A selection of the best articles on Croatia from 2011.
The Guardian’s Readers’ tips: best bars includes Buza in Dubrovnik.
The Guardian, 31st December 2011
Journalist and broadcast Joan Bakewell talks about “My Life In Travel”, mentioning that her favourite drive in the world is “The coastal road between Dubrovnik in Croatia and Kotor in Montenegro. You drive along hairpin bends overlooking the lovely islands and the beautiful Adriatic waters.”
Laura Holt, The Independent, 31st December 2011
The BBC News website covers another residency in the UK by this quirky Zagreb museum: Museum of Broken Relationships comes to Sleaford
BBC News, 27th December 2011
The Mirror’s travel news weekly round-up suggests trying the Croatian cocktail the Crocktail (made solely from Croatian ingredients) when next in the country.
Daily Mirror, 24th December 2011
First-time visitors to the country are always knocked sideways by Croatia’s stunning natural beauty; and having been dubbed ‘The Mediterranean as it once was’, the timeless countryside and coastline – with 1,778km to explore – makes for some of the most unspoilt scenery in the world, that’s also long been a discreet bolthole for the rich and famous.
Gemma White, Gulf News Scene, 22nd December 2011
The article: Visit the film location: Croatia
National Geographic Traveller includes Croatia on The 2012 Hot List, suggesting it’s a great value-for-money destination. (Visit Croatia gets a mention in the print edition – thanks National Geographic Traveller!)
Sarah Barrell, National Geographic Traveller, December 2011
The New York Times has a really wonderful slideshow on Zadar, in a piece that’s very nicely titled too: An Outdoor Museum: Zadar, Croatia
The New York Times, December 2011
The Sunday Times Travel Magazine‘s readers voted Croatia as the third best European beach destination (behind Southern Spain and the Greek islands) in the “Best in the World” feature its January 2012 issue.
Sunday Times Travel Magazine, January 2012 (out December 2011!)
Jennifer Wilson, author of the book Running Away to Home (about her, her husband and her children upping roots to move to her ancestral home in Croatia), tells Esquire readers How to Make Croatian Moonshine, If It Were Legal
Jennifer Wilson, Esquire.com, 29th November 2011
USA Today Travel gives advice on Places to Stay in Dubrovnik, Croatia
Danielle Hill, USA Today, November 2011
But it appears that if you take nine harassed, hard-working thirty-somethings out of London and plop them in a sun-drenched poolside villa on a Croatian island, they will become so relaxed that they will forget to feed themselves.
Amy Shindler, Daily Mail, 28th November 2011
The article: Definitely not Home Farm: Archers actress Amy Shindler soaks up the sun in Croatia
I eased my way across slippery rocks into the sea and floated on my back, pregnant belly bobbing like an apple on Halloween. How French, I thought, to have traded the Paris pavement for pebble-strewn shores on summer holiday – only this wasn’t the Côte d’Azur or the Amalfi Coast. The tranquil scene was in Dubrovnik, on the underrated Croatian Riviera.
Megan Lisagor, The Boston Globe, 20th November 2011
The article: 36 Hours in Dubrovnik
Bouncing down a dodgy coast road on the peninsula of Peljesac, I glance at the glistening Adriatic and catch sight of the island of Mljet. Many Croatian place names look like typographical errors: Losinj, Krk, Pag, Unije, Hvar. Call for a new proofreader! Such names, with their emphatic, truculent consonants, are one of the charms of foreign travel. Strange languages, strange peoples, missing vowels — and missing teeth, too, if this pot-holed, rubble-strewn road continues much longer.
Quentin Letts, Daily Mail, 18th November 2011
The article: Crazy about Croatia: Enjoying the rough charm of an Adriatic hideaway
You know you’re in a nice place when you lose your wallet with cards, passport and £150 in cash and you get it back – all untouched. And that pretty much set the tone for a three-day October break in Dubrovnik, a truly lovely city blessed with an extraordinary bounty of natural gifts. This magnificent medieval walled city takes pride of place on Croatia’s southern Dalmatian coastline.
