Croatia, Montenegro – two victims of overtourism? (page 10 of 11)

I’m butting into your calendar digressions to thank you for this travel journal. In the end, it seems more fear than harm when it comes to crowds. It let me (re)discover some well-known spots and explore Montenegro, which I’d only ever seen through the Bay of Kotor. It almost made me want to go back—but I’d definitely pay close attention to the timing this time… almost. 😉

Yes, thanks Agnès for this travel journal that let me discover some beautiful landscapes. Do you think it’s doable in a camper van? Did you see any, a lot, or not at all?

Almost ???? 😠

Well, what’s the point of me busting my butt to write a travel journal? 😉

It seems wild camping is banned in Croatia just like in Montenegro.

I didn’t pay much attention, but I think there were some old-school campgrounds in Montenegro. Like locals renting out their land to campers.

You’d need a small van to get everywhere and really get away from the super touristy spots at night so you don’t end up packed in like a parking lot.

Thanks Agnès, I’ll look into it then... 😊

In Croatia, wild camping is prohibited. In April, the campsites were almost empty, so we could choose our spot. If you buy the ACSI book, you become a member and get discounts at quite a few campsites. We paid between 18 and 23 euros per night for two people, the dog, and the van. In a completely remote area, you can try wild camping. We did it three times.

Thanks Carmen for the info! 👍 Campsites work just fine for me as long as we’re not on top of each other 😊

Campsites work great for me as long as we’re not on top of each other 😊

Same for us! :) Well, sometimes it’s unavoidable. We were in Vienna and Slovenia this summer, and there were definitely crowds.

Thanks for sharing this—it’s pulled me out of my silent-reader mode! I visited Korčula back in 1972 while working for a Swiss travel agency that sent groups by bus to Rijeka, then by boat to Korčula, where I’d greet them. It was quite the adventure, especially since "my agency" was going bankrupt, leaving me with 80 travelers who’d already paid for their trip, Jadrolinija refusing to transport them without payment, and the buses seized... A long story, but also wonderful memories of Yugoslavia under Tito back then.

1972? That must’ve changed a ton! !😮😉

What an adventure with that group and that bankrupt agency. 🤪

Thanks Agnès for this super detailed travel journal—it really brought back the nostalgia of past trips and made me want to go back! 🙂

To me, the overtourism issue in the Adriatic isn’t all that different from anywhere else: the most famous spots are packed, especially in summer, but there are often places just as beautiful just a few minutes’ drive away where hardly anyone goes. In Croatia, the islands are full of gorgeous spots that most people don’t visit. It’s the same in Italy—if you want to see Lake Como or Isola Bella in the middle of summer, you’ll have to deal with crowds, but if you go just a little further, there’s nobody (or it’s manageable).

Even in summer, the time of day makes a difference: I’ve been to Vintgar twice in July-August, and at 7:30 AM, it’s stunning and far from crowded. At 11 AM–2 PM, it’s way less enjoyable. Same goes for Dubrovnik in the evening.

Yeah, the overtourism issue is pretty much the same everywhere.😉

But in the Balkans, it’s way more recent than in Spain, France, Italy, etc.

That’s why I think now’s the time to head inland—you can still enjoy things peacefully without having to come up with crowd-avoidance strategies.😛

So, what's your next travel journal? Rome? 😉

Oh no, Rome’s next! 😛

For the next travel journal, there’ll be a bikini and a pair of hiking shoes in the suitcase!

Oh no, Rome is for next time! :p

For the next travel journal, there’ll be a bikini and a pair of hiking shoes in the suitcase!

Yeah, because the two together don’t really work style-wise

Bikini, hiking shoes... The choice is huge. Réunion?

Not far off !😉

Not a law, but with a bikini and hiking shoes... Mauritius? Rodrigues? Or maybe Madagascar?

I remember! Maurice 😉

Madagascar is way better for hiking than Mauritius! And over-tourism isn’t a thing there yet... 😏