Dubrovnik & The Dalmatian Coast
Submitted by: David from England
Visited: 17th - 24th June 2010
Organised: Booked through Riviera Travel

Comments:
I visited Dubrovnik, the Dalmatian Coast and Montenegro recently with the Riviera Travel company. The local Tour Manager and coach driver were very, very good and ensured that the whole experience was a memorable one.

I had not been there since my visits in 1966, '70 and '71 and despite the development in the 40 years, I was amazed and very pleased to see that the coastal and natural resources had been so well cared for and the sea was as inviting as it was all those years ago, when camping.

Dubrovnik was amazing, as it always was, save for a 2 hour storm and downpour!! - but we were made very welcome to shelter in small sandwich bar on one of the steep streets off the Main Street.

I will not leave it another 40 years before returning.  I enclose one of my photographs of Dubrovnik Main Street taken from the city walls.
Submitted 28th June 2010

Sailing Holiday
Submitted by: Mike from England
Visited: June 2010
Organised: Booked through Orvas Yachting

Comments:
Well after troubling you for some help regarding my trip and booking with Orvas Yachting I can confirm that everything was fine and the trip was excellent. Orvas are probably a little laid back for me but all the things they said they would organise for me were in place when I got to Split.

We were picked up by a man with a board with my name on it and transferred to the Marina. It was a little difficult to locate their office in the marina but when I found it, it only took a few minutes to go through the paperwork and we were shown to the boat. After a 'technical' talk from their man we were left to sort ourselves out. A little shopping at a nearby supermarket and a good night's sleep we were ready to set sail the following morning.

During the week we visited the Islands of Solta, Vis, Hvar and Brac. We stayed two nights on Vis and took scooters for a full day tour of the island, very nice. The sailing was quite good, some wind at various times in the day and we spent a lot of time in the water. Our last evening in Split allowed us enough time to explore this beautiful city, although I had been there before my brothers and sister hadn't.  The flights out and back, which I arranged online with Croatia Airlines were smooth and on time.

What more can I add except that we all said we will return and next time probably sail from Split down to Dubrovnik! Once again many thanks for all your help during the last few weeks.
Submitted 16th June 2010

Hotel Park, Rovinj
Submitted by: Denise and Simon from Basingstoke, England
Visited: 5th - 12th July 2009
Organised: Booked through Holiday Options
Type of accommodation: Valamar Dubrovnik President, Babin Kuk peninsula, Dubrovnik

(Out of 5, best = 5)
How would you rate the town/city you stayed in? 5
How would you rate the accommodation? 5
How would you rate your holiday overall? 5

Comments:
This was our first ever summer holiday abroad and we loved it! The hotel was friendly and all rooms have a view of one of the Elaphiti Islands. Although the private beach is pebbly, the water was clean and very welcoming after a hot day's sightseeing. Towels, parasols and sunbeds are provided free of charge for hotel guests. We loved Dubrovnik Old Town and the only thing that spoiled it are the hordes of cruise ship passengers who appear on an almost daily basis. On the Friday we walked the Old Town's walls and as there were 4 cruise ships visiting that day the Old Town was very crowded. Croatian ice cream is to die for and looks amazing in the chill cabinets. In Dubrovnik Old Town there is a huge choice of restaurants to suit every budget.

Would you go again? Absolutely!  I'm already thinking about my plans to visit another part of Croatia in 2010.
Submitted 20th July 2009

Hotel Park, Rovinj
Submitted by: Anne & Ken from Edinburgh
Visited: 18th September - 3rd October 2008
Organised: Ourselves
Type of accommodation: Hotel (Bed & Breakfast) - Hotel Park, Rovinj

(Out of 5, best = 5)
How would you rate the town/city you stayed in? 5
How would you rate the accommodation? 3
How would you rate your holiday overall? 5

Comments:
Overall we had a superb holiday, around 20 degrees most of the time with the exception of a couple of days when it was quite a bit cooler. The hotel was fine, nice room with a lovely sea view, very good breakfasts with lots of variety. We marked the hotel down on two counts, unfortunately there are no tea or coffee making facilities in the rooms and this was expected judging by the price. On our first evening we decided to eat in the hotel restaurant and although there was a wide choice the food was not hot neither were the plates. Perhaps this was a result of a large number of tour operators favouring this hotel.

We spent quite a bit of our time exploring Rovinj, a very pleasant town with lots of history, the locals were also very friendly, especially if you attempted a few words of Croatian. As we were disappointed with the hotel restaurant we ate out nearly every evening at Del Piero next door to Amphora on the seafront 10 mininutes' walk from the hotel. The Del Piero staff were much more friendly, the food was excellent, the sea bass was delicious. Both of these premises are owned by the same person.  

