Croatian Villa Holiday - Would I be mad to drive???
Discussion
I am currently trying to put a holiday together (for 4 people) on a budget and am wanting to see if the plans are do-able, especially the travel arrangements!
Planning on going in late May/June (avoiding half term if possible) and renting a villa on the island of Brac (just off split) - I've been before and loved it (flew and hired), although my girlfriend hasn't but she is having second thoughts about the drive....
Costs are estimated at about £300-£350pp for 14 nights there (plus one each way travelling) but excluding food and drink. We are in Kent, with the plan being on driving to Dover/Folkestone and across the continent, stopping overnight at somewhere like Stuttgart (Porsche Museum one morning?
although a diversion via a well known race track has been ruled out 
) on each leg.
The car proposed is a Merc E220 CDI of 2004 vintage, although very high on miles, which I am currently trying to procure from a colleague for £1k(worst case is a E90 BMW 318d) both of which should hopefully be frugal and big enough/comfortable. (I am used to driving long distances, up until a few years ago clocking c.30k miles a year and would do the majority/all of the driving)
What are the roads past germany and down into Croatia like? How much would the likely toll cost be (Via Michilin doesn't seem to work here). (budgeted c.£130pp out of the above for fuel/crossing/tolls?). Could I back up claims of pretty scenary?
Am I mad??? or should we just fly and rent a car from the airport? (this comes in at about £240pp to increase costs to about £450 each - a bit of a struggle)
Planning on going in late May/June (avoiding half term if possible) and renting a villa on the island of Brac (just off split) - I've been before and loved it (flew and hired), although my girlfriend hasn't but she is having second thoughts about the drive....
Costs are estimated at about £300-£350pp for 14 nights there (plus one each way travelling) but excluding food and drink. We are in Kent, with the plan being on driving to Dover/Folkestone and across the continent, stopping overnight at somewhere like Stuttgart (Porsche Museum one morning?
although a diversion via a well known race track has been ruled out ) on each leg.The car proposed is a Merc E220 CDI of 2004 vintage, although very high on miles, which I am currently trying to procure from a colleague for £1k(worst case is a E90 BMW 318d) both of which should hopefully be frugal and big enough/comfortable. (I am used to driving long distances, up until a few years ago clocking c.30k miles a year and would do the majority/all of the driving)
What are the roads past germany and down into Croatia like? How much would the likely toll cost be (Via Michilin doesn't seem to work here). (budgeted c.£130pp out of the above for fuel/crossing/tolls?). Could I back up claims of pretty scenary?
Am I mad??? or should we just fly and rent a car from the airport? (this comes in at about £240pp to increase costs to about £450 each - a bit of a struggle)
Edited by kiethton on Tuesday 26th February 15:03
Nope, not mad. Get it done. You'll love it. Far too few Brits drive to the Med, it's a great experience. The Merc sounds ideal. I've done Gibraltar and back, twice, in a FIAT Regata with a 4 speed box and hardly any motorways. Brilliant. Also driven to Belgrade and back, plus several other continental touring holidays.
The roads to Croatia, and even in Croatia, are very good. I have driven many times from Munich to Zagreb and then the coast. As you can imagine, there is quite some stunning scenery travelling through Austria, and make sure you buy a road pass from any service station (around 10 euros for 10 days).
One large piece of advice is to avoid the use of the motorway in Slovenia at all costs. Take the slower option (it adds at most an hour to your overall trip) by heading towards Maribor rather than Ljubljana. It could end up costing you a massive fine of 150 euros, like it did me.
Let me explain, they have set up their tollway booths on the motorway, however they are all unmanned. I stopped at the first two of these such toll points, there was absolutely nowhere to buy the required motorway pass. Upon reaching the border to Croatia, the border police inquired as to why I hadnt bought a pass, I told them. Apparently, it was not a sufficient answer and was fined the said 150 euros for a first time offence, do it twice and its 300 euro. I was not impressed.
After arriving in Zagreb and speaking to a friend, I found out that it was a deliberate ploy by the Slovenes to try and make some money off of tourists to Croatia. There apparently is a booth where you can buy these highway pass's, but at the time it was about 20 - 40m after the tunnel from Austria, tucked away behind some bushes, never to be seen from the road. They raised well over 90 million euro during the summer of 2011. The shifty b
ds.
Not sure how it is now, as last summer I avoided Slovenia completely out of principle alone.
As I said earlier, take the road to Maribor. Its no highway, but for a strecth of road thats less than 70km long, it may just save you some money. No tollways/road tax is required for this road.
The other option is a wee bit longer, but soo much more stunning, and that is to travel towards Innsbruck, Trento and then Verona, before cutting accross towrds the coast....
