In South Dalmatia, Dubrovnik is a beautiful Croatian city which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site for over 30 years, and is the ideal base from which to explore the Adriatic. Based on the Adriatic coast, it benefits from a typical Mediterranean climate, and combined with the extensive historic city, it is an unmissable holiday destination. And with a wide range of very affordable rental apartments, this could be the perfect low cost destination for a family holiday. The best part of all is that the city has its own international airport, so you can fly in directly without any of the time-consuming and expensive transport links which you can sometimes experience when travelling to cities which are not the country's capital.

The Walls of Dubrovnik have to be seen to be believed, two miles of walls running around the city, designed to protect the vulnerable town from enemy bombardment. The intact walls date from the 12th to 17th Centuries and are a major source of civic pride, as well as being a breathtaking spectacle to 21st Century visitors. In addition to the walls, the whole city is wonderfully preserved, in spite of damage in the wars which tore apart the former Yugoslavia during the 1990s. It's more than a living museum, however, Dubrovnik has a wonderfully relaxed lifestyle all of its own, and you can lose yourself for hours in its shops and markets.

The main type of self-catering accommodation available in Dubrovnik is the rental apartment, and you can rent a waterfront property looking out over the Adriatic, depending on the time of year, for as little as £400 a week for a family of four! This money saving option for accommodation can give you the spare cash to spend in the shops and restaurants of Dubrovnik itself, or fund day trips to other Croatian towns such as Split, or the capital Zagreb. Not only that, but holiday rentals give you a chance to really relax properly, with a feeling of being in a home rather than a hotel room. There's more space for younger families to run around, you can have a go at cooking local dishes yourself in the fully equipped kitchens, and you will be driven out to sample local restaurants and bars rather than relying on the sanitised offerings of a budget hotel.