During the first few days we took the bus down to Pula, mainly a commercial/industrial town some interesting sights and streets, the main attraction being the amphitheatre, very interesting with a first class audio description included in the cost of entry. We hired a car for 7 days, driving is very easy and very quiet in September, and managed to visit Porec, Lim Fjord, Plitvice Lakes, (must visit again, you really need a minimum of two whole days here), Fazana and Brjuini National Park (a lovely boat trip), Vsar, Umag, Hum, Buje, Buzet, Draguc and Pazin.  During the latter part of our 2nd week we managed a day boat trip across the bay to Venice (will have to visit there again sometime).

All in all a super holiday.
Submitted 17th December 2008

Mlini
Submitted by: Ann from Scotland
Visited: 2008

Comments:
Just to let you know we had a wonderful holiday in Mlini. The weather was great except for last two days when it rained but we still did things and enjoyed the days. We have now booked to visit Opatija in June next year. We have booked earlier in the year because some trips we wanted to go on were finished at the end of August in the Mlini district.  Dubrovnik was wonderful and we toured the wall. The Croatian people were friendly and the staff at our hotel were friendly, attentive and most helpful. I have told my friends to visit Croatia for holidays.
Submitted 28th October 2008

Kolocep
Submitted by: Matthew from the UK
Visited: 2008
Organised: Hidden Croatia
Type of accommodation: Hotel Kolocep, island of Kolocep

Comments:
I would like to share my positive views from a trip, where I spent a week on the island of Kolocep, Dubrovnik, Croatia. The country is very beautiful and the people are very friendly.

I stayed on the Island of Kolocep, which is a small Island 30 minutes from Dubrovnik. It only has one Hotel on the Island, its owned by a Foundation, all profits are invested back into the island. Hotel Kolocep is an excellent 3 Star resort, its very clean, the staff are very friendly and helpful. The rooms included Plasma TV, Mini Bar Fridge, Computer with Free Internet and 100+ Films available anytime. The Buffet food is excellent, serving fresh ingredients and local dishes. They have a swimming pool, the only Sandy Beach on the Island, Kayaks and Bikes for Hire. The Hotel also owns a Private Yacht, Nevin the skipper can take you out for the half/full day to relax while going around the islands or alternatively you can learn the ropes….literally.

I booked the holiday through Hidden Croatia. I would highly recommend this company and look forward to using them again in the future. The website is very professional and has plenty of information on various locations and different types of holidays. Booking the holiday was very easy, the staff were very knowledgeable of the country and the prices were competitive. I received private transfers to and from the Airport in Croatia and all the staff were very professional and helpful.

Hidden Croatia also owns a Luxury Boat company, which provide various tours and provide good value for money. I would highly recommend the wine tasting at Sipan, where you do some wine tasting with a top Sommelier at a very nice Restaurant. We had a private speed boat pick us up from the hotel and take us to the island, where we tasted various wines and received a very nice Three course meal. Excellent value for money and easily the best food we had in Croatia. This half day trip was only £60 each including Private Boat, Wine Tasting and Meal, very good value for money.

There is one place that I would NOT recommend and that's Nautica, its a very expensive restaurant at the Entrance to the Old Town. I knew that it was expensive, but expected a very special eating experience. I have to say it was very over priced and not worth the money, I would actually say the prices are probably double of what it was worth, even with the views from the terrace. Grilled Goats Cheese - £30, Lobster Medallions with Potato - £45, 4 Pancakes with fillings - £35. I wouldn't of minded the price, if the quality of the food matched the prices. STAY AWAY!!
Submitted 12th August 2008

Ten Golden Days in May
Submitted by: The Burke-Hamiltons from Epsom, Surrey
Visited: May 2007
Organised: Ourselves with friends
Type of accommodation: Apartment Villabianca, Ciovo - www.villabianca-apartments.com

(Out of 5, best = 5)
How would you rate the town/city you stayed in? 5
How would you rate the accommodation? 5
How would you rate your holiday overall? 5

Comments:
Wow, what a beautiful country and so friendly. The warm climate and many hours of sunlight alongside the calm clear seas made for one of the most blissful holidays in years.  It was like a scene from a James Bond movie. The whole family enjoyed it (boys of 9 and 5).  We stayed on Ciovo island at Villabianca (www.villabianca-apartments.com). We enjoyed fresh fish each day from Trogir and the tomatoes and cherries in the local market are truly scrumptious. Other activates such as swimming, tennis and sailing became the routine. The visit to other islands along the Dalmatian coastline was one of the highlights and seeing the working shipyard at Trogir. Equally fascinating and more contemporary was seeing the Hajduk Split football stadium.  Eating out is great value and all the restaurants have excellent fish dishes on the menu and all other dishes are reasonably priced. Try the ice creams in Trogir and in Split, they are fantastic and homemade.