Halifax Courier, 18th November 2011
The article: Bowled over by beauty
For many of us, the 1970s were a time of big hair and even bigger shoes; but for many Croatians it was a decade of big political upheaval. Forty years after the Croatian Spring, the country’s most innovative hotel, designed in the architectural style of that momentous period, has just opened its impressive doors. The Hotel Lone, just outside the cobbled streets of Rovinj, soars up from the cape of Zlatni Rat national forest in spectacular fashion, like a beached cruise ship in both size and stature. Centred around a lobby rising up through all six floors, it was created by award-winning designers.
Morwenna Ferrier, Metro, 18th November 2011
The article: Designer hotel makes Croatia top winter sun destination
The ‘White City’ of the Balkans is an overlooked tourist gem with stunning medieval architecture and a laid back sensibility – in other words, the perfect place for a weekend break.
Eamonn Seoige, HotPress.com, 17th November 2011
The article: 12 Step Planet: Zagreb
Christine Scholtes Covic went to Croatia’s Lika region drawn by its stunning scenery and ended up with a husband and a new career combining Belgian chocolate with nature’s bounty. “Chocolate is the food of gods, something really noble,” said the Belgian native at her tiny production facility in a village nestled among the green hills and valleys of central Croatia.
Lajla Veselica, AFP, 16th November 2011
The article: Chocolate and love meet in Croatian sweets shop
French newspaper Le Figaro again highlights Dubrovnik’s charms as a winter destination in Dubrovnik passe à l’heure d’hiver
Jean Louis Tremblais, Le Figaro, 16th November 2011
I’m not sure who is more embarrassed, me or the man standing on a rock, reading his newspaper wearing nothing but a pair of flip flops. As our eyes meet, though, it is clear that one of us is a little overdressed for this liberated beach. So my kayaking partner and I hastily speed up our flailing vessel, keeping our eyes locked on the horizon, as we venture out into the windswept Adriatic sea. My trip to the Dalmation Coast is full of surprises, the biggest being that I’m not that bad at kayaking, though the talent takes a little coaxing.
Emily Payne, Daily Mail, 16th November 2011
The article: Kayaking Croatia: Sun, sea and copping an eyeful on in beautiful Brac and Hvar
Split was included in the Guardian’s readers’ tips for Best city breaks for shopping
The Guardian, 14th November 2011
Prince Harry, Beyoncé and Roman Abramovich have all been spotted holidaying on the glamorous island of Hvar in Croatia. With crystal clear sea, plenty of history and a trendy night scene it’s not hard to see why it’s an island the stars want to be seen on and why it’s been labelled the new French Riviera.
Roshina Jowaheer, AOL Travel, 14th November 2011
The article: Revealed! The top secret holiday hotspot for 2012
A worthy winner in The Guardian’s Readers’ writing competition (in the category “summer holidays”) is this piece on Hvar.
The Guardian, 11th November 2011
On the eve of the Euro 2012 playoff games (Croatia played Turkey, winning 3-0 on aggregate and are through to the finals!), the Guardian featured a great blogpost on their past successes: Proud Croatia continue to fly the flag for new nations
Amy Lawrence, The Guardian, 10th November 2011
Rijeka’s Stadion Kantrida football stadium was included on CNN’s guide to the World’s most unusual football stadiums
CNN, 9th November 2011
Just when I thought I had discovered an untapped Adriatic paradise all for myself, away from the chintz of a commercial holiday hotspot, Prince Harry goes and gets himself photographed diving into a night club pool there and Beyonce is snapped kicking back and relaxing in one of the idyllic setting’s hip beach bars. Alas, the island of Hvar off the Dalmatian coast of Croatia is not just a hidden gem for myself, the wife and the few others who have dared to broaden their travelling horizons.
