Paula
We actually usually do it more your way, in 2004 we spent 21 days just in France. But there was so much going on in Europe this summer that we just had to cover more ground!
I am very familiar with SlowTravel but those folks tend to spend a wee bit more money than we usually do. We always backpack and stay in cheapo places HOWEVER there is always at least one splurge. (We saved this splurge for France, Mermaid. ;-)) The websites I visit are more along the lines of Eurotrip.com, which is great for cheap airfare.
And Mermaid, it did take some planning and emailing--I began planning it in late January. We flew from Hannover, Germany to Dubrovnik and from Split (Croatia) to Frankfurt but I used inexpensive European airlines for that.
Uncle Timmy
The Dalmatian coast has been touristed by Europeans for years and years, and Dubrovnik is quite well known (my husband went there in the 70's), but not too many Americans visited Croatia until fairly recently. It is definitely discovered by mainstream American tourists now, but I loved Hvar. We stayed at a nice apartment with lovely garden and AC for 60 euros per night for the 3 of us.
Scooterpolluter
It was World Cup, I think the Germans were on extra special behavior ;-)
In my experience, Europeans in general might have a different manner, some of them think we Americans smile way too much, which cracks me up.
But really the Germans were all so nice to us. Good food, too--I had not been to Germany since I was 23 and the food then seemed so heavy and overcooked--very different now, all kinds of stuff available.
Yes, we definitely did more than usual, but everything worked out, nothing went wrong, and we really had a good time.