Tour Guide Wanted Croatia and Slovenia trip, tips please (1 Viewer)

[MickandHelen]

HI all,
We are off in a month aiming for Slovenia and Croatia. We will be travelling a route we know well through Belgium , Luxemburg and Germany down to probably Fussen on the Austrian Border. The plan then was to go through Austria, into Slovenia and then tour around Croatia. Way back possibly same way we came or perhaps through Northern Italy into Switzerland. Our motorhome is 4 tonne. We will have the dog with us also.
Questions we have are:
What is the easiest driving route through Austria.
We will need a GoBox, are they easy to buy at most garages,
What do we need for Slovenia, there is mention of a vignette.
Is anything we need for Italy or Switzerland
Recommendations for places to visit and stay in Slovenia and Croatia
Is Dubrovnik worth the drive all the way down


Thanks everyone

 

[MattR]

HI all,
We are off in a month aiming for Slovenia and Croatia. We will be travelling a route we know well through Belgium , Luxemburg and Germany down to probably Fussen on the Austrian Border. The plan then was to go through Austria, into Slovenia and then tour around Croatia. Way back possibly same way we came or perhaps through Northern Italy into Switzerland. Our motorhome is 4 tonne. We will have the dog with us also.
Questions we have are:
What is the easiest driving route through Austria.
We will need a GoBox, are they easy to buy at most garages,
What do we need for Slovenia, there is mention of a vignette.
Is anything we need for Italy or Switzerland
Recommendations for places to visit and stay in Slovenia and Croatia
Is Dubrovnik worth the drive all the way down


Thanks everyone

I don't know now what it will be like in April but I don't think many facilities will be open; this includes some campsites.

I'd spend time travelling around Bosnia too ... a fascinating country. I'd avoid Switzerland and spend more time in the Balkans.

Dubrovnik is pretty but I would check that the weather is blue skies when heading there ... it is appealing due to the colours of the buildings etc. I guess it looks much less attractive with grey weather.

 

[JockandRita]

Hi there.
If over 3500Kgs, I would avoid Austria, as you will need a Go Box to use their Motorways. If you choose not to use them, but get diverted onto one for any number of possible reasons, and you don't have a Go Box, you risk being heavily fined.
The swiss system for over 3500Kgs is a 10 x day pass for 32 x Swiss Francs. It is valid for up to 12 x months.
(If under 3500Kgs, it's a Vignette for both countries).

We took our V5 into the border offive at Basel, and had it all done painlessly. We entered Croatia via Italy and Slovenia in March/April time, and had a lovely stay with warm weather in the daytime, but cool to cold at night. Things have become so much more expensive over the past few years.

Good luck with the planning.

Cheers,

Jock.

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[Leith Laddie]

April 2023 Balkans visit itinerary 19 Wednesday	Luxembourg	Bon Accueil
20 Thursday	Stuttgart	Aire
21 Friday	Munich	Camping Platz Nord West
22 Saturday	Munich
23 Sunday	Ljubljana	Gostilna Pri Kovacu
24 Monday	Ljubljana
25 Tuesday	Zagreb	Vuglec plac
26 Wednesday	Zagreb	Samabor
27 Thursday	Zadar	Falkensteiner
28 Friday	Zadar
29 Saturday	Sibenik	Amadria
30 Sunday	Split​	Camping Split
May		Stobrec
1 Monday	Split
2 Tuesday	Split
3 Wednesday	Dubrovnik	Pod Maslinom
4 Thursday	Dubrovnik
5 Friday	Dubrovnik
6 Saturday	Mostar	Wimbledon
7 Sunday	Mostar
8 Monday	Sarajevo	Camping Sarajevo
9 Tuesday	Sarajevo
10 Wednesday	Garcin Croatia	Ranc Ranarin
11 Thursday	Novi Sad Serbia	Camping Kovilj
12 Friday	Belgrade	Camping Dona
13 Saturday	Belgrade
14 Sunday	Minis	Camping route Roemenie
15 Monday	Cluj Napoca	Colina
16 Tuesday	Sighisoara	Aquarius
17 Wednesday	Sibiu	Camping Nomad
18 Thursday	Deva	Camping Tranzit
19 Friday	Fuzesgyarnat	Thermal Kemping
20 Saturday	Budapest	Arena Camping
21Sunday	Budapest
22 Monday	Budapest
23 Tuesday	Budapest
24 Wednesday	Vienna	Wein West
25 Thursday	Vienna
26 Friday	Vilshofen	Stelplatz Yachthafen
27 Saturday	Vilshofen
28 Sunday	Luxembourg	Aire Parking Koerich
29 Monday	Luxembourg	Bon Accueil
30 Tuesday	Luxembourg

