Cruise in Croatia!

I was lucky to have the opportunity to head to Dubrovnik a few days before the cruise. I stayed at the Grand Hotel Park which was really well located. The drive from the airport to most places and hotels is about a half hour. The cruise company can arrange a private transfer for about 40 Euro (as of 2022) and the taxi ride was about the same price.
 
The Grand Hotel Park is close to a lot of fun things that are in walking distance. There is a boardwalk that is the length of the peninsula that has shops, restaurants, gelato, and swim stops along the way. As a single gal, I felt comfortable to walk any time of day or night on my own. The hotel had a pool and was also a 5 minute walk from Lapad Beach. This area had sun chairs and a pebbly beach that was perfect for swimming.

 
One of my favorite things about Croatia was the food. The first meal I had the evening I arrived was an octopus dish. You can find meals that are between 15-25 Euro, depending on the restaurant and what you order. I ate my weight in gelato and there were several places on the boardwalk. Some of the best restaurants in Dubrovnik were in Old Town which was about a 10 minute drive from the hotel and a 15 Euro cost. I had my first and best black risotto at the Jesuit Restaurant right at the steps of the Church of St Ignatius.

 
There are a few things to do in Dubrovnik, but not a whole lot to fill more than 2-3 full days. I enjoyed wandering through Old Town on my own (in the morning before the droves of people arrive by noon), reading a book on the beach, and walking the boardwalk at the sunset. If you want lots of tour options, you won’t find many. You can tour the walls of Old Town, go up the tram to get a view of the city, explore the museum at the top of the war that happened in 1991, or do a tour of Dubrovnik and Montenegro. I also saw a lot of people kayaking in  the areas near old town during the day and sunset. If I went back, I’d absolutely set up a kayak tour.