Dubrovnik
Possibly my first magical travel experience happened here years ago. I knew nothing of Croatia and wondered why our ship was stopping here. As our bus from the port drove along the old city walls and turned to go through a tunnel into old town I couldn't help but to exclaim at how beautiful it was. The foreboding clouds overhead probably added to the feeling. I took a photo in that trip that ended up being published in a UK magazine.
This was my fourth trip to Dubrovnik and I've always just shown up without accommodations and taken a room from one of the old ladies (or old men) hawking them at the bus station. However, Dubrovnik is a city of a million stairs and I knew Piper wasn't going to be able to walk them so I rented an apartment inside the city walls on airbnb.com.
Staying inside the city walls was interesting but not all that I thought it was going to be. Dubrovnik is a very touristed city and the old town can get pretty crowded ruining the experience. Our apartment and it's location was probably as good as it could have been so it wasn't a horrible experience but I didn't leave yearning to go back this time.
My past apartments were usually one floor of a Croatian family's home in a quiet non-touristed neighborhood. Usually breakfast is included for a small price made up of fresh juice, croissants and tomatoes from the owners garden and there's a terrace overlooking the city. I have fond memories of those apartments.
This apartment was the upper two floors of a 4 story building. The experience was interesting but it's one of those things that you check off and don't do again.
We ate mussels, squid, cuttlefish risotto and then we repeated the process. Croatia has the best squid anywhere.
Moral of the story - Just show up without a room and pick from the offerings of the locals and DON'T stay inside the city walls. Next time I come to Dubrovnik I may even stay in Lapad a very pleasant area on the north side of town near the beach we swam at.