CROATIA WE LOVE YOU BUT...

Ah Croatia...yes the images look beautiful, the crystal clear water inviting and with those endless layers of blue speaking to you, it all sounds idyllic...but!
Yep, there is a but. After years of full-time travel, you'd think we'd know better as all is not what it seems...
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#plitvice #plitvicelakesnationalpark #plitvicelakes #crazyweather #crazystorms #lifeontheroad #croatia #croatiatravel #croatian #dolomites #dolomiti #italy #motorhome #motorhomeadventures #motorhomelife #motorhomeliving #motorhomemovment #4x4camper #campervan #adventurelife #adventuretravel #adventureawaits #travelinspiration #traveleurope #mantruck #4x4offroad #roadtrips ##overlandrigmotorcycleliftbestroadtrip #campervan #motorcycleadventures #campervans #vanlife #vanlifeeurope #overlandtruck #campertruck #vanlifereality #4x4camper #overlandtruckcamper #vanlifers #overlandeurope #fulltimerv #campertruck #europeoverland #campervanadventures #livinginavan #livinginatruck #livinginamotorhome

[@adenwellsmith6908]

The wooden path through the waterfalls adds to things.

[@peterfinch3548]

I am not sure i could cope with all those crowds at the lakes but it does look stunning there. You are a couple after our own hearts. An off-grid and isolated parkup is our holy grail. And, following our refit from cassette to compost toilet, we are now totally off grid too. All we need to find is fresh water to keep the tank topped up. You are living our aspirations!! BTW, those campsite prices are outrageous.

[@TheGapDecaders]

Thanks Peter, appreciated as always. Really pleased to hear about the compost loo, a definite game changer. I think the demand plus joining the Euro has pushed prices to a silly level, we met a few Austrians & Swiss couples who said it was more expensive than at home. We did like the nature side & would go back but definitely out of season. 🙏😀

[@pajdotomi]

reason why plitvice and camps are overpriced are the crowds. I dont camp, but spend every summer at the coast of Croatia, camp sites are packed, even the shitty ones. best months to come to Croatia are june and semptember. june is like summer but better. semptember, little bit colder but still warm and sunny. sea stays warm till october. june is the best, its really sunny and hot with longer days. less crowded, amazing.

[@TheGapDecaders]

Yeah we can see that June and September would be the better option 👍🏻😀

[@andreabalderstone4272]

That last park up looked like bliss to me ❤

[@TheGapDecaders]

Hi Andrea, as you can probably tell, I'm catching up on comments. Given that there's no wild camping in Croatia, it was a proper little find 😀

[@Mochioverland]

Plitvice national park is beautiful but crowded. We went in May and during the week, it was not as much people as in your video. Thank for sharing have a safe trip. Mélanie and Norman

[@TheGapDecaders]

Hi both, Thank you and yes it's beautiful, we've both said we need to return and I think May would be a Much better time to enjoy it. Take care guys 🙏😀

[@JohnGallacher-mw4wb]

I visited Porec when it was still under Tito before Yugoslavia broke up and it looks just as beautiful now. Glad your having a fab time.👍

[@TheGapDecaders]

Hi John, I can imagine that would have been a fantastic time to visit... (before tourism really took off). Beautiful little spot 🙏😀

[@gordonbryson2986]

Another cracking video,Croatia a bit heavy on the pocket ,take care and looking forward to the next one From Fiona and Gordon fae bonnie Scotland

[@TheGapDecaders]

Thanks both, appreciated. Hope you're home safe and well 👍🏻😀

[@michaelgarcher]

another great episode from you guys, more stunning views of Croatia. Its interesting that all the good places that you share with us make us think that its all roses, but you saying that you had struggled to find some place to stay puts a bit more reality into it, so thanks :)

[@TheGapDecaders]

Hi Michael, thank you. It is a beautiful country but it's definitely not all roses, we will return but definitely out of season. 🙏😀

[@meurigjones2469]

Excellent video. I can see a rib ramp onto the roof of the new project now

[@TheGapDecaders]

LOL... Brilliant idea 😀😀

[@askthechicken]

Great video Phil and Izzy. Glad you were able to find a little secret spot and what a view to cook by. X

[@TheGapDecaders]

Hi Amanda, thank you and yeah it was so good... just the crazy screeching of the Cicadas 🍷😂

[@miroperinich2495]

