Traveling There: Commercial flights connect both Venice and Ljubljana to most major European cities, including Rome, Paris, London, and Frankfurt. Web sites and phone numbers for the major international and European airlines are found on this site's Airlines page. Fly into Venice and take a bus or taxi to Venice's Santa Lucia train terminus where water taxis will connect you via the Grand Canal to a pier close to your lodging. (Alternatively, you can train into Venice within a day from many European locations). It is recommended to take the four-hour train ride from Venice to Ljubjana (three daily) and rent a car near the Ljubljana train station for continuing the itinerary, a two-hour drive to Bled. A car rental is required for Slovenia and Croatia itinerary stops 2-5 on the map below. Although the major car rental companies do not currently allow travel between Slovenia and Italy, there are several alternatives for renting cars in Ljubjana that allow for travel freely throughout Slovenia and Croatia. Web sites and phone numbers for the major auto rental companies are available on this site's Autos page. Note that there is a 15-minute car ferry to the isle of Rab that runs approximately every 30 minutes during the daylight hours from May to September. On returning for your last few days in Ljubljana, you have the option of turning your car in early and using taxis, as a car is not very convenient there.

Travel Days:

Venice - Bled: four hour train to Ljubljana, two hour drive to Bled
Bled - Opatija: five hour drive, plus stop at Postjana to view cave
Opatija - Rab: five hour drive, including ferry
Rab - Ljubljana: eight hour drive, including ferry and lunch stop

Staying There: This itinerary is laid out for relative convenience in seeing a strong variety of sites in a relaxing fashion. Be sure to have lodging reservations in every location, especially if you are traveling in the summer months. This itinerary fits nicely into a two-week vacation, including air travel from the United States

Venice: 3 nights, 2 full days
Use Venice guidebooks from Frommer's or Lonely Planet for lodging recommendations. For best value, don't stay close to San Marco square or the Rialto bridge.
Bled: 3 nights, 2 full days
Use the guidebook Lonely Planet Slovenia for lodging recommendations. For good value and ambience it is recommended to stay in the area of the village of Mlino.
Opatija: 1 night
Use the guidebook Lonely Planet Croatia for lodging recommendations.
Rab: 4 nights, 3 full days (the "vacation" from your vacation)
Use the guidebook Lonely Planet Croatia for lodging recommendations. Hotel Istra has a good value and location.
Ljubljana: 3 nights, 2 full days
Use the guidebook Lonely Planet Slovenia for lodging recommendations. The City Hotel Ljubljana has relatively good value and location.

Useful WWW Sites:
Venice: In Venice Today
Slovenia: Bled Accommodations
Croatia: Adriatica.net (covers Opatija, Rab and all towns of Croatia)
Slovenia: Ljubljana - City Hotel

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