Hi Sam! Sorry it has taken me awhile to respond to your inquiry. I'm so excited for you to see Croatia! It's completely amazing and beautiful, and I'm sure you'll love it. I haven't been there in the summer, so I don't know exactly what you'll find as far as crowds go, but I'm always a fan of booking at least my first night's accommodation in each place before I arrive. I don't like wasting time looking for a place to sleep. That said, Croatia is still a bit off the beaten path, so many of the housing options are independent and might only be found once you're there. So, I would try to find something through STA Travel (book/buy up front) or online if you're wanting to be a bit more flexible (usually they will take a credit card to hold your reservation and you pay when you arrive). As for meeting other travellers, staying at hostels is always a good way to meet people, as are day tours and the trains and buses you'll take. If you want to find people before you go, look online for Croatia travel blogs and maybe you'll find some folks who'll be there while you are. I hope this is helpful. Let me know if you have any other questions. Have so much fun! Cheers, Leslie :) P.S. Make sure you visit Cafe Troubadour in Dubrovnik...it's awesome!