Croatia 2023 kzbin.info/www/bejne/poqnf5Sfr6iseKs Split Evening Walking Tour - CROATIA - 4K with Captions kzbin.info/www/bejne/qpykoHtsl7NjqrM CROATIA ???? Rovinj to Dubrovnik | Summer in Europe - 3rd ep kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZPMmGqYbth9hKs City of Ilok | Continental Croatia | Guide Through the Destination kzbin.info/www/bejne/an2af3-eidN7aJY WHAT TO SEE IN HVAR IN CROATIA | CLUBS ON THE BEACH | FORTRESS | OLD TOWN | TIPS kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqPOooOEbNB2mNk Zadar & Plitvice National Park Is a Place You MUST VISIT in Croatia! kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6nWcmh_bbeipcU Nacionalni park PLITVIČKA JEZERA - Hrvatska |4k| kzbin.info/www/bejne/pl6Xpa2EmpmCodE Vlatka Kopić Tena - Mama me je pitala - 51.Vinkovačke jeseni kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnStemSCbcSlh6c L A D A R I C E (L A D O ) , Zagreb , Croatia : Na Manduševcu kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zoemd42nd7GHnLc

[@valeriesawczyn7370]

We were in Croatia a few weeks ago and it was very expensive on campsites but we needed to because of the heat while we were there but that wildcamp looked amazing wish we could have done more of that. New sub.. safe onwards journey

[@TheGapDecaders]

We totally get it, we were in the same boat and just wanted the chance to cool off. Cheers guys 😀

[@Colorado4x4Van]

Beautiful! Illegal to camp...I suppose there are historical reasons for that. Great spots!

[@TheGapDecaders]

It is and I'm sure, the coast would be plagued with campers otherwise & there really isn’t the space. 🙏😀

[@livingworkingoutsidebox]

Just wonderful locations. Crystal clear water, beautiful landscapes, and great food. 40€ each for a National Park seems up there but the waterfalls and sites made it OK for a one time trip. You used to have some motor home travel guides on your website. Do you include some trip budget outlines? Ie: Camping spots along this route costs 41€, + extras, A local beer costs between 2-6 Euros, meals costs around X, and diesel runs around 2.07 a liter. You could even have a running expense spreadsheet were we could fill in the expenses and keep a running total etc. Thanks for sharing 👍 😊

[@TheGapDecaders]

Thank you, it is indeed beautiful. We still have the travel guides but actually removed the costs, the past 2.5 years in particular, have seen costs fluctuate so much that it's difficult to stay current and provide accurate information. We do provide lots of stopping places in our itineraries but the truth is there isn’t enough hours in the day 😁. That said, we fully intend to do a video on full-time costs in Europe so watch this space. As always, thank you so much for your support on the channel 🙏😀

[@leannearnold8326]

fabulous as always 😍 what time of year would you say is best to visit Croatia? we have been in August and its nuts! do the campsites stay open? would love to visit it again but I am past my best when it comes to "crowds and people! lol

[@TheGapDecaders]

Hi Leanne, I think we're on the same song sheet, the months of May/early June or September are best. I think they've had record tourism numbers for the first half of the year, I don't suppose that's gonna change anytime soon. A few remain open but the majority close over the winter months as the weather can be pretty grim. We're actually enjoying Montenegro more 🙏😀

[@KevIsOffGrid]

Glad you are finding places to wild camp, economics make it ok, 200 fine if caught means if you manage 5 days not caught you are up anyway. And you can get a bit further off the beaten path to hide well, and you are used to that so all good.

[@TheGapDecaders]

Cheers Kev, exactly... but like you, we too like our big open spaces, there's just too many people. 🙏

[@CG-99]

With your dependence on data access and the Starlink launch in Europe, we are looking forward to your Starlink review in the near future.

[@TheGapDecaders]

Absolutely, we always said we'd fit Starlink to the new truck build for, so may have to wait a little while 👍🏻😀

[@rogerjob2780]

Hi…..another great video. Is it illegal to wild camp the whole of the year or just during the summer? Enjoy 😎🍷🚍⚓️🇬🇧👍

[@TheGapDecaders]

Hi Roger, thank you. Unfortunately, it's illegal year-round, I can understand it in the summer in particular, the coast would be overrun. Cheers 🍷😀

[@KevIsOffGrid]

That is a busy park, but the water looks super clear and very beautiful - was this a weekend, or a weekday? only 4mins in, you may say later.