If you get a chance to go do so now. The value is extremely high and you will be surprised how quickly you can unwind. If you can, get a skipper licence or charter a yacht -  a trip around the islands is a must. But if you don't want to completely escape internet connectivity is assessable! 

The apartment was very nice and easy to keep clean with powerful (hot) showers; so refreshing after a day out. We had the keys and had the run of the Villa and were welcomed by the owners like part of the family. We even had barbecues together! Fala! Fala! Fala!

Would you go again? I would definitely go again as they is still lots more to see, and in fact plan to do so again this year, if only to get Hajduk Split football socks as this didn't come with the socks and shirts the boys now wear with pride!
Submitted 13th June 2007

Dubrovnik
Submitted by: Simon from Australia
Visited: June 2004
Organised: Independently
Type of accommodation: A family friends house which living with a local was spectacular

(Out of 5, best = 5)
How would you rate the town/city you stayed in? 5 - Truly amazing

Comments:
Hi I would like to share one of my experiences of travel in the city of Dubrovnik in Croatia.

I travelled with a mate and decided to take the hike up hill where a cable car used to do the trip for you. Now the way up is by foot. High above Dubrovnik city, it is so quiet, and you can see the city walls, the steep streets, the while stone buildings and all the church spires and domes, the Adriatic Sea and the islands in the distance. We took a bottle of champagne and some snacks up there and lingered over brunch while taking in the scenery.

It truly was an amazing experience the view by far is the best I have ever come across.

Would you go again? Most definitely
Submitted 30th October 2006

Sailing Holiday
Submitted by: Catherine Graham from New Zealand
Visited: September 2006
Organised: I organised the trip myself but booked a sailing holiday through Club Adriatic.
Type of accommodation: 12 berth Gullet

(Out of 5, best = 5)
How would you rate the town/city you stayed in? We visited Hvar, Vis, Parmizana and loved them all - 5
How would you rate the accommodation? 3
How would you rate your holiday overall? 3

Comments:
We had a great time in Croatia. It is the second time I have been there and love it. Unfortunately we booked our boat through Club Adriatic and did not receive what we were promised or had paid for. We paid for a crew of three and only received one so we had to do all cooking and a lot of the cleaning ourselves, despite being assured we wouldn't have to. I have since complained to them twice but have heard nothing back from them.

Would you go again? I would definitely come to Croatia again but will never book a boat through Club Adriatic and advise that others also avoid using this company.
Submitted 13th October 2006

Hotel Croatia, Cavtat
Submitted by: Susan, Alex and Sophie from Washington, Tyne and Wear, UK
Visited: September 2006
Organised: Thomson
Type of accommodation: Hotel Croatia, half board

(Out of 5, best = 5)
How would you rate the town/city you stayed in? 5
How would you rate the accommodation? 5
How would you rate your holiday overall? 5

Comments:
We have just had the most fantastic holiday in Cavtat, Croatia. The hotel was beautifully kept and we could not find a fault with it. The food was exceptional, with something for everyone. The drinks were not expensive and the service was very good. The first thing to hit you about Croatia is the spectacular scenery and Cavtat is one of the prettiest places I have visited.

If you are looking for a relaxing holiday without the constant noise found in some other countries, this is the place for you. It isn't dull by any means as there are an assortment of excellent pubs and restaurants in Dubrovnik and Cavtat, just without the 24 hour party atmosphere.

If you have trouble walking up hills, Hotel Croatia is not for you as there is a steep incline walking from the harbour to the hotel, but this is pointed out in the Thomson brochure.

Would you go again? I have travelled to many countries and had fantastic holidays but if I was asked to go back to one of those places again, it would be Croatia. Sheer heaven!
Submitted 16th September 2006

Paklenica National Park & Plitvice Lakes
Submitted by: Katie from York, UK
Visited: June 2006
Organised: Organised it myself
Type of accommodation: Mountain Hut in Paklenica National Park and Hotel Jezero in Plitvice Lakes National Park

(Out of 5, best = 5)
How would you rate the town/city you stayed in? 5
How would you rate the accommodation? 4
How would you rate your holiday overall? 5

Comments:
As a walker my hiking holiday in Paklenica and Plitvice Lakes National Parks was the perfect holiday for me. June is the perfect time to go if you want to feel as though you are exploring rather than one of the sheep.

Although much more impressive Plitvice seemed more commercialised than Paklenica. The hotels were nicer (I got my own room!) but were much more expensive than the dorm style mountain hut I stayed in at Paklenica. The scenery in both parks is spectacular, but it is difficult to judge whether one is better than the other because they are so different. If you like the remote then visit Paklenica but if you are more comfortable strolling rather than hiking definitely chose Plitvice (There are even buses between the different lakes!)

Would you go again? Definitely
Submitted 30th August 2006

Zagreb & Korcula
Submitted by: Maryann from Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, USA
Visited: July 2006, 5 days in Zagreb and 9 days in Korcula
Organised: Organized a trip by myself with a little help of my Croatian friend
Type of accommodation: While in Zagreb I stayed at my friend's place and in Korcula in a private accomodation which I found with a help of the same friend. It was a studio in the old part of Korcula which I paid $40 per night

Comments:
It wasn't my first time in Croatia, but it was a first time on Korcula. I think I fell in love for the place. An old city with a narrow streets, clear blue sea, awesome beaches, great food, friendly people. I wish I could've stayed longer.

Here are my tips on what to see and do while in Korcula:

* Moreska - an excellent medieval play. Stunning!

* Excursion to Mljet. It is a national park on a same called island. It rained a bit the day I took it and the wood in the distance looked like a rainforest.

* Hiking on Sv. Ilija. You need to take boat from Korcula to Orebic since the mountain itself is not on the island. Once in Orebic it took us 20 minutes to reach a hiking trail. It wasn't obvious where to go but the local people were very friendly and eager to help. The hike itself lasted 5 hours but was definitely worth it due to beautiful views of the sea and islands.

Would you go again? I would definitely go again.
Submitted 28th August 2006

Porec
Submitted by: Mark from Buras, Louisiana, USA
Visited: The first time was about 15 years ago the last time was June and July of this year 2006
Organised: I called Pan Adriatic in New York for my plane tickets and rental car
Type of accommodation: Private accommodation - stay most of the time with family

(Out of 5, best = 5)
How would you rate the town/city you stayed in? 5
How would you rate the accommodation? 5 now since I put the AC in
How would you rate your holiday overall? I love it in Croatia. Last year when Hurricane Katrina hit Buras and I lost everything. I told my family that if I had the money to retire that I would have been on a plane to Croatia to live. But like everyone else I have to work. But I love it there.

Comments:
I love it there but it is starting to get a little crowed during the summer but that is OK with me.

Would you go again? Yes, I might go for Christmas if not I will be there next summer.
Submitted 17th August 2006

Porec
Submitted by: Mary from Scotland

Comments:
We have been visiting Porec in Croatia for the last eight years or so. We have stayed at different hotels, mainly ones belonging to the Riviera group and have nothing but praise for the standard, cleanliness, service, choice and standard of food - in fact we have never found fault with any of the hotels or the friendly staff.

Having visited so many times we have learned a lot about the culture and customs of the Croatian people. We have obviously done all the excursions like the trips to Trieste to see the fairytale castle, the stud farm that breeds and trains the famous white horses, the ampitheatre at Pula, the little narrow winding streets leading up to the lovely church in Rovinj, the Euphrasius Basilica with it's fascinating artifacts in Porec, our favourite (which we do every year) the fish picnic, which lasts all day and takes in some of the many beautiful islands dotting the coastline, stopping at the pirates cave for a swim and a thirst quencher on our way either up or down the Lim Fjord, the fresh fish, salad and crusty bread washed down with a glass of wine or the local fire water - grappa....ah happy days! We've traveled by bus, bike, coach, taxi,boat,water taxi and ferry. Visited "within reach" places like Venice and beautiful Lake Bled.

This year we will be paying our second visit to the island of St. Nikola and the hotel Fortuna, I could write pages of our love for this hotel on it's own little island, but suffice to say anything else after this experience just wouldn't be enough.

As far as tips go, it's a good idea (and good manners) to try to learn some basic words and phrases of the Croatian language, not that the Croatian people cannot speak English because most do, and several other languages besides. As I have already said, they are very friendly people and really appreciate it when you try to communicate even a little with them in their own tongue.