Hope it helps.
One large piece of advice is to avoid the use of the motorway in Slovenia at all costs. Take the slower option (it adds at most an hour to your overall trip) by heading towards Maribor rather than Ljubljana. It could end up costing you a massive fine of 150 euros, like it did me.
Let me explain, they have set up their tollway booths on the motorway, however they are all unmanned. I stopped at the first two of these such toll points, there was absolutely nowhere to buy the required motorway pass. Upon reaching the border to Croatia, the border police inquired as to why I hadnt bought a pass, I told them. Apparently, it was not a sufficient answer and was fined the said 150 euros for a first time offence, do it twice and its 300 euro. I was not impressed.
After arriving in Zagreb and speaking to a friend, I found out that it was a deliberate ploy by the Slovenes to try and make some money off of tourists to Croatia. There apparently is a booth where you can buy these highway pass's, but at the time it was about 20 - 40m after the tunnel from Austria, tucked away behind some bushes, never to be seen from the road. They raised well over 90 million euro during the summer of 2011. The shifty b
ds.Not sure how it is now, as last summer I avoided Slovenia completely out of principle alone.
As I said earlier, take the road to Maribor. Its no highway, but for a strecth of road thats less than 70km long, it may just save you some money. No tollways/road tax is required for this road.
The other option is a wee bit longer, but soo much more stunning, and that is to travel towards Innsbruck, Trento and then Verona, before cutting accross towrds the coast....
Hope it helps.
I drove to Zadar a couple of years ago - definitely get a toll pass in advance or don't drive through Slovenia! We broke up the journey by stopping in Milan on the way there and Venice on the way back (I think, we did a lot of travelling that year) and we did it in a MINI Cooper S, a 3 Series or Merc would swallow that journey.
I've driven from Czech Republic to Croatia a couple of times. I agree the highways in both Slovenia and Croatia are very good. I've never had a prblem buying toll tickets when coming via Graz. I recall there is a services right on the border where I buy them.
It's also usually possible to buy toll tickets for the 'next' country.
Can always buy them ahead of time.
http://www.tolltickets.com/country/europe/europe.a...
It's also usually possible to buy toll tickets for the 'next' country.
Can always buy them ahead of time.
http://www.tolltickets.com/country/europe/europe.a...
Well all booked as of last night and just the GF and I....
Outward:
Day 1: Kent - Stuttgart (05:50 shuttle) - thinking to get there ASAP and explore the city (Porsche/MB World...don't tell the GF!!!)
Day 2: Stuttgart - Bol (Thinking of going Via Neuschwanstein Castle en-route?)
12 nights in Bol, with a trip to Split, Hvar & Plitvice Lakes as well as just relaxing
Return:
Day 1: Bol - Vienna (2 nights in Vienna for exploring/mini city break)
Day 2: Vienna to Kent (Dinner in Brugge? to catch the 11pm shuttle?) - the longest day of driving....
All the accomodation and Shuttle now booked and paid for, averaging <£30 a night so not bad on a budget...thinking another £400 for tolls and diesel (55-60mpg)should see us good
Car of choice is now a 2008 BMW 318d as Merc fell through, just got to add myself onto the insurance for the 15 nights now....
What are people's opinions on this - apart from the above diversions in Slovenia is there anything else worth seeing en-route?
Outward:
Day 1: Kent - Stuttgart (05:50 shuttle) - thinking to get there ASAP and explore the city (Porsche/MB World...don't tell the GF!!!)
Day 2: Stuttgart - Bol (Thinking of going Via Neuschwanstein Castle en-route?)
12 nights in Bol, with a trip to Split, Hvar & Plitvice Lakes as well as just relaxing
Return:
Day 1: Bol - Vienna (2 nights in Vienna for exploring/mini city break)
Day 2: Vienna to Kent (Dinner in Brugge? to catch the 11pm shuttle?) - the longest day of driving....
All the accomodation and Shuttle now booked and paid for, averaging <£30 a night so not bad on a budget...thinking another £400 for tolls and diesel (55-60mpg)should see us good
Car of choice is now a 2008 BMW 318d as Merc fell through
, just got to add myself onto the insurance for the 15 nights now....What are people's opinions on this - apart from the above diversions in Slovenia is there anything else worth seeing en-route?
Edited by kiethton on Monday 25th March 10:53
Edited by kiethton on Monday 25th March 11:57
Shay HTFC said:
On the way to Stuttgart it might be worth heading down the Rhine (Cologne -> Bonn -> Koblenz). Its a nice drive, although it'll presumably take longer than just autobahning it.
Thanks for that, I'll look into it (although I am half attracted to just getting to Stuttgart to get to MB world/Porsche museum in time Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff