As you may know, I just got back from a trip to Croatia and Montenegro! It was unbelievable. Before I say any more, definitely add these countries to your bucket list. See just a few photos below:
Dubrovnik, Croatia - view of the old town from Fort Lovrijenac
Perast, Montenegro
Now I think of myself as a fairly seasoned traveler, but I picked up a few things on this one I wanted to share with y'all:
1. Get an audiobook subscription or free trial. I'm a huge fan of the physical book; it's for this reason I don't have a Kindle. But let's face it, it just isn't always practical to carry around a book (or even a device like a Kindle). There were several instances on this trip where it was great to have some material - i.e. hiking up a mountain, taking a long walk, bike-riding, etc. - but where I could not have physically read. Being able to put in my AirPods and listen while I went about the day was a total game-changer! In case you're wondering, I also brought with me a physical book, so if I wanted to read at the beach or at dinner, I could do so.
2. Bring contingency clothes (no matter how warm you think your destination is). Okay, no one wants to think about the possibility that the weather may be less than ideal during your vacation. I definitely saw rain in the forecast before I headed out, but for some reason made the assumption that coastal locations always have rain in the forecast and it likely wouldn't actually rain.
I was smart enough to at least bring a rain coat, but I did not have enough cold weather wear for the couple days it was chilly and wet to start out. And in a smaller city like Dubrovnik, there really wasn't any place to buy it! Of the shops that sold attire, most of it was beach or resort-type clothing, or swimwear. I ended up wearing my plane sweatshirt and leggings most of these days because it was all I had. So, bring the back-up stuff. But don't treat it as back-up stuff! Piece together an outfit you actually like and could layer/change up if needed, so that if a few days are not-so-great, you're not miserable.
3. Consider varying where you're staying. This was somewhat out of necessity on this trip, since I really didn't spend more than three days in any given place. But I think you could craft your trip like this even if you are staying in just one city! One benefit of it is that you get to know different parts of the area you're in. I flew into Dubrovnik, stayed three nights, and then moved on to my next destinations. But my flight home was out of Dubrovnik, so at the end of the trip, I circled back - this time staying in a very different part of town. I discovered some really cute things that I wish I had known about during my earlier stay, because at that point, I didn't have much time to enjoy them! Just the quick night before taking off back home. The other benefit of this is cost-savings. Some nights I definitely went the "budget" route with my lodging, which then allowed me to have a more luxury stay in a town on my trip that really called for it.
4. Rent a car (if possible/logistics allow where you're going). I was intimidated by this, given I've never rented a car in another country before. But it ended up working out pretty okay! Make sure to read the fine print before you go. For example, I was unaware that I had to pay 75 Euros to get into Montenegro from Croatia, which made the car rental deal slightly less sweet than I thought. There may be unique insurance requirements in some destinations too; just do your research in advance, as best you can. It's such a cool way to see a place! For example, having the car allowed me to drive through Bosnia and stop for a meal and some brief sightseeing. And more than that, it gives you freedom and the flexibility to change your itinerary should you need. One of the towns I visited was a lot smaller than I thought, and admittedly, I got a little bored. With the car, I wasn't stuck, and headed to a nearby town to help fill the day!
5. Stay up late & ignore your better intentions. Traveling alone, I don't typically find myself having many wild nights out. But on this particular evening, I had randomly bumped into another solo traveler from the tour I had done earlier that day, and someone she had met the day prior! We were having some drinks, and then this bachelor party I kept running into on the island showed up. Yes, there was one in particular I had my eye on, and he seemed to reciprocate (wheeee!). We talked a good bit, and I also mingled with the group. Soon enough it was after 2am, and I had an early ferry the next morning, so I thought I should really be getting home. Who knows what would have happened if I had stayed (maybe nothing!), but my point is, you can always catch up on sleep later. Vacation is a special moment in time, and I think sometimes you've got to throw convention out the window.
6. If healthcare is needed, don't panic. I don't mean to suggest that you'll always have an amazing time undergoing medical care in another country, however this is now my second time needing to do this on a trip, and being pleasantly surprised by the experience. Due to an unfortunate run-in with some power washers cleaning a church, my eye was exposed to chemical burn in Dubrovnik. It stung very badly when it happened, and continued to bother me the next day (Sunday). So I Googled an ophthalmologist and showed up first thing Monday morning, not having an appointment. This is so against the grain in the US, but I hoped for the best, and was in and out in an hour with a good report. WOO! Thankfully English was not an issue here, but with technology and translation, I feel like you could get by in a pinch. The peace of mind this gave me was immense, and had I been too scared or distrustful of seeking help, I probably would've been worried the whole rest of the trip. Trust people and systems, ultimately, they want to help.
7. Take time to plan. Research shows that planning your trip can bring you as much joy as actually living the trip! Isn't that wild? That said, I'm all about breaking the plan. But having done the lift up front gives you a solid foundation to work with, and I truly believe it makes a huge difference in the experience you have.
Hope you enjoyed! If you'd like to know any more about my itinerary or Croatia & Montenegro, shoot me a note, I'd be happy to share. Happy traveling.
Comments