Having traveled to many neighbouring towns and cities by local transport, while we are there this year we are going to look into the possiblilty of hiring a camper van and exploring the beutiful country of Croatia on our next holiday.
Submitted 25th July 2006

Tribunj
Submitted by: Georgiana from Romania

Comments:
I had the pleasent ocassion last year to go along with my family in a vacation in Croatia, Tribunj.This pleace was recommanded to us by another family that were practicaly in love with this place.At the begining i was a little bit sceptical about the trip but in the moment I get there I understand everything:the place is like a piece from heaven where you can have a wonderfull and pleasent vacation along with the person you love, friends or family.Is the perfect place for a summer vacation and not only.

In three weeks my and my family we will go again in the same place, at family Cvitan that are great people and that dedicated a lot of there free time just to show us arround the wonderfull placesc and the two national parks that are very close:Krka and Kornati.

I recommand Tribunj web page to everybody that is looking for accommodation and large photo album about the place. http://tribunj.biz
Submitted 20th July 2006

Dubrovnik & Nearby Islands
Submitted by: Mark from England

Comments:
I recently visited Croatia, arriving in Zagreb and gradually travelling down to Dubrovnik via Split. The ferry connecting Dubrovnik and Split travels for 9 hours but the breathtaking scenery on view as one progresses down through the Split channel is more than enough to compensate for the journey time.

As is the consensus opinion, Dubrovnik is a beautiful city, in my opinion the most beautiful I have stayed in. However, by far the most memorable part of my stay was a boat trip around the islands just off the Dubrovnik coast:

The boat set sail from the beach in Lapad, my friends and I having bought tickets on the beach the previous day; each of us paying about 100Kn. Our itinerary was to include the islands of Ruda and Lopud culminating in a beachside barbeque on the island of Lokrum. The waters were as blue as I have seen and the captain cruised through the waters with some jovial music playing as we and our fellow travellers (about 10 people in total) enjoyed the warm sea air. Ruda and Lopud were stunning, with plenty of walking and swimming to do for the hour that we were docked. Our final destination, Lokrum was the stuff of dreams, a lovely beach that lead up to a small restaurant. By that time we were famished and the sight of the restaurant owner walking from the beach with a fresh catch set off Pavlovian response in all the party. The fish was barbequed on a grill in the middle of the restaurant and served with salad and potatoes. The meat was so fresh and tender and it was enjoyed by us all, setting us up for our final journey back to Lapad.

Warm, tired and satiated we basked in the sun as it lowered in the sky to the sound of the captain's music. Finally as we approached the bay at Lapad a few of us felt the urge to dive into the crisp waters. The captain kindly killed the engine and we hit the water, swimming the 200m back to the beach. Exhausted and fulfilled, we sat in the bay with a cold glass of beer an watched as the sky turned a golden orange and gradually the sun disappeared below the horizon. A perfect end to a wonderful day.
Submitted 6th July 2006

Trogir, Vis Island, Dubrovnik
Submitted by: Elizabeth from London, England
Organised: Myself
Type of accommodation: Hotel and apartment

(Out of 5, best = 5)
How would you rate the town/city you stayed in? Trogir – 5, Vis – 5 and Dubrovnik 4
How would you rate the accommodation? Trogir, Hotel Pasike - 5, friend’s house - 5, Hotel Excelsior - 1
How would you rate your holiday overall? 4

Comments:
The places we visited were beautiful, food was great and we had a relaxing holiday. Hotel Pasike in Trogir was fantastic. The experience was let down by the Hotel Excelsior In Dubrovnik, which in my view deserves only two stars and charges 5 star prices. The main problem was waste water dripping through our bathroom ceiling. It took some effort to persuade the hotel that this wasn't acceptable and to move us. After turning down an offer of one single room for me and my husband we were moved to a tiny, viewless and slightly grubby room.

Overall. Rooms: small and tired. Service: indifferent and at times staff were rude. Food: horrid - thick dry slices of tuna dressed with lemon sorbet were served as Tuna Carpaccio. Spa: I enquired about a massage 3 times without any response. Private beach: a concrete creation.

The only saving grace is the swimming pool which is a good size but in a rather an ugly setting.

Sibenik & Vodice
Submitted by: Maureen, UK
Visited: October 2005 and May 2006
Organised: October - Saga, May - Balkan Holiday
Type of accommodation: Hotel

(Out of 5, best = 5)
How would you rate the town/city you stayed in? 5
How would you rate the accommodation? 4
How would you rate your holiday overall? 5

Comments:
Croatia is my faviourite place, I went in October 2005 with Saga stayed at the Solaris complex in Sibenik, visited Trogir, Spilt, Zadar, Promeston, Sibenik. I love the culture, history and peaceful surroundings, this has got to be one of the most beautiful places to stay. I love the people, found them very friendly and helpful. Although the complex was a little isolated there was a local bus run from right outside the hotel. the beaches are so close to your hotel, you can almost touch them. Pine trees surround the complex and the views from the hotel are out of this world. Even though it was October we still had some lovely weather and found ourselves sunbathing on the 15th October.