Nick Westby, Yorkshire Post, 7th November 2011
The article: Hip, hip, hooray for Hvar
It would be nice to find an original way to describe Dubrovnik’s beauty, but “pearl of the Adriatic” is just too apt. Built, like most Dalmatian cities, from pale Brac stone (the same stone that makes the White House white), the red-roofed old town gleams on the southern tip of Croatia’s coast, once an island and still encircled, bubble-like, retaining a kind of aloofness from the mainland.
Penny Durham, The Australian, 5th November 2011
The article: Beauty set in stone
The courtesy we’ve received from other road users in Croatia seems to be limited to not running us over. We have lost count of the number of coaches that have zoomed past within inches of our bikes, leaving Matt and I surrounded by a cloud of dust, spitting out expletives.
Andy Madeley, Daily Telegraph, 1st November 2011
The article: The saddle saga: slowing down in Croatia
There are around 1200 islands in Croatia, so picking just one for a week’s R&R was no easy task. We decided to narrow the field to those along the achingly gorgeous Dalmatian coast.
Shelley Seid, Times Live, 30th October 2011
The article: Vis is it
British TV presenter Rick Edwards says he was “seduced” by Croatia, as he tells of his life in travel
Laura Holt, The Independent, 29th October 2011
The article: My life in travel: Rick Edwards
Dubrovnik’s Excelsior Hotel (where Elizabeth Taylor was once a guest – as mentioned in the piece) was selected as one of the options for the Guardian’s guide to Warming Spa Breaks for Winter
Rachel Dixon, The Guardian, 28th October 2011
Hvar has the most sunlight hours in the whole of Croatia so I’d hoped to wake to a sun-soaked paradise. Instead, we were greeted by dark storm clouds that were already starting to leak. Despite this, we liked the island the moment we saw it – a baby marina floated on crystal clear water in front of a mini town square and golden cathedral.
Charlotte Whale, NZ Herald, 28th October 2011
The article: Five old towns in six days
Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2012 – Top Regions list was released, with the island of Hvar making the list! Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel: top 10 regions for 2012
Lonely Planet, 27th October 2011
National Geographic Traveller magazine selects Istria for its Best of the World 2012 list!
National Geographic Traveller, October 2011
Croatian contemporary design? No one visits Croatia for contemporary design. Not until now – for the new Hotel Lone, set in a forest on the Istrian coast, is going to change all that. This is the republic’s first high-design hotel and it has just put Croatia on the serious hotel architecture map. Equally gratifying for its owners, Lone is also the first Croatian member of Design Hotels, the holy grail of design-conscious luxury resorts across the globe.
Karen Glaser, The Independent, 23rd October 2011
The article: Stay The Night: Hotel Lone, Istria
Dubrovnik was included on Marie Claire’s 20 Best Autumn Breaks list
Greece has built its tourism industry around the stunning scattering of islands dotted in the dazzling blue green seas off its mainland. Croatia has just as many idyllic spots hidden away on hundreds of islands nestling in the waters off its extensive coastline – they are simply not as well known. With these in mind, I booked a flight to Dubrovnik with a plan to have a look at the city before hiring a car to explore the coast.
Sarah Dunn, The Star, 22nd October 2011
The article: Stay The Night: Hotel Lone, Istria
The coastal town of Rovinj, on the undulating Istrian peninsula of Croatia, is no stranger to tourism, in large part thanks to its lush natural surroundings. Its fir-forested campgrounds are packed with R.V.’s bearing Austrian and German plates. Its rocky coves are claimed by staycationing Croatians slipping in and out of the cerulean Adriatic.
Adam H Graham, The New York Times, 21st October 2011
The article: New Design on Croatia’s Coast
Time Magazine takes a brief look at the Rixos Libertas Dubrovnik Hotel: Croatia’s Dalmatian Rescue
Gail Simmons, Time Magazine, 19 October 2011
French newspaper Le Figaro included Dubrovnik in its “Méditerranée: six villes à redécouvrir” (or “Mediterranean: six cities to rediscover” if you’re a non-French speaker like me!) article.