[@TheGapDecaders]

We actually delayed visiting the National Park until the Monday because of the numbers, dread to think what it's like at the weekend 👍🏻😀

[@KevIsOffGrid]

@@TheGapDecaders wowsers! That's busy. Guess still holiday time though

[@rogerjob2780]

Just wish I knew how to edit my videos 🥴🍷🚍⚓️🇬🇧🤔

[@TheGapDecaders]

I had zero knowledge of where to start 20 months ago, and literally watched a few KZbin videos to get me going. My editing is as basic as it gets, everyone will tell you it's about content... Good luck 😂😂👍🏻

[@GVTheUltimateBook]

Croatia looks like a neat place. Too bad about the 'no boondocking'

[@TheGapDecaders]

Totally, you could pre-pandemic and I suppose with the boom in vanlife, they felt it necessary to protect the coast in particular, by driving people into the campsites. 🙏

[@darkoulmer6881]

You have to consider that not all people care about environment. Let mi tell you one example, During Covid off season there was two French girls parked on the side of the local road to a national park Risnjak. And since it was off season police ignored. They were there maybe a week. After they left there was 3 180 litera trash bags behind them. I picked up and drove it to garbage yard. Mind it that there are garbage containers at or near any settlement and it's free. And during season there are hundreds of thousands vans , now imagine if one in ten does that. Who's gonna clean it?

[@TheGapDecaders]

We've been doing this for over five years now and sadly we've seen many examples of unresponsible and thoughtless people, so we get it. 🙏😀 As always, the few spoil it for the many. @@darkoulmer6881

[@TheDrleephd]

Wow Croatia looks beautiful 😍. I see you have air con in your truck, it looks like it was retro fitted, can I ask how it's powered? I have a Daf T244 and I'm trying to work out the best way to install a system....

[@TheGapDecaders]

We really wanted an engine-driven compressor type however, having spoken to every A/C retrofitter across the country it wasn't to be. We had little option but to fit an electrically powered system and we choose a Webasto Cool Top RTE 1600w 24v. We got it from PB auto electrics who at the time offered the best price. If you look back on our Instagram feed you’ll see the hole in the cab roof and me with the unit pre install. Hope that helps 👍🏻😀

[@TheDrleephd]

@TheGapDecaders thanks for the info, did you have to upgrade your alternator to power it?

[@TheDrleephd]

@TheGapDecaders I've just rung them enquiring about the webasto and their technical chap is going to call me back, thanks! 👍

[@TheDrleephd]

​@TheGapDecaders hiya, me again! The last one I promise 😅. PB reckon the cool top is really sold as a night time cooler, I was of the opinion that 1600w of cooling is better than none. Do you find it keeps you cool enough?

[@TheGapDecaders]

No, our alternator pushes out 80 amps which can easily power the A/C however, it really depends on what else you're powering, we have 800 A/H Lithium which takes a lot of filling when empty, so it might be worth considering. @@TheDrleephd

[@htpeck91]

It's not Croatia's fault there are too many people.

[@TheGapDecaders]

Totally agree, and we as tourists are part of theproblem...but the fact remains, there's too many people and it feels crowded, expensive and that's something most travellers we met expressed. Appreciate the comment.

[@jammydogger1]

Omg that’s expensive camping when you’re up close and personal to everyone else. Do they qualify what “camping” is. Sleeping in your vehicle vs pitching a tent with deck chairs?

[@TheGapDecaders]

It varies greatly, there are huge well-established campsites that have delineated pitches and every facility you can imagine but you'll pay 60-120 euros per night in a motorhome/van in season. There are smaller more rustic & slightly cheaper campsites, which are maybe 40 euros, there's no issue getting tables and chairs out but some are really tight.

[@Thoreaue]

All campsites are graded 1-5 stars, more stars more expensive it gets. Most of those expensive campsites offer camping, glamping and "mobile" homes even with pools ...

[@TheGapDecaders]

Hi thanks, we understand the grading of campsites, even with all they have to offer (which in fairness is a lot), but struggle with the concept of spending up to 120 euros per night when you provide your own home on wheels. That said, clearly people are prepared to pay it. Cheers 🍷😁@@Thoreaue

[@matildagrobhinde383]

Click bait - what's the "but"?

[@TheGapDecaders]

It's subtle, in the video we're trying to show that it's naturally beautiful but overcrowded and expensive.

[@Thoreaue]

Price. Seems Croatia until now was deemed as cheap, seems its not that cheap any more.

[@TheGapDecaders]

I think you’re right, we met a couple from Switzerland and a couple from Austria who both said it was more expensive than their home countries. Definitely a placefor out of season. 👍🏻😁 @@Thoreaue

[@Thoreaue]

@@TheGapDecaders I hardly doubt its more expensive than in Switzerland :) And Austria in winter haha, spent 2k euro only on ski lifts ... When comparing prices ppl need to compare tourist resorts/hotels in their countries not grocery stores and restaurants in their neighborhoods ...

[@robertroberto4749]

If you come with the dog it is EXPENSIVE!!!??? YES, it is more expensive than when you come with the children because children DON'T SHIT ALL OVER THE CAMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!