nice, will try this out. We have a lot of free time baked into the itinerary (to offset all the travelling) so we'll have time to just explore and try out random places.

[P1]

Why are you cramming so much into a short trip like that? Sounds exhausting. Just focus on Italy and tootle around there a bit.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by P1

Why are you cramming so much into a short trip like that? Sounds exhausting. Just focus on Italy and tootle around there a bit.

It's been 8 years of boring all-inclusive resorts where we do nothing but sit on the beach. I'm ready for some action.