Do we need a car?

Hi

I have searched on line for help but i cannot seem to find what i am looking for.

My boyfriend and i are going to Croatia, backpacking in and out of Split for 14 nights this September. We are spending 2 nights in Trogir in a B%26amp;B and then back to Split for the ferry.

We then plan to do:

Hvar

Brac

Vis

Back to Makarska

Down to Dubrovnik

over to Lopud and then back to Split.

We want to do this as economically as possible, so we are thinking of taking a small tent.

Now though I am not sure if this will work for the best as if we camp for the majority of nights would we need a car (owing to teh fact that the campsites tend to be a bit further out) and then in that case we have to hire a car and pay for car crossing prices on the ferries.

So i guess my questions are: is it easy to camp when backpacking and is it worth hiring a car? or shoudl we just go with regular accomodation offered at ports etc?

thanks

Carly

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The ferry tickets for cars are rather high,and yes, the campsites are often away from the ferry and bus stations.

In September it will be possible to find cheap accommodation when arriving to the towns.Well equipped camps could be just a little bit cheaper than rooms.

I would just put the islands in the following order:

1. Vis from Split (on Tuesdays direct catamaran to Hvar)

2. Hvar (each day direct catamaran to Brač island)

3. Brač(there is a cat to Makarska , but don%26#39;t know remember details)

Otherwise you would have to return to Split to get to the next island.

You can rent something on each island,at least bicycle, because the buses are not so frequent.

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We were in Croatia just 5 days ago, having spent 2.5 weeks there. We did Dubrovnik - Mljet - Korcula - Jelsa - Split for the outbound flight. I almost committed to a car before getting there because my inlaws were a big part of the trip and I thought it would be good to have some independence. I%26#39;m very glad I didn%26#39;t take the car as I didn%26#39;t miss it at all. You can rent scooters or bicycles in most places, or even cars for a day, and the pedestrian ferries seem very good mostly. We got into a very relaxed rythm, walking into the towns for coffee (a few hundred meters), taking bicycles for gentle rides to neighbouring towns, a scooter once. A car changes the rythm.......but we are middle aged and may have different needs, and didn%26#39;t cover the islands very thoroughly in terms of exploring all over. Jelsa (on Hvar) is very nice and has a campsite called Mina less than a kilometer from the pedestrian catamaran ferry. It%26#39;s on the water and looks very nice. It%26#39;s a beautiful walk from there into town. There are charming bicycle rides from there to Vreboska along the water.

Ayway, have a great time. I%26#39;m drinking Slivovica and listening to Klappa music as I write this. It%26#39;s a wonderful place.

Theo.

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Jelsa gives good advice. Change the order - do Vis first, then Hvar Town (you might be able to get from Vus to Hvar Town by excursion baot rather than having to go back to Split and then out again), then go by bus to Jelsa on Hvar before crossing over to Bol on Brac on the early morning catamarin. In Bol there is a campsite there called Ranc which is more or less in the village, and another over by the tennis centre. From Bol, you can get by bus to Sumartin and catch a ferry over to Makarska (or catch the return trip on one of the several excursion boats that come from Makarska to Bol each day - negotiate with the skipper). From Makarska there are buses to Dubrovnik. In short, you don%26#39;t need a car (which are expensive to hire). If you are staying in one place for a few days and wanted to explore, then you could hire a car for the day, or a scooter, or a small boat.

Have fun!

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A lot of camping in Croatia does seem to expect you to have a car as well, judging by the location of sites. But, cost of cars on ferries is high. I would mix up camping with staying in apartments as necessary; you will be able to find places when you arrive.

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Thank you everyone for your advice - we will not hire a car, but think we%26#39;ll take the tent just in case. We go on Tuesday! We can%26#39;t wait! :O)

Thanks again

Carly

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Tent is good emergency/natural option.Along the way (or now on the web) you%26#39;ll see that between private rooms vs camp there is no huge price gap.

%26quot; I%26#39;m drinking Slivovica and listening to Klappa music as I write this. It%26#39;s a wonderful place. %26quot;

@rugbohoper

Not schnapps but wine (or olive oil) goes with klapa. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzJN6TDkQCg

Sljivovica (or Valvoline oil) goes with Thompson www.youtube.com/watch…

Weed (and almond oil ) www.youtube.com/watch…

(not sure if you can get in BC area any decent olive oil)