Annie Barbaccia, Le Figaro, 11 October 2011
In October, the already delicious cuisine of Istria celebrates the highlight of the year as the finest of all truffles, the white truffle, is once again in season. With local food fairs and gastronomic events programmed, there’s more reason than ever to escape for a weekend to this beautiful region of Croatia.
Hellomagazine.com, October 2011
The article: Autumn is truffle-time in Istria
While Split is the biggest Dalmatian city, Zadar, with 3,000 years of history, can claim to be the original capital of Dalmatia – plus it’s also the site of the first Croatian university, and was home to the 16th-century writer, Petar Zoranic, who wrote the first Croatian novel, Planine.
Oliver Bennett, The Independent, 9th October 2011
The article: This ancient city has some capital sights
Des Moines’ Jennifer Wilson, a freelance travel writer, wrote a different ending. She just went. And so did her architect husband, Jim Hoff. And their children, Sam and Zadie, who were 7 and nearly 5 years old in the summer of 2009, when the family moved their lives to a tiny Croatian village called Mrkopalj (MER-ko-pie) in search of Wilson’s ancestral roots.
Jennifer Miller, Des Moines Register, 8th October 2011
The article: One family’s journey to find what really matters [Link no longer works]
Croatia’s pocket-size capital is often overlooked for the sun-splashed Adriatic coast. But these days Zagreb, a Habsburg-flavored city in transition, is in the middle of a creative boom. Surprising museum and gallery concepts have sprouted; chefs are getting creative with traditional dishes; modern architecture is energizing everything from kindergartens to cafés.
Anja Mutic, Wall Street Journal, 8th October 2011
The article: Only In…Zagreb
Most of my friends drew a blank when I told them that autumn is when Istria does a dead-on imitation of Italy. First, they had never had heard of Istria; second, they couldn’t understand why I would choose ersatz Italy over the real thing; and third, they were surprised when I explained that this little triangle of land at the north end of the Adriatic was Italy from 1918 to the end of World War II. And, like the Italians, Istria’s residents spend their autumns harvesting grapes for wine and olives for oil and making pasta dishes with the truffles they and their dogs sniff out in the woods during September and October.
Karen Torme Olson, Chicago Tribune, 7th October 2011
The article: Istria: It’s Italy without the price
A retro cruise off the Croatian coast is included in the National Geographic’s guide to Best Tours in Europe
Margaret Loftus, National Geographic, October 2011
Ivan and his wife have two teenage children, a boy of 17 and a girl of 15. They own three houses on Mljet, one of which is Ivan’s family home, now vacant, in a small mountain village overlooking the Adriatic to the south. Another house in Polace, at the entrance to the national park, is where Ivan’s son resides. Anatolia and Ivan live in the guesthouse where Cheri and I stayed, right on the bay of Sopra, where the ferries arrive daily.
Stan Sewitch, San Diego Source, 30th September 2011
The article: Savoring paradise in Croatia
BBC’s Fast Track programme has a nice little video on Zagreb and its attempts to become a tourist draw in its own right: Historic Zagreb seeks unique and clear identity
BBC Fast Track, 26th September 2011
Jacques Cousteau described the Adriatic as one of the cleanest seas on earth. It is flanked mostly on one side by scythe-shaped Republic of Croatia and Italy on the other. Part of former Yugoslavia, the country gained independence in 1995 after a bitter war during which the term ethnic cleansing became common in the English lexicon.
Elizabeth Birdthistle, The Irish Times, 24th September 2011
The article: On a voyage of discovery in Croatia
By 7:00 a.m., sunlight pours over the towering battlements that surround old Dubvrovnik. It gleams off the cream-colored flagstones paving Stradun, the stately pedestrian thoroughfare that cuts through the city in a masterpiece of 17th-century town planning.
Paul Ames, GlobalPost, 24th September 2011
The article: Former Yugoslavia charms travelers
That Croatia’s sun-drenched coastline is a fantastic destination for a summer holiday is well known, and in summer the streets of medieval Dubrovnik are thronged with tourists. But head there on a short break in autumn or winter, when the streets are almost deserted, and you can explore the city’s medieval glories pretty much on your own.
