Dubrovnik – the ideal student escape

Over the past few years, the Pearl of the Adriatic has become more famously the Pearl of the Student. It is almost impossible to scroll through your Facebook and not see a group ‘squad’ photo at the city walls, or an unnecessarily hipster and over-filtered picture of the harbour. With the hot climate and the ease of travelling; there is ample reason for Dubrovnik to become the new student hotspot. So when booking your yearly summer holiday with your friends, definitely consider this Croatian gem as your vacation destination for the following reasons.

Affordability:

The word that tastes like honey on the tongue of every unemployed, overdraft-burdened student – affordability is a must when travelling with your friends. Flights from London to Dubrovnik average around £120, but can be cheaper if bought well in advance, and there are a plethora of cheap hostels within the city walls. My personal recommendation would be Hostel and Rooms Ana, which have super cheap dorms, single and double rooms within the main city walls. The owner herself, the heroine Ana, hands out free Rajika on a nightly basis, as well as discounts for loads of pubs and restaurants in the city. If bought from outside the city walls, then food is fairly cheap, and no matter where you buy it, alcohol is enviably cheap. Therefore a week in Dubrovnik is perfect for the student who wants an escape without emptying their wallet.

The word that tastes like honey on the tongue of every unemployed, overdraft burdened student – affordability is a must when travelling with your friends.

Euro-trash Nightlife:

As a Warwick student, one craves the sweet dulcet tones of Peter Andre whenever we migrate from the nesting home of Pop! over the holidays. Although admittedly, the small town of Dubrovnik has way more pubs and bars than clubs, however, the few clubs that they do have are the perfect Euro-trash pop playing, literal buckets of alcohol providing clubs that you need for a friends’ holiday. Skybar with its 90s remixes, and its mirrored walls for great selfies is a must for avid clubbers, as is Revelin, with its ice-bar reminiscent interior and a DJ who, albeit reluctantly, plays your requests. As for those who prefer bars, there is no shortage of those, and Buza is the place for every tourist to go, as it hangs on the cliff right above the sea, providing booze and breath-taking views.

As a Warwick student, one craves the sweet dulcet tones of Peter Andre

Historical sites:

Even though Dubrovnik has hilarious nightlife, and beautiful beaches to sunbathe, relax and nurse a hangover, it is always important to choose a holiday destination that actually has some culture and history. As an official UNESCO World Heritage Site, there are beautiful sites to see, with stunning views, and a haunting history, that gives you that touch of culture that we should all crave for when travelling. The seventh-century city walls, the quintessential eighteenth-century Cathedral, and the scattering of museums are all must-see within the Old Town. However, the sight-seeing and the history doesn’t end there. The nearby island of Lokrum, a chillingly beautiful remote island, inhabited with peacocks and rumoured to have been cursed after being owned by Sir Ferdinand is also a unique experience, especially for Game of Thrones fans. For real history lovers, the mountain Srd – a 100 kuna cable car journey, or a 40 minute beautiful hike away from the town, is also an essential visit. The top of the mountain provides stunning views, and is home to the Imperial Fort, which was built during the Napoleonic Wars and was in military use even as recently as 1995, during the Croatian War of Independence. Therefore Dubrovnik and its nearby landmarks has the perfect combination of different eras of history and culture.

A touch of culture, a spot of hot weather and breathtaking views, only a slight graze on your student wallet, and many shots of cheap alcohol.

So there you have it. A touch of culture, a spot of hot weather and breathtaking views, only a slight graze on your student wallet, and many shots of cheap alcohol. Dubrovnik is one of the most beautiful towns I have ever come across, and I would recommend it to every student who wants the perfect holiday.