Only two weeks ago went back this time stayed in Vodice and travelled with Balkan Holidays (did not rate this as much as Saga). The hotel and town were lovely, but found we were the only British people amongst a hotel full of German tourists. The hotel seemed to cater more for them than us, but I did not let this ruin my stay. I cannot rave about this country enough and have talked many people into visiting this beautiful part of the world. Going again in September, can't stay away.
Submitted 4th June 2006

Dalmatian Coast
Submitted by: Nancy from Chicago, USA
Visited: My first trip was in 1996 and I have made 7 additional visits since then
Organised: To book my airfare I used a travel agency in Chicago that specializes in visits to Croatia: Croatia Tours, 5850 N. Lincoln Ave, Chicago, Tel: 1-800-554-1433
Type of accommodation: Private accommodation/apartment

(Out of 5, best = 5)
How would you rate the town/city you stayed in? I have visited many cities and a few islands and rate them all a 5
How would you rate the accommodation? All were comfortable and pleasant
How would you rate your holiday overall? Spectacular! I hate to leave and always plan to return

Comments:
I had no idea what to expect on my first visit. I was going to meet my new-found Croatian family and assumed I would be making one trip to Croatia in my lifetime. I was awestruck by the beauty of the Dalmatian Coast and the warm reception by the Croatian people. I have returned again and again, taking in the many beautiful and historical sights of the country.

I highly recommend seeing the coast and islands by boat/ship. It's a real bargain and thoroughly enjoyable. Brac and Hvar are gorgeous! Split, Trogir and Dubrovnik are "must see" destinations.

I have many tips to share with would-be travelers. I can also advise as to how to locate relatives in Croatia, as I have helped hundreds in doing so, since finding my own family there 11 years ago. I can be reached at CroatianHeritage@aol.com

Would you go again? I will indeed return again and again to explore this lovely, friendly country.
Submitted 2nd June 2006

Split & Visnice (near Trogir)
Submitted by: Kristy from Chicago, USA
Visited: I have been to Croatia 4 times since 1996 with my 5th trip approaching in a few weeks
Organised: Myself
Type of accommodation: Family owned apartment

(Out of 5, best = 5)
How would you rate the town/city you stayed in? 5 I've stayed in Split and a small town, Vinisce, about 45 minutes from Split near Trogir
How would you rate the accommodation? Very comfortable
How would you rate your holiday overall? 5+

Comments:
I love it there. It is truly one the most beautiful places I've ever been. The people are friendly. So warm and welcoming. The sea is stunningly clear. The weather beautiful. (I usually travel there between June and September) The history, the small shops and the overall scenery is wonderful! I have other motives for going as well, my distant relatives, with whom were discovered 10 years ago.

I have visited Trogir, my favorite spot for shopping for jewelry and sipping coffee seaside, Primostin, a lovely small town to shop in, swim and enjoy the culture. Split is a vibrant, historical city with much to do and see. Shopping in open air markets, bargaining, looking at the stunning jewelry and art. Enjoying the food and culture. I could go on and on.

For any one who is looking for a wonderful place to vacation, this is it. Whether you're in to history, culture, water sports, shopping or just relaxing on a beautiful beach or island, this is a great place to go. There is something for everyone. The prices are reasonable compared to other European destinations. You can see the sites by driving, taking a bus or taking a ferry up or down the stunning coast of the Adriatic.

The hardest and most expensive part for me is the airfare. Flights are definitely limited coming from the US and seem to be getting more and more expensive. Anyone considering visiting from the US should plan well in advance, especially if going during peak season (June thru September). I was barely able to book a flight back in January for my trip in June. If you are flexible, don't mind several stops or are willing to pay more it can be a little easier.

August seems to be the busiest time. Many Europeans seem to vacation then so book accommodations as early as possible. Private or family owned apartments are great. They range from modest (no TV or AC) to very comfortable depending on budget. You really get to experience the culture and meet wonderfully warm people who are glad to point out things to do and places to see. They may even give you homemade wine from their vineyard, or olive oil from their grove to sample.

Would you go again? I will and I do, usually every other year.
Submitted 22nd May 2006

Hotel Croatia, Cavtat
Submitted by: Sophie & Dave
Visited: June 2005
Organised: Holiday Options
Type of accommodation: Hotel Croatia, Cavtat

(Out of 5, best = 5)
How would you rate the town/city you stayed in? 4
How would you rate the accommodation? 4
How would you rate your holiday overall? 4

Comments:
Hotel was very nice and clean. Disappointed with the evening meals (Hotel Albatros had superb food - visited in May04) but tour operator now offers hotel on b & b basis for 2006. Fantastic views - worth paying the extra for a sea view room. Cavtat is lovely, although not the place to go if you need lots to keep you occupied, harbour is beautiful and great food in town. Dubrovnik is 1/2 -1 hour by boat/bus, well worth the trip. Also went horse riding which was good but expensive. We have fallen in love with Croatia and are due to travel to Cavtat for the 3rd time soon.
Submitted 18th May 2006

Rijeka, Split and Dubrovnik
Submitted by: Matt Booth from England
Visited: Summer 2005
Organised: Internet booked flight (KLM)
Type of accommodation: Hostel (cannot remember name - sorry)

(Out of 5, best = 5)
How would you rate the town/city you stayed in? 5
How would you rate the accommodation? 5 (was cheap and good for the money)
How would you rate your holiday overall? 5

Comments:
Transport

Although there are convenient airports in Croatia, especially Zagreb and Dubrovnik, most of the flights from the UK there are more expensive than flying to Italy. You could consider doing as I did, and flying cheaply into Venice, then getting the train to Trieste and then by bus / train / ferry to your chosen destination. Alternatively there are many ferries to Istria from Venice that are resonably priced.

Also worth noting is that most of the coastal towns can be reached by land or sea. Though a ferry from Split to Dubrovnik will take up a sizeable part of the day, it is in my opinion more beautiful than travelling by bus, though the latter is quicker.

Would you go again? Yes, and am planning to go at the end of July.
Submitted 6th May 2006

Zadar
Submitted by: Sanna from Sweden
Visited: mid-July 2004 (3 weeks) and mid-July 2005 (5 weeks)
Organised: Organised it myself
Type of accommodation: Private accommodation

(Out of 5, best = 5)
How would you rate the town/city you stayed in? Zadar - 5; Pag (Novalija) - 5
How would you rate the accommodation? 5
How would you rate your holiday overall? 5

Comments:
Two years in a row I've been to beautiful Croatia... Fell in love with the country and the people. The landscape is beautiful with the ocean and the people are so friendly.

I stayed in a little town 30 minutes outside Zadar called Pridraga. A quiet, small place where everybody knows everybody! In Zadar we walked through the city with all the stores and coffeshops. We strolled by the water and listened to the water-organ that plays while the waves splash in. At night we went to "Gotham"-club where they had different themes every night.. Salsa-night, R'n B, something for everybody. Ice-cream brakes at "Donat"! The best ice-cream in the world. =) all the great restaurants in Borik, with the best pizzas made in a real "stone-oven"! We drove to the island of Pag, terrific
scenery, with the ocean by your side. It was breath taking! In Novalija we went to Zrce! A place that is often called "the Ibiza of Croatia".. A beach where there was a party 24/7 it was crazy. Three discotecs at one beach and they all kept open all night long. If you like to party you have to go there..

We also went to Vodice and a place called Hacienda.. It's a club that has no roof! So while you dance you can watch the stars. =) We drove to Split to watch football.. they have a great stadium there! And it's a beautiful city.

Plitvice lakes were amazing.. we walked around the park looking at all the beautiful waterfalls and the incredible "landscape" Kornati National park is another amazing place. You get to go on a boat-tour in the morning that takes you to the park. You have lunch and then you go and swim in a lake high above the sea. They have donkeys that walk around free!

If you go to a smaller town.. don't forget to go to a "fair".. where you can buy anything from a goose to a pair of shoes! It's an amazing experience! Or if you are near Karin you have to go to the out-doors mass they have in the summer. And don't forget to just enjoy yourself. Croatia is a hard place to describe.. You have to experience it by your self!

Would you go again? No doubt in my mind
Submitted 25th April 2006

Porec
Submitted by: Anon from England
Organised: Siesta Holidays (www.siestaholidays.co.uk)

Comments:
Porec is the place to visit.

I recently visited Porec with my sister, mom and dad and cannot fully describe how wonderful this holiday was. We stayed on the Brulo complex which consisted of the Hotel Diamant, Rubin and Crystal. We stayed in the Hotel Rubin. If you are looking for a lively, partygoing, holiday then this one is definitely not for you. This is more for the people who want to get away from everyday life and unwind and relax in some lovely surroundings.