 

[Leith Laddie]

Sorry for the strange looking reply but I copied our itinerary from last year's tour of the Balkans. Sites can be found on Park4Nigt or Search for Sites. Good luck we had a fantastic time, don't miss Dubrovnik it is simply stunning almost as pretty as Leith!

 

[MickandHelen]

April 2023 Balkans visit itinerary 19 Wednesday	Luxembourg	Bon Accueil
20 Thursday	Stuttgart	Aire
21 Friday	Munich	Camping Platz Nord West
22 Saturday	Munich
23 Sunday	Ljubljana	Gostilna Pri Kovacu
24 Monday	Ljubljana
25 Tuesday	Zagreb	Vuglec plac
26 Wednesday	Zagreb	Samabor
27 Thursday	Zadar	Falkensteiner
28 Friday	Zadar
29 Saturday	Sibenik	Amadria
30 Sunday	Split​	Camping Split
May		Stobrec
1 Monday	Split
2 Tuesday	Split
3 Wednesday	Dubrovnik	Pod Maslinom
4 Thursday	Dubrovnik
5 Friday	Dubrovnik
6 Saturday	Mostar	Wimbledon
7 Sunday	Mostar
8 Monday	Sarajevo	Camping Sarajevo
9 Tuesday	Sarajevo
10 Wednesday	Garcin Croatia	Ranc Ranarin
11 Thursday	Novi Sad Serbia	Camping Kovilj
12 Friday	Belgrade	Camping Dona
13 Saturday	Belgrade
14 Sunday	Minis	Camping route Roemenie
15 Monday	Cluj Napoca	Colina
16 Tuesday	Sighisoara	Aquarius
17 Wednesday	Sibiu	Camping Nomad
18 Thursday	Deva	Camping Tranzit
19 Friday	Fuzesgyarnat	Thermal Kemping
20 Saturday	Budapest	Arena Camping
21Sunday	Budapest
22 Monday	Budapest
23 Tuesday	Budapest
24 Wednesday	Vienna	Wein West
25 Thursday	Vienna
26 Friday	Vilshofen	Stelplatz Yachthafen
27 Saturday	Vilshofen
28 Sunday	Luxembourg	Aire Parking Koerich
29 Monday	Luxembourg	Bon Accueil
30 Tuesday	Luxembourg

Thank you so much for all of this info. What route did you take from Munich to Ljubliana?

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[Raul]

For Slovenia, we registered with Vintrica dot com, and paid by pay pal. You can pay for other countries on the same account, mastercard works to.

 

[Leith Laddie]

Thank you so much for all of this info. What route did you take from Munich to Ljubliana?

We drove through Austria in our Elddis Autoquest 196 under 3500kg motorhome. A vignette and a few tolls as well. Motorway all the way. Te site in Ljubliana was free parking in a restaurant with great food and easy bus service. Check carefully about what vignettes you need for each country we almost got caught out in Romania realised after a few days we needed a vignette and bought one, no problem exiting te country, phew!

 

[Just smiffy]

I traveled all the way to Dubrovnik with no tolls or box’s or stickers on the same route for 3 months, just put no tolls on the sat-nav.

Zadar was my favourite…

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[JockandRita]

I traveled all the way to Dubrovnik with no tolls or box’s or stickers on the same route for 3 months, just put no tolls on the sat-nav.

Zadar was my favourite…

That's fine Garry, if you are not over 3500Kgs....................but it can be a financial nightmare if not, and you get nobbled.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

I know someone who is 7.5t and drove through Austria and back twice without any toll passes he never got caught or had any fines come through, he also drove through guess it’s if your luck is in on the day (s)

 

[WESTY66]

We did Croatia and back via Austria and Slovenia, back through Italy and Switzerland, all in the alps, 5ton no go or dars box, it’s easy if you plan it!
I know a few on here have been nobbled by Austria, but plan it well and you will see the stunning scenery it has to offer

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[JockandRita]

I know someone who is 7.5t and drove through Austria and back twice without any toll passes he never got caught or had any fines come through, he also drove through guess it’s if your luck is in on the day (s)

Obviously, "your mate" was a lucky sod, as had he been diverted up on to the Motorway in the event of a road closure, due to an RTC resulting a fatality, or a just a diversion due to essential road works on minor routes, he would have been in deep doo doo, by not having already registered for a Go Box.
I think that the general thinking from.the majority of law enforcers, is that "ignorance of the rules is not an excuse."
Fair dos if you ask me.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[WESTY66]

Obviously, "your mate" was a lucky sod, as had he been diverted up on to the Motorway in the event of a road closure, due to an RTC resulting a fatality, or a just a diversion due to essential road works on minor routes, he would have been in deep doo doo, by not having already registered for a Go Box.
I think that the general thinking from.the majority of law enforcers, is that "ignorance of the rules is not an excuse."
Fair dos if you ask me.

Cheers,

Jock.

See the trick is Jock is plan your route that doesn’t run alongside the motorway, that said I buggered up and entered at Kufstein, a route I said I would never do but it was fine, I like to come in Bernau am Chiemsee through Kitzbühel, mittersill, Lienz and down to the Villach area
Then stupidly over the Wurzenpass and the Vrsic pass into Slovenia

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

as had he been diverted up on to the Motorway

The chap I know drove along the motorway to get through Austria a bit quick this chap does live dangerously though
And he does have a stealth like van

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[WESTY66]

The chap I know drove along the motorway to get through Austria a bit quick this chap does live dangerously though
And he does have a stealth like van

Was somebody chasing you??

 

[Just smiffy]

That's fine Garry, if you are not over 3500Kgs....................but it can be a financial nightmare if not, and you get nobbled.

Cheers,

Jock.

I was in the hymer Jock, 4250kgs… I’ve got not paying for roads down to a fine art.. but seriously I just put no tolls in the satnav and so far so good, I’ve got plenty of time and I think I see a lot of places that some don’t see…

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Was somebody chasing you??

Think I was trying to avoid people and knew they wouldn’t pay tolls

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[grasscutter]

Sadly it seems to me if over 3500 then a lot of planning is needed if you think you may use the motorway network in east European countries.
Most countries now have some form of GPS box.
I have just registered ( as a belt and braces job) for over 3500 in Poland for an up and coming trip. I did think at one point is it worth the hassle.

 

[haganap]

Just study and google the relevant countries requirements. They are very simply followed.

We are over 3.5t and regularly go to Austria. We have a go box we hold on to and top up without issue.
For chezk republic you can take ours back if you like, its not the purchase, its the getting your credit back on the way out.

In Croatia, you pay for your ride via the toll booth.

Slovenia, you buy in the garages,

Make sure you have v5 certificate of conformity with you as these are very important.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Slovenia, you buy in the garages,

Yes went to Bled non toll then thought I would go legal and pay the tolls to Croatia. Think it was about €75 as had to buy the little toll thing for the van.
20 minutes later after leaving the motorway garage all traffic diverted onto rural roads due to big smash and motorway shut think I ended up about 30 mins in total on toll roads driving to Croatia some very narrow villages on the non toll and it takes you through large cities!!

