I am always in favor of Airbnb when I am traveling. I have had great luck and only one time did I have anything worth complaining about. But, that was when it was a newer venue and not as well checked out. I hear all of what you are saying and one of the reasons those well-priced, all-inclusive deals are good, but, not what they lead you to believe. It's not so much what they give you as what you think you are getting. Here is where the little things do make a difference. Not enough to raise the flag, but, little inconveniences that add more padding to your bill.
Still in all, you are so right about the week not being enough. It takes me til the third day to feel on vacation and the fifth to know I need to wind down. Darn! Two days of vacation. Ten days or two weeks tend to feel perfect. :) Really though, I found 24 days was perfect, and then, boom! I didn't want to come home. There is that.
You had a few things you would do differently. But, I feel like you will have these great memories. Croatia really drives that home... Italy, France, Greece... the world is so full or wonderful vacations. We should just do it full-time. :)
I haven't tried airbnb yet - though shared one in Krakow at SF3! :D
Yep. And it has added a fair bit, but thankfully we also weren't stuck with all inclusive, as they likely wouldn't have had much edible variation for us.
Next time, 10-14 for us. We were planning 10, but the days didn't fit our schedule- or the hotel's. Still, this has been good :)
Wouldn't it be great to be able to just travel and work from anywhere? :D
SF3! I didn't know very many people that were going and it really didn't fit in my work schedule. I really did want to go as I had been to Krakow quite a few times and missed the Cloth Market. :) Ha! And Wawel Castle/Cathedral. Airbnb has come a long way since then. They got a makeover so to speak, there are better accommodations available and many are priced right. I should say that there are accommodations for every wallet. Much nicer, I might add. They have gotten better than they ever were.
You said you would go back again and I have to agree. I was enamored with many of the places I have gone to, but, there is so much out there, and I wanted to give them a broader sense of what the world was like. If I had to choose for you? I would choose Italy, but, you have probably already gone there. I never travel to warm climates in July or August. All the tourists love it then, although I don't know why. I have gone in July and August many times, but, now, I can choose better with seniority, so. I'd rather poke my eyes out with a stick.
I am truly glad you had a good time and the extra $$ were available for you to spring for a few things that made a difference to you and the family.