We booked our holiday with Siesta Holidays (www.siestaholidays.co.uk). We had to travel by coach as my dad will not fly so we are limited as to where we can travel.

The sights here were lovely and there was lots to see and do. It was a short way from the town, so if the complex was not enough for you, you could take a walk to the town and see how Croatian life is.

We also had three excursions included in the price of the holiday which made the holiday even more of a bargain. The excursions were not everyones cup of tea but was a great way to get around and see different parts.

The three excursions were Pula Lim Fjord, Opatjia, walking tour of Porec town.

I had heard many good things about Croatia before I went but was pleasantly surprised when I got there to see for myself just what a lovely place Croatia and the people really are.

Would you go again?
I would definitely go back here and would definitely recommend it to everyone.
Submitted 22nd April 2006

Croatian Holiday
Submitted by: Robyn from Queensland, Australia
Visited: October 2005
Organised: Ourselves
Type of accommodation: Booked accommodation over the web for Split & Dubrovnik, the rest of our accommodation we stayed in private apartments we saw advertised along the roads, everywhere was so clean and the people so accommodating.

(Out of 5, best = 5)
How would you rate the town/city you stayed in? 5
Zadar 5 as it has so many things to do in the surrounding areas.

Trogir, a lovely place for a stop over, nice and handy to Split.

Split 5 it has everything, it is so alive the people are wonderful and the old town is beautiful. The restaurants along the waterfront are fantastic.

Dubrovnik 5 our accommodation was brilliant apartment dani sat on the road above the old town everything about the place was amazing.

Comments:
I would love to submit my thoughts on our wonderful visit to Croatia. Words can't describe how beautiful the country is, we travelled the entire coast line the scenery was absolutely amazing. Stayed on Krk Island then travelled down the beautiful coast to Zadar where we enjoyed looking at the old city, while in Zadar we went out to Pag Island, quite amazing the lunar landscape of the island is trully unique. We also visited the Kaka National Park it was absolutely beautiful had a great day out and about the region.

Travelled down to Split, well what can you say about Split had 3 glorious days their had a lovely apartment owned by Joesph who met us outside of the town and escorted us in then took our down to the waterfront and pointed out all the places of interest especially some lovely restaurants. We just walked and looked it was everything we expected it to be. Spent a lovely day on Hava Island another beautiful island.

Headed off to Dubrovnik and were met by our hostess Dani at her lovely apartment she was an amazing lady so helpful. Dubrovnik is the most beautiful place I have told all my friends they must visit and definitely stay with Dani. After 3 lovely days in Dubrovnik we headed back up the coast and stayed with our same lady in Zadar. Our next stop was the Plitivic Lakes, we thought the Kaka was amazing the Plitivic Lakes were the most beautiful place I have seen had 2 days roming around the place. We then headed to Zagreb, what a wonderful surprise it was we had no idea what to expect but it was trully beautiful the buildings were amazing and the museums to die for. Only had 2 days could have spent a week, next time. We were running out of time by this and our next stop was Varazdin with its beautiful palace, had a good look around the countryside it was a lovely place to end our amazing trip to Croatia.

We talked about it so much my son and his partner are coming over in September and I am sure he will be blown away by the beauty of the place and the wonderful friendly people. As you can tell from this email I absolutely loved the place, can't wait to go back.

Would you go again?
So all in all Croatia receives a 10 from Barry and myself. Hope to visit again next year.
Submitted 15th March 2006

Vis Island
Submitted by: Mary from London
Visited: 2004 & 2005
Organised: Myself
Type of accommodation: Apartments & hotels - travelled around

(Out of 5, best = 5)
How would you rate the town/city you stayed in? 5
I t's a very attractive unspoilt place, with just enough in the way of restaurants and cafes, without the commercialisation you find on Hvar or the coast. Pretty countryside, friendly locals (they seem to like the English a lot), good beaches - mostly pebble but some sandy ones. This island seems to have missed the tourism of the coast. We loved it and that's why we went back. And guess where we're going this year!!!

How would you rate the accommodation? 3
The apartments we stayed in are pretty basic and they were right under a chiming clock (all night!) but there is now one luxury house in Kut we spotted (and it really is luxury!) and we've now found some more modern apartments.

How would you rate your holiday overall? 6
Fantastic! We'd recommend you try this island before the secret gets out.

Would you go again? We are!
Submitted 28th February 2006