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[Just smiffy]

All these toll thingys must cost the locals a fortune, they can’t be too happy about it…

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

All these toll thingys must cost the locals a fortune, they can’t be too happy about it…

Would say the get a residents discount?
Bit like French toll roads I was surprised at how many lorries use them I worked out that my van was about 40p a mile on French tolls, first trip away last year I said class 2 and all good second trip class 2 and they were not having it and charged class 4 think that is double the class 2

 

[Brains]

Vignette in Slovenia.

You can NOT buy them in the garages etc any more
As from 2023 they can ONLY be bought on line.
There is not 'ticket' or sticker, it's all done by ANPR

The Vignette can be bought here from the official site
(Be aware there are several other sites selling (genuine) vignettes but at a mark up

If you accidently stray into Slovenia without a Vignette then you can buy on line before 5pm same day.
From memory I think you can buy the Vignette up to 2 weeks in advance and it's valid for 1 week, 1 month or 1 year.
(Unfortunately the 1 hour or 1 day Vignettes needed for the road between Italy and Croatia do not exist!)

As far as the Slovenians are concerned, all motorhomes are under 3.5t.
They don't seem to have a category for the over 3.5t but under 5t sector of motorhomes.
So unless you are turning up in something that looks like a coach or a lorry a normal vignette is all you need (we are over 3.5t)

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[Brains]

Is Dubrovnik worth the drive all the way down

In my opinion no it's not.

We stopped at Split (May 2023).
And then got a high speed catamaran (4hrs) down to Dubrovnik.
Spent two nights in a hotel
and then got the boat back

Campsite we used in Split was Stobrec
You will need to book ahead, as its the only one actually in Split
Its not cheap, Its on the beach and has a decent restaurant and bar.
There is a direct bus outside the gate to the centre of town which we used daily.

The hotel we used was Eddys Sea rooms
You will need to book ahead
Nice but basic, very close to the main town
Great host who speaks English

 

[LesW]

Are these vignettes just for M-way toll roads or all roads?

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Vignette in Slovenia.

You can NOT buy them in the garages etc any more
As from 2023 they can ONLY be bought on line.
There is not 'ticket' or sticker, it's all done by ANPR

The Vignette can be bought here from the official site
(Be aware there are several other sites selling (genuine) vignettes but at a mark up

If you accidently stray into Slovenia without a Vignette then you can buy on line before 5pm same day.
From memory I think you can buy the Vignette up to 2 weeks in advance and it's valid for 1 week, 1 month or 1 year.
(Unfortunately the 1 hour or 1 day Vignettes needed for the road between Italy and Croatia do not exist!)

As far as the Slovenians are concerned, all motorhomes are under 3.5t.
They don't seem to have a category for the over 3.5t but under 5t sector of motorhomes.
So unless you are turning up in something that looks like a coach or a lorry a normal vignette is all you need (we are over 3.5t)

When I got mine from the motorway services the lady asked me my route and then said the price! Just assumed you pay per mile rather than days like in Switzerland

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[royandsharont]

Ljubljana is definitely worth a stay, camping by the ring road and easy bus in. The city is beautiful and has a vibrant university population too. English spoken everywhere

Another favourite in Croatia is Rovinj and we second Split as great too

 

[Brains]

When I got mine from the motorway services the lady asked me my route and then said the price! Just assumed you pay per mile rather than days like in Switzerland

Think pre 2023 there were all sorts of ways of paying, much of which did not end up in the Government coffers.
Hence the move to on line only and ANPR about a year ago.
A FAQ section is here

Note:
You can buy the Vignette in certain locations such as some major fuel stations, but they have to log into the site, put in your number plate, address, email address, mobile phone number.
So you may as well do it properly yourself.

Also do put in the mobile number/email address as they will then confirm that the payment has gone through and also then send you reminders that you only have 1 day left etc.

 

[Brains]

Are these vignettes just for M-way toll roads or all roads?

Slovenia does not have tolls (Except one tunnel)

However all the main roads and motorways are covered by the Vignette
There is a map here

Could you cross the country without getting a vignette ?
Yes, probably, with a good navigator.
But would be an 'interesting' drive, as there are mountain passes north and south

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