Categories
Croatia travel guide

Getting from Zagred to Dubrovnik

Zagreb is the capital of Croatia , famous for its old city and cobble stones reminding tourists of Prague, Vienna or Budapest. It is also where you’ll most likely arrive if you come from other parts of the world (via a major European hub) or by train from other European cities.

Dubrovnik is located on the Adriatic Sea coast and is one of the most well known tourist resorts in Croatia and Europe. Known as the “Pearl of the Adriatic” , the city has been listed as a UNESCO site since 1979.

Quick summary

There is not train connection between Zagreb and Dubrovnik but bus fares start at about €27* per person one way. Flights take significantly less (just an hour) and start at €41 per person, one way. If you like scenic drives, then part of this route- from Split to Dubrovnik – will make you fall in love with Croatia.

Flights from Zagreb (airport code: ZAG) to Dubrovnik

Zagreb International Airport (ZAG) is located 17 km from the city center, to which is connected by buses. It is the most important airport in Croatia and a hub for Croatia Airlines. It handles flights within Europe, as well as domestic flights.

Dubrovnik airport (DBV) is located about 20 km from the city center and is the third largest airport in Croatia. Dubrovnik Airlines is based here. Most of the flights it serves are seasonal, but there are domestic flights and flights from some European capitals which operate year-round.

Flights between Zagreb and Dubrovnik are operated only by Croatia Airlines. The flight time is 1h 5 min. Regardless of when you fly in 2012, expect to pay from €41 per person one way for a flight between the two cities.

Buses from Zagreb to Dubrovnik

There are 8 buses per day between Zagreb and Dubrovnik , including several night buses. The total journey time is about 11 h. It’s not possible to book the tickets online. You can check the timetable here . Fares start at 205 Croatian kune (about €27) per person, one way and depend on the bus company you choose.

>>read more about Bus Travel in Croatia

Driving from Zagreb to Dubrovnik

You can rent a car in Zagreb and drive the 627 km to Dubrovnik on A1/E71. You should be able to cover the distance in about 7 ½ h but plan some stops along the way. This route also includes a ferry crossing (Trpanj – Ploce).

The route from Split to Dubrovnik is a beautiful scenic journey through various travel destinations and small villages.

View Larger Map

Note: *at the time the article was written

Photo credit

Categories
Croatia travel guide

Getting from Zagreb to Split

Zagreb is the capital of Croatia is well known for its charming medieval old town and cobblestone streets. The Upper and Lower Towns are worth your time as this is where you’ll find the tourist sights, the restaurants and the bars.

Split is located in Central Dalmatia region of Croatia and was originally built around the Diocletian palace. The old Roman walls, squares and temples can still be visited today. Central Split can be easily explored on foot.

Quick summary

Train travel is not very used in Croatia but there are plenty of bus connections between Zagreb and Split. Bus fares start at around €23* per person, one way. Flying isn’t too expensive either(€41 per person, one way, regardless of when you fly) and if you are in a hurry it might be worth it.

Flights from Zagreb (airport code: ZAG) to Split

Zagreb International Airport (ZAG), located 17 km from the city center, is the most important airport in Croatia. It is hub for Croatia Airlines and handles only flights within Europe, as well as domestic flights.

Split Airport (SPU) is the second most important airport in Croatia, handling flights to/from Europe, as well as domestic flights. It is located 25 km from the city center , near the city of Trogir.

The flights between Zagreb and Split are operated by Croatia Airlines. The flight time is 45 min. Regardless of when you fly in 2012, expect to pay €41 (308 Croatian Kune) per person one way

Trains from Zagreb to Split

Train travel in Croatia is modern and although there are not very many routes served by trains, those that are offer fast connections. There are direct connection between Zagreb and Split but figuring out the time table and the prices is almost an impossible thing even though the Croatian Railways has an English section on the website (but the name of the stations are in Croatian, of course).

There is a night train departing Zagreb Glavni Kolod at 11:20 p.m. and arrives in Split at 8:04 a.m. Another train leaves at 7:50 a.m. and gets to Split 6 h 19 min later.

It’s impossible to figure out the price though as the pricing information page is in Croatian only. And on other websites (such as Rail Europe) you can see the timetables but no fare information either.

Buses from Zagreb to Split

Figuring out the buses between Zagreb and Split is actually an easier endeavor. This website , which offers English, lists all the buses to/from Split. A variety of carriers offer connections between the two cities, including: Promet Makaraska, Deni Bus, Croatia Bus. There are connections between the two cities 24/7 , arriving and departing every 15 to 30 minutes during day time and every 1h to 2 h during the night. Prices start at 171 Croatian Kune (about 23 euros) per person one way.

Although the websites do have English listed as possible language to read the site in, don’t get your hopes up.


>>read more about Bus Travel in Croatia

Driving from Zagreb to Split

You can rent a car in Zagreb and drive the 409 km on A1 to Split. The drive time is about 4 hours. You’ll be drive on a toll road, so take that into attention when planning the budget.

View Larger Map

Note:* at the time the article was written

Photo credit

Categories
Croatia travel guide

Getting from Zagreb to Budapest

Zagreb , located in Central Croatia, is the capital of the country known for its charming medieval old town and cobbled stones reminding visitors of Prague, Vienna or Budapest. And speaking of Central European capitals, it’s also very easy to travel from Zagreb to all of them, including Budapest.

Quick summary

Your best bet, if you are looking for a cheap way to get between Zagreb and Budapest is to travel by train. The travel time is more than 6 h but with no buses serving this route, there aren’t any cheap choices.

Flights from Zagreb (airport code: ZAG) to Budapest

Zagreb International Airport (ZAG) is located 17 km from the city center and is the most important airport in Croatia. It is hub for Croatia Airlines and handles only flights within Europe.

Budapest Franz Liszt International Airport (BUD) , colloquially referred to as Ferihegy, is the largest of Hungary’s five international airports. It offers mainly flights to Europe, but connections are available to Asia, Africa, North America and Middle East. It is located 16 km from the capital to which it’s connected by bus and metro. It is hub for Malév Hungarian Airlines, Travel Service (Hungary) and Wizz Air.

Direct flights between Zagreb and Budapest are operated only by Malév. The flight time is 1h. Regardless of when you fly in 2012, expect to pay €249 per person, one way.

>>read more about Flights to Croatia

Trains from Zagreb to Budapest

A quick search on Bahn.de will let you know that there are the following direct InterCity trains between Zagreb Glavni Kolod and Budapest

  • 9:55 a.m., to Deli pu: travel time: 6 h 50 min
  • 4:08 p.m. , to Keleti pu: travel time: 6 h 11 min.

On the way back, catch the trains from Budapest at:

  • 06:15 a.m., from Keleti pu : travel time: 6 h 14 min
  • 1:11 p.m. from Deli pu, travel time: 6 h 33 min

Tickets cost between €30 and €50 per person, one way. If you buy return tickets, typically there’s a discount available.

Buses from Zagreb to Budapest

There aren’t any bus connections between Zagreb and Budapest.

Driving from Zagreb to Budapest

You can rent a car in Zagreb and drive the 346 km between Zagreb and Budapest on E71. The drive time is about 3h 20 min. Make sure to ask the car rental agency whether you are allowed to take the car across the border (especially because Croatia is not yet part of the European Union).

View Larger Map

Budapest Keleti pu photo by Cristina Puscas (2011) and may not be used without permission

Categories
Los Angeles Transportation

Bus Travel in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is a huge city with quite a lot of districts. The largest city in California is famous for its nightlife, restaurants, shopping and being home to Hollywood. Whatever you do , at some point or another you’ll be using the public transportation. And although it’s not organized as well as it is in other Western cities , buses are cheap and you can get to the major tourist attractions pretty easily.

Public buses

The bus system in Los Angeles is operated by Metro (MTA) . The website is definitely the best way to figure it out as it offers timetables , maps and information about fares. The base fare is $1.50 (without connections) and the day pass is $5.00.

The buses are excellent if you travel within the central area of Los Angeles, as there are frequent connections.

If you need to get to the LAX airport, there are direct buses from various areas in the Los Angeles. A list can be found here (pdf).

Also, buses run during the night but many routes change, so make sure to check the timetable if you need to travel within the city by night. The Rapid buses have fewer stops and are efficient in the traffic.

Aside from the Metro buses, there are other companies which run buses within the city or connect to the neighboring cities (which have their own bus system). However, most of their routes are included in the MTA’s trip planner.