Emma Lundin, Conde Nast Traveller, 23rd September 2011
The article: Dubrovnik without the daytrippers
The closer we drew to Lokrum, the louder the crickets became. High-pitched and incessant, like school children letting rip during an interval at the theatre, their chirruping drowned out our boat’s engine noise and the slapping of waves against its bow.
Kelly Pipes, The Independent, 17th September 2011
The article: On the Road: How to drown out a cacophony of crickets in Croatia
The Daily Telegraph covered Croatia’s second largest city in its article Split, Croatia: a cultural city guide
The Daily Telegraph, 13th September 2011
The baby deer blinked up at us, unfazed as we gathered round with our snapping cameras. It was the highlight of our ‘Breakfast with the Deer’, and possibly even of the whole trip to Slavonia, summing up the romance and tranquillity of a region that’s seen more than its share of violence in the not-so-distant past.
Judy Darley, TravelBite.co.uk, 12th September 2011
The article: Slavonia: the undiscovered corner of Croatia
Who’s heard of Rab? Despite years of travelling the world both as a royal correspondent and as a holidaymaker, I certainly had not. Until that is I was doing some research and discovered this tiny Croatian island has a curious connection to our royal family.
Jennie Bond, The Mirror, 11th September 2011
The article: A croatian jewel fit for royalty
Not only was Split selected as The Independent’s Bargain of the Week, but it was also featured in a very nice video by travel expert Simon Calder who proclaims it his favourite city in the whole of the Adriatic
The Independent, 10th September 2011
The article: Bargain of the week: Split decision
Some beautiful photos (and a rather gushing write-up – and why not?!) in the Daily Mail on Plitvice Lakes: Are these the world’s most beautiful waterfalls? Photographer captures stunning lagoons of Croatia national park
The Daily Mail, 9th September 2011
Pictures of Beyonce and Jay-Z on holiday in Croatia: Blooming Beyonce! Singer shows off her baby bump in a white frilly two-piece as she and husband Jay-Z holiday in Croatia
Daily Mail, 8th September 2011
Hurrah for Hvar says Graziadaily.co.uk, following Prince Harry’s visit there
Graziadaily.co.uk, 2nd September 2011
The Daily Mail enthusiastically reviews Club Papaya on the island of Pag, although some of those stats in the article are way off. (99% of Croatia’s income is from tourism? 80% of that from music festivals? The first one is impossible, the second one is crazy!): Papaya’s on fire! Fantastic Croatian club rocks as a boom in tourism stokes the fires of the clubbing world in the Balkans
Marcus Barnes, Daily Mail, 1st September 2011
Prince Harry lived in up on the island of Hvar at the end of August and – of course – the Daily Mail got very excited about it! Harry? He’s a serious party animal and just went wild says nightclub hostess and Making a splash, nightclub raver Harry plunges into swimming pool without stopping to undress
Daily Mail, 30th August 2011
The marble streets of Dubrovnik have been polished to a gleaming smoothness by the millions of feet that have walked over them. And on a typical morning in tourist season, it can seem like all those millions are still here, as a number of cruise ships and uncountable bus tours disgorge their eager visitors into the stunning high-walled city.
Wallace Immen, USA Today, 29th August 2011
The article: Ducking Out of Dubrovnik on a Holland America Tour
Word on the cobblestone street is Istria is the “new Tuscany.” I disagree. The landscape of this northern part of Croatia is less cultivated. It’s less wealthy. And, last I checked, the Renaissance didn’t happen here. Plus, “Istria” is still a little-known proper noun and “Tuscany” has moved into adjective territory.
Brendan Francis Newman, CNN, 25th August 2011
The article: Istria is not the new Tuscany
A lovely guide to some of Croatia’s best islands, including Vis, Korcula, Mali Losinj, Pag and Hvar by different holiday type: Croatia’s top five holiday islands
James Hopkin, The Guardian, 19th August 2011
The Telegraph has some tips for half-term in Dubrovnik in its regular travel advice column
Gill Charleston, The Daily Telegraph, 19th August 2011
When thinking of an island getaway, we tend to imagine the Caribbeans or the Bahamas. But the islands you see right here are actually in Croatia. While Croatia is not the obvious travel destination, it appears to offer amazing tourist attractions worth exploring, including ravishing views, beaches, lakes with turquoise colored water, scooter rides and guided boat tours.
Sivan Raviv, YNetNews, 20th August 2011
The article: Travel guide: Island getaway in Croatia (do check out the nice video on the page too!)
Hellomagazine.com’s guide to Magical Mediterranean Islands includes Brac
HelloMagazine.com, August 2011
The Hotel Monte Mulini and the Dubrovnik Sun Gardens were selected by the Evening Standard in their guide to late summer breaks: Chasing the summer sun: last-minute short breaks
Evening Standard, 17th August 2011
Seth Kugel’s Frugal Traveller column in the New York Times was a great read this year, and not least because he wrote so favourably on Croatia! (See here.) He recapped his travels with a “highlights” feature, in which he selected the Dalmatian Coast as having the “best scenery” (and Zrnovo on Korcula for “best door markers”!): Mediterranean Dream Trip Higher-Lights
Seth Kugel, New York Times, 16th August 2011
Zagreb’s Museum of Broken Relationships came to London in August and September, and received a good amount of coverage in the British press. Here’s what the Daily Mail (What becomes of the broken hearted? They put their keepsakes of lost love on show in a museum for all to see, 16th August 2011) and the Independent (Love that doesn’t last still has value, 16th August 2011) had to say.
My track record with learning to pilot vehicles both great and small is not what exactly you’d call exemplary. I’ve been catapulted from horses, thrown sideways by Segways, and the less said about the great Milton Keynes go-kart pile-up of 1995 the better. So you can understand my trepidation at the thought of helming a 10-metre yacht containing my four crewmates/potential man overboarders during a week’s learning-to-sail holiday off the coast of Murter, deep in the heart of the Croatian isles.
Matt Risley, TNT Magazine, 16th August 2011
The article: Learn to sail in Croatia
. It’s blessed with a beautiful rugged coastline and warm waters that are teeming with exotic Mediterranean sea life.
Conor Power, The Irish Times, 13th August 2011
The article: At the deep end in Croatia
Three quarters of a century after a “royal skinny dip” made it a pioneering nudist destination, Croatia is striving to attract more of the world’s growing army of “nakationers”.
Lajla Veselica, AFP, 10th August 2011
The article: Croatia offers nudists their own ‘piece of paradise’
The two combinations of Split and Hvar, and Cavtat and Dubrovnik are included on The Daily Mirror’s list of Top 10 beach break holidays near the city sights
Daily Mirror, 7th August 2011
The Independent plans 48 Hour in Dubrovnik
Mick Webb, The Independent, 6th August 2011
In a way it’s no surprise that Istria, a heart-shaped peninsula in northwestern Croatia, is regularly called “the Next Tuscany.”
David Farley, Gadling, 29th July 2011
The article: Istria and the Unintentional Search of the Next Tuscany
AOL’s Gadling Travel blog takes a look at the War Photo Exhibition in Dubrovnik: War and Travel: the Dubrovnik Gallery You Can’t Afford to Miss
David Farley, Gadling, 26th July 2011
We’d heard that the islands off the Adriatic coast of Split were superb getaway locations. We arrived in Split very early in the morning and waited for the ferry to our first stop, the island of Brac. I was quite apprehensive of ferries, but these ferries seemed relatively safe and the ride wasn’t but only an hour or so.
Matthew Veseskis, San Diego Reader, 26th July 2011
The article: Doing Europe: Croatia
The name Marco Polo is synonymous with worldwide exploration, yet little is known about the wine and cuisine of his homeland, Croatia. This beautiful country is a unique blend of Eastern and Western European cultures—its culinary heritage, for example, carries the imprints of nearby Italy and Hungary. Its vineyards boast a multitude of indigenous grapes (Plavac Mali, Malvasia Istriana, Debit, Teran and Posip) as well as international varieties such as Syrah and Merlot. Croatia is a country begging to be explored by wine and food lovers.
Mike DeSimone & Jeff Jenssen, Wine Enthusiast, 25th July 2011
The article: Croatia in Living Color
Croatia is poised to become one of the most popular short-haul destinations of the year. Lonely Planet tagged its coastal region of Istria as one of its top visits for 2011, and that’s only one of many stops in this inexpensive, outside-the-eurozone country.
The Mail on Sunday, 24th July 2011
The article: Six things you must do in… Croatia
Five minutes into our paddle down Dalmatia’s Krka river, my father began to shift uncomfortably at the front of our double kayak. By the time we stopped for a cooling dip he proclaimed himself to be in agony. Our guide, Davor, tried to reconfigure his seating arrangements, exhorting him to stretch his legs out fully in front of him. “Impossible,” snapped my father. “Why?” Davor asked. “Because,” I pointed out uncharitably, “he is old.”
Rachel Williams, The Guardian, 15th July 2011
The article: Kayaking and white-water rafting in Croatia
While every island has its charms, Mljet, an hour or so by catamaran from Dubrovnik, is extra special. It’s heavily forested, with well over eighty percent of the island covered by beautiful trees. The island is long and skinny, with a length of almost 25 miles and an average width of about two miles. The population is small, at just over one thousand, spread across a number of small villages. The largest of these, the inland village of Babino Polje, has fewer than 400 residents according to the most recent population statistics.
Alex Robertson Textor, Gadling, 15th July 2011
The article: The perfect Croatian island village: Okuklje, Mljet
There is a distinct buzz about Dubrovnik. Just ask American actress Ashley Judd, who was spotted here only last month filming for her new TV series, Missing. Or Jay-Z and Beyonce, who avoided the traditional showbiz haunts of St Tropez and Portofino last year to spend their summer soaking up the sun on a yacht moored off the city’s coast. The charming Croatian port has certainly found its place on the map of A-list European holiday destinations – not bad for somewhere that only 20 years ago was awash with TV crews recording a city at war.
Polly Humphris, The Mail on Sunday, 10th July 2011
The article: Darling Dubrovnik: The Adriatic gem which is once again THE place to be seen
When the opportunity presented itself, I was keen to see this place for myself. Croatia’s largest national park, Plitvice Lakes is located in an area of extensive karst landscape. The word “karst”, now used to describe topographies where water dissolves soluble bedrock into a distinctive landscape, originates from this part of the world.
Lee Yu Kit, The Star Online, 9th July 2011
The article: Winter at the Plitvice Lakes
Once the swell had subsided, a boat from the Dubrovnik Palace Hotel sped me off to the rocky reef on which the lighthouse stands, 900 yards from the mainland. The sun was floating on lilac water as we docked, at dusk, and climbed the steep steps cut into the barren limestone outcrop. On the terrace above, chilled champagne awaited, along with a complement of staff that had come out from the hotel before us to prepare dinner al fresco: a four-course feast of tuna tartare with scallops, spicy clam chowder, a toothsome dentex with grilled vegetables and succulent carob cake with fig compote.
Teresa Levonian Cole, Financial Times, 8th July 2011
The article: Send out the speedboat, we need more champagne!
Arriving on the island of Rab I was told it had been touted as a possible honeymoon destination for Prince William and Catherine Middleton. If they had come to this little jewel in the Adriatic I am sure they would have given it the royal seal of approval. And they would have been following in the footsteps of Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson who came here in 1936 and who, after visiting its main town, went to a nearby naturist beach.
Ross McCarthy, Coventry Telegraph, 6th July 2011
The article: