Hotel Life is fine and dandy, could be resort life, villa life, I’ve done and experienced all of those, but, staying in local run places come with a few more benefits, at best, lower prices.
When you stay at a hotel, they advertise their amenities, and don’t get me wrong, I make time and room for that too, but a great priority to me, also, is to go a little deeper with my stays by supporting local boutique hotel or bed and breakfasts wherever I go (I will probably do a breakdown of some stays for you guys at some point).
I chose Croatia to cover because I moved around a few different places and they all offered something unique. In my first place, it was charming and quaint boutique. It was colorful, clean and accessible to a couple bus stops, shops, and restaurant. I only used the bus stop, but the restaurant helped me find where I was stay and BOY was it a trek.
It was a hot….HOT summer day, beautiful as it was, traveling alone with a suitcase and a duffel bag was no easy feat. I had a long row of houses to pass and no shade to walk in, but when your’re alone you have no one to depend on, or complain to but yourself (at first).
I made it in and checked in, a lovely woman greeted me and showed me my room. She offered to carry my bags up the stairs, and who was I to refuse?! (lol). The room was colorful and well equipped. She told me, with the cutest hand drawn map, the quickest, but most thorough breakdown of the area, bus stops, and hot spots too. Once I put my stuff down and took a shower (and a nap), I was out on the road. She MORE than reassured my safety at all hours of the day, and wished me well on my day.
To wander anywhere, no matter where, I definitely recommend brushing up on your street smarts and zipping back to the directional steps we learn in elementary; N,S,E,W. I took a picture if the map she made on my camera in case my phone died and took the next bus in to town. It wasn’t as awkward or scary as you would think. You’ll see other people hopping on, a few locals who know you’re not from there (the chocolate skin being a dead giveaway), but maybe it’s the same for some of you; you’re too busy looking out the window at all the awesome views to even focus on feeling out of place or worried. Croatia is on the Mediterranean coast and so your bus rides will probably have views of the sea as you’re driving at perfect viewing pace. The bus also helps you save money on transportation, BUT they have Uber in Croatia too, AND they accept cash (local currency).
Food is definitely a necessity, and finding it may not always be the easiest, but all the popular areas are all accessible by foot. WARNING!!! There are stairs AND hills EV-ER-Y-WHERE!! If you any bit athletic, it will STILL be a challenge, so if to my luvs, just know, you will com back with the tightest quads hamstrings, and glutes!
Dining alone doesn’t seem like a weird thing there. There are tons of cafes and local shops, places with waterside views. If you like to wander and explore, Croatia is one of the many great places to start. I was in Europe, so I did as the Europeans did. I had tea, risotto, vino and sat down at a cafe and relaxed after all the walking. Koko the explorer began to blossom at 10 times the speed as in a group trip, because I could set my own pace, not be disturbed, enjoy, and take in the moments that were once but a dream.
The pictures below don’t do it justice, but hopefully you can see this journey with me and start to see yourself there and wherever your heart desires. My hope is the more I let you guys into to my experience, that you will get out and explore a bit more too. I am not (YET!) able to even do half as much as I want to, but it’s going to happen, and you guys are gonna be able to get all the peeks and tips I can give. Enjoy a bit of Zaton Mali and Dubrovnick, Croatia. I time travel back and forth to all my trips and dream trips on a regular basis, so even if I can’t physically get there yet, I’ve already been there mentally to prepare for my journeys ahead. You gotta see it to believe it my luvs!