Private tours

Aside from the public buses available in Los Angeles, tourists can also choose the sightseeing private buses (such as those run by Starline Tours ) which go by the tourist highlights. There are Hollywood tours, Los Angeles tours and many more.

And yes, there’s also the possibility to choose Hop-On-Hop-Off ticket which has 50 stops and covers as many attractions.

Photo credit

Categories
Articles Los Angeles

Why You Should Add Los Angeles to Your RTW Trip

All of the Why Go sites around the web are part of the BootsnAll network. Over the past several months, we have been working hard over at BootsnAll adding content to a section devoted to round the world trip planning.

If long-term, RTW travel is something you’re interested in, hopping over to our sister site and checking out the resources is something that will prove very beneficial. Another part of the RTW section over at BootsnAll is the destination guides on offer. If you are looking to travel to Los Angeles, this site you’re on now is fantastic and has all the resources necessary. The destination guides at BootsnAll have a different slant to them and offer tips and advice for adding Los Angeles to your round the world trip itinerary.

There are tons of reasons why anyone would want to travel to Los Angeles, whether it be for a weekend, a week, or an extended period of time. If you can get over the crowds, traffic, and smog, you can visit some of the most popular sites in the United States. Rubbing elbows with some of Hollywood’s elite on Mulholland Drive, partying at some of the country’s best clubs on the Sunset Strip, visiting Chinatown, and shopping in Beverly Hills are just a few of the activities tourists can take part in in the city of angels.

RTW travelers tend to be a little different, and you may be looking for activities that aren’t quite as touristy. There are plenty that can get you away from the crowds and the high prices, and adding LA to your RTW trip will be beneficial in other ways as well. LAX is a major international hub, and flights from Los Angeles can take you all over the world. It’s much shorter, easier, and often cheaper to get to places like Hawaii, Australia, or New Zealand from LA, and the RTW traveler is always thinking about that next destination.

Photo Credits: 1

Categories
Los Angeles Things to Do

Los Angeles in April

By now the winter rains have ended but El Nino can bring showers until the middle of the month. Still, it’s warm and nice to explore the city and the surrounding areas. Many festivals take place in April and of course, there are plenty of things to do in Los Angeles anytime of the year.

Weather

The average high temperature in April in LA is 71F/22C and the average low is 54F/12C. Short sleeve shirts and long pants are a good option for April. Sometimes it’s warm enough to wear shorts. If you’ll stay right by the ocean, pack a light jacket for the evenings.

>>read more about Weather in Los Angeles

Flights and accommodation in April

April still falls during the shoulder season but the weather gets warmer and many tourists choose this month to travel to LA. So don’t expect to find bargains for flights or accommodation , but the prices are typically lower than during the high season. You can always choose to stay in a hostel or a vacation rental , especially if you travel with a group of friends.

What to do

Doo Dah Parade takes place each April in Pasadena. What started as a parody of the Rose Garden Parade is now a quite exotic and unique parade and became a tourist attraction.

If quirky parades aren’t your thing, maybe the Toyoda Grand Prix is. The weekend long car race through the streets of Long Beach is an excellent option for those passionate about the cars and everything related to them.

If you are passionate about reading, come to LA during the Festival of Books. The festival started in 1996 and now brings together adults, children, writers, readers and a lot of books.

Fiesta Broadway takes place on the last weekend of April and is the largest Cinco de Mayo celebration in the entire world. Try the foods and watch the performances.

Should you visit LA on a rainy day, head the art galleries within the Huntington Gardens. Or visit the museums, spend the evening at the cinema and enjoy a hot tea (or coffee) is a cozy café.

You can also rent a car and drive on the Malibu Coast. Another romantic thing to do is spending half a day on Catalina Island. Walk hand in hand, plan a picnic on the beach and just relax.

Don’t forget about Disneyland, especially if you travel with the kids. Try to avoid the weekends though and also remember that there are plenty of theme parks in the area.

You should definitely head to Hollywood and take a walk along the Walk of Fame . Or you can shop ‘til you drop on Sunset Boulevard or Rodeo Drive.

Photo credit

Categories
Los Angeles Things to Do

Los Angeles in March

March might just be one of the best months to visit Los Angeles. Sure, this means you don’t exactly get a tan while here, but no one stops you from taking a romantic walk on Catalina Island. It’s usually affordable to visit LA in March but book in advance.

Weather

The average high temperature in March in LA is 69F/21C and the average low is 51F/11C. Pack a jacket for the evenings and nights. A combination of shirts and sweaters is an excellent option for this month in LA. During the night it might be warm enough for t-shirts.

>>read more about Weather in Los Angeles

Flights and accommodation in March

March falls during the shoulder season, when it’s typically cheaper to travel anywhere. That’s the case of LA as well, so although it’s a good idea to book the flights in advance, you’ll be able to find good deals, especially if you avoid flying during important events (such as the LA Marathon).

Since more and more travelers choose to travel during the shoulder season, make sure to book the accommodation . Still, you’ll be able to find good deals but you can also consider a hostel or a vacation rental , especially if you travel with a group of friends.

What to do

LA Marathon takes place in March, so expect crowds to flock here for the event. You can cheer along the route, from Dodger Stadium to Santa Monica Pier.

March is the month when the nature comes back to life so the Huntington Gardens offer an amazing display of colors. If you happen to get to LA on a rainy day, visit the art galleries within the gardens. Or visit the museums, go to the cinema and enjoy a hot tea (or coffee) is a cozy café.

March 14 marks St. Patrick’s Day and there are plenty of events taking place in LA. Plus, it’s a good excuse to try the local clubs, right?

For a super display of colors, rent a car and head out of the town to see the poppies bloom. Or watch the swallows come back to town on March 19.

Especially if you travel with the kids, plan a visit to Disneyland. Or you can head to other theme parks in the area. Try to avoid the weekends, when it’s busiest.

If you travel with your significant other, you can head to Catalina Island and walk hand in hand.

You should definitely head to Hollywood and enjoy the Walk of Fame . Don’t forget to take a photo of your favorite celebrity’s star. During the day, shop on Sunset Boulevard and Rodeo Drive, while at night go club hopping.

>>read more about Things to do in Los Angeles

Photo credit

Categories
Los Angeles Things to Do

Los Angeles in December

The less fun part about Christmas in Los Angeles is that you won’t find snow here…unless you head to the mountains. Usually winter brings the most visitors to LA, as they want to escape the cold weather where they live.

Weather

Los Angeles weather varies so much that you might just end up here during a bright sunny day during December and you haven’t packed the shorts. However, it’s almost always cool in the evening and during the night, especially on the coast. If you want to blend in at the trendiest restaurants, do pack the trendiest clothes you have. While if you plan to attend a theatre show, bring dress clothes.

The average high temperature is 68F/20C and the average low is 50F/10C. December is one of the wettest months , so don’t forget the umbrella and the rain jacket. Generally, it’s ok to pack long sleeve shirts and some sweaters.

>>read more about Weather in Los Angeles

Flights and accommodation in December

Everything is busy during this time of the year, particularly close to Christmas. Parents often taken kids to Disneyland during the Christmas holiday and travelers generally flock to warmer places. So, expect flights to book up quickly and to be more expensive than during other times of the year. Book ahead, use the saved miles and look for low cost flights.

As for accommodation , you can consider staying in a hostel https://www.losangeleslogue.com/hostels or choosing a vacation rental , especially if you travel with a group of friends. Book in advance.

What to do

The two highlights of December are Christmas and The New Year’s Eve. Plenty of Christmas parades take place in the city and the Christmas lights are also fun to watch. As for the party between the years , you can choose among public and private celebrations.

If you love photography, go out and play after a rainy day when the skies are clear. And if you happen to be in LA during a rainy day, don’t worry as there are plenty of things to do. Visit the museums, go to the cinema, enjoy a hot tea (or coffee) is a cozy café, try your skills in a flight simulator at Air Combat USA or explore the art galleries within the Huntington Gardens.

Especially if you travel with the kids, plan a visit to Disneyland. Try to avoid doing that right before Christmas though. There are other theme parks in the area, of course, so choose the right one for you.

Catalina Island is an excellent choice if you want to escape the hustle and bustle of LA. Or you can rent a car and drive the Malibu Coast.

Don’t leave LA without taking a photo of your favorite celebrity’s star on the Walk of Fame . During the day, shop and explore Sunset Boulevard, while at night you can check out the clubs. If your budget allows it, shop on Rodeo Drive.

Read more about:
>> Hollywood
>> Things to do in Los Angeles

Photo credit