There is no finer way of seeing a country like Croatia than sailing, literally soaking up the sun (and the spirits).
And so the scene was set for me and my two best friends as we sailed the seas from Split to Dubrovnik and back.
For starters, as soon as you arrive in Split, every hotel operator and guide within earshot of an Aussie accent will tell you that you need to experience the tiniest street in town – some even claim it’s the tiniest in the world. It’s not.
It is however a very small street called Let Me Pass Street and is a fun backdrop for selfies and killing time until you’re allowed to check in to your room.
Look, it’s a tight squeeze but kills time.
But onboard the boat is where the fun really begins. And definitely treat yourself to air-conditioning. We scoffed at the 100 Euros charge and went without. We were fools. We cooked.
Fortunately relief came from the daily swims as the boat makes its way from port to port, each offering a different perspective on Croatian life.
Hvar and Korčula are stunning, but Dubrovnik is the biggest drawcard, with its old city charm. Mind you, climbing the city walls is not so much fun in 40-plus weather. You bake real fast.
Dubrovnik. Hot and old.
But fear not, Croatia has plenty of refreshments. For one, on the boat is an open bar. Well, kind of – it has a running tally for each room. And spoiler: us three girls won the tally at the end of the trip. To be fair, it was over a week.
At each stop, the tour guide onboard offered tips on local night life. Now if you, like me, are not one for nightclubs, I strongly recommend the quieter local outdoor bar scene that comes with fun people watching/judging random strangers.
Just to make things fun with a language barrier, we decided to try only the drinks that were priced at the equivalent of $2AUD. I mean, why the hell not? We’re on holidays.
Bottoms up ey.
I have absolutely no idea what we ordered, we just pointed at the menu and said “three please” to the waiter. We took turns randomly pointing until the waiter intervened – “no,” he said, “not that one, it will make you sick. Have this one instead.” And we didn’t get sick at all, so good choice, buddy. Ten bucks for a night out in Croatia. Cheers to that.
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Student Flights wants you to be safe. Drink responsibly.