Today we’re catching back up with my family’s spring break trip to Greece and Croatia with kids on points and miles!  Next up, Croatia.

 

Dubrovnik, Croatia with Kids

We flew from Athens to Dubrovnik with Aegean Air, using the same family fare we had used before. The flight was about an hour and a half and cost us $80 per person. We landed in Dubrovnik around 2 p.m. and had what might have been the oddest rental-car experience we’ve ever had.

I rented the car through National Rental Car because we had status through our AmEx Platinum credit cards. When they brought out our car, it only had 1/4 tank of gas and was covered in dents and scratches. The card ended up being totally fine, but I was a little worried when they handed over the keys.

We booked a small Toyota Corolla hatchback, which ended up being perfect for our family of five. We brought Bubble Bum booster seats for our eight-year-olds and our ten-year-old used the regular seat belt.

One of the big advantages of traveling with carry-on luggage only is flexibility. All five of our backpacks fit easily in the trunk, and we didn’t have to worry about squeezing large suitcases in this teeny car.

 

 

Airbnb in Dubrovnik

Our Airbnb in Dubrovnik was another great find. It slept up to six people, included a private parking spot, had two bathrooms, a full kitchen, and a large gated garden where the kids could run around. Best of all, it was just a five-minute walk to the Pile Gate, the main entrance to Dubrovnik’s Old Town. We paid around $225 per night, and it felt like excellent value for the space and location. 

 

 

Hilton Hotel on Points in Dubrovnik, Croatia

For those not needing as much room, the Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik is right outside the old town and bookable with points. It is steps from the gate and right next to the grocery store where we stopped to stock up on snacks. If we didn’t need two rooms, that would be a strong contender for a future visit.

 

 

Things to Do in Old Town Dubrovnik

• Wander the streets and alleys
• Eat ćevapčići—a ground meat sausage usually served with fresh tomato and onions
• Walk the medieval walls that surround Old Town
• Dubrovnik’s Cathedral
• Franciscan Monastery and one of the oldest working pharmacies in the world (since 1317!)
• Walk up the Jesuit Stairs (a major Game of Thrones tourist spot!)
• Fort Lovrijenac (another Game of Thrones site)
• Take a boat over to Lokrum Island
• Swim at the beach
• Kayak in the Adriatic Sea

 

Day Trip to Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina

One day, we drove about two and a half hours north from Dubrovnik toward Mostar. I’ll admit, we almost scrapped the plan after reading on travel forums about potential issues at the border and seeing a warning to stay on the paved roads as there are still land mines in the fields from the war in the 90s. In the end, I’m so glad we didn’t cancel!

We crossed at Neum, and it could not have gone more smoothly. We were stopped for less than two minutes, checked, then stamped our passports and waved through. The roads along the way were newly paved and in excellent condition, very similar to what you’d expect in the U.S., although you could still clearly see some damage from the war on some of the buildings.

 

 

Highlights of Mostar

Mostar quickly became one of the most memorable stops of our trip. The city has a distinct energy, blending Eastern and Western influences in a way that feels uniquely its own. Even though Bosnia is not part of the European Union, we had no trouble using euros everywhere we went.

The centerpiece of the city is the Stari Most, or Old Bridge, which arches high above the Neretva River. The entire Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and wandering its cobblestone streets felt like stepping into another world. We watched as a few brave divers jumped from the bridge and were able to hear the Adhan, the Muslim call to prayer, echoing from the minarets.

That moment was especially meaningful for us. The first time Tim heard the Adhan was while serving in the Marine Corps in Iraq in 2005. Later, he and I met in Arabic class during college, so standing together now in Mostar and experiencing it with our kids felt like everything had come full circle. It was one of those moments that truly sticks with you long after the trip ends.

 

Split, Croatia

Crossing back into Croatia from Bosnia was just as easy as our entry. We had two quick passport checks and were then sent on our way without any delays. All of the toll roads took credit cards, and we stopped to tap our credit card, then that was it.

Mr and Mrs Smith Hotel in Split, Croatia

We arrived in Split around 5 p.m. and checked into the Briig Boutique Hotel, part of the Mr & Mrs Smith collection, where we stayed for two nights. I booked it using 17,750 points per room per night, which came to 35,500 points per room for the stay, including breakfast. Parking was conveniently located right next to the hotel for 20 euros per night.

 

 

Even with Explorist status and no advance emails/special requests, we were welcomed with a bottle of wine and snacks in each room, along with a handwritten note for our family. Each room sleeps two adults and one child under 12, and the staff provides a rollaway bed in one of the rooms at no extra cost.

 

 

While the rooms weren’t connecting, the excellent service and amenities more than made up for it. Breakfast was a real highlight, with a full spread of meats, eggs, cereal, bread, and fruit, along with Prosecco and a fancy coffee machine and juice machine.

 

 

Things to Do in Split

We kept our time in Split pretty relaxed, focusing on exploring Diocletian’s Palace and just wandering the historic center. It’s the kind of city where you don’t need a packed itinerary. Everything is so beautiful, and we loved wandering the stone alleyways and checking out the seaside views.

 

 

Road Trip from Split to Zagreb, Croatia

After breakfast, we left Split and headed north toward Zadar to check out something truly unique, the only continuous sea organ in the world. There are two others, one in San Francisco and one in the UK, but they only play during high tide. In Zadar, the sea organ plays all day, using the motion of the waves to push air through a series of pipes hidden under marble steps along the waterfront. It’s a simple concept, but the sound is really cool.

There’s also a brand-new Hyatt Regency that recently opened in Zadar, which would have been our pick for accommodations if it had been open during our visit.

 

 

Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia with Kids

From Zadar, we drove another hour and a half to Plitvice Lakes National Park. This is one of Croatia’s most famous natural attractions. Plan to spend at least three to four hours here, especially with kids. There are no railings along many parts of the paths, and the water moves fast, so if you’re traveling with little ones, a baby or toddler carrier is a must.

 

 

We took Route F, which included a short five-minute boat ride, a longer fifteen-minute one, a few miles of walking across boardwalks and trails, and a final uphill climb to catch the shuttle back to the entrance. It was a lot, and we rushed a bit, completing it in about two hours.

After all the walking, we had a quick dinner in the cafeteria. The food wasn’t great, but the convenience was worth the stop before getting on the road to Zagreb.

 

Driving from Plitvice Lakes to Zagreb

After the park, we drove another two hours and arrived in Zagreb around 7 p.m. We didn’t get a chance to explore the city this time, so it’s officially on our list for a future trip.

We stayed at the Canopy by Hilton Zagreb City Centre and booked two standard rooms with two double beds each. These rooms can sleep up to four, and thanks to a 25 percent Amex transfer bonus to Hilton, I only needed 8,000 Amex points per room. If we hadn’t left so early the next morning, we would have received complimentary breakfast for two (for each room) through Hilton Gold status from my and my husband’s AmEx Platinum. The hotel also generously comped our parking. Another bonus is that standard two-double rooms sleep up to four!

 

 

 

KLM Business Class Home

For our flights home, we used 212,500 Flying Blue miles and paid $1,450 in taxes and fees for five business-class tickets from Zagreb to Toronto. The adult tickets were 50,000 miles each, and the kids were 37,500 miles each, thanks to Flying Blue’s 25 percent discount for children. Again, I had booked these before the recent devaluation. These flights would now cost 60k points per adult and 47,500 per child. 

We had a very early start with a 6 a.m. KLM flight from Zagreb to Amsterdam. After dropping off our rental car, we breezed through security thanks to a priority line included with our business class tickets.

The first flight was European business class, with the middle seat blocked off. Breakfast on this flight was delicious. The girls skipped breakfast and chose to nap instead.

 

Amsterdam Layover

Once in Amsterdam, we had a few hours to relax in the KLM Crown Lounge before boarding our final leg back to Toronto. It was a long travel day, but flying business class made it feel much more manageable for all of us. This was our second time on KLM’s business class from Amsterdam to Toronto, and this time was just as lovely. Again, I pre-ordered kids’ meals on the app ahead of time, and we all got to pick out a new Delft Blue house. This makes ten in our collection!

 

 

 

Bottom Line

This nine-day spring break sprint through Greece and Croatia was everything I hoped it would be. We had bucket-list views, time together as a family, and just enough chaos to keep it interesting with three kids.

From watching the sunset over Santorini’s blue domes to walking the city walls in Dubrovnik to hearing the call to prayer echo through Mostar to the beautiful waterfalls of Plitvice Lakes National Park, it felt like a trip we’ll be talking about for years. If you’re wondering whether this kind of itinerary is doable with kids . . . always yes! It might not be relaxing, but it was absolutely worth it.

 

Related Posts

• Podcast 116. Everything You Need to Know About Flying Blue
• Girls’ Trip to Croatia with Points and Miles
• Podcast 88. Adventures in Greece and Beyond: Alex & Pam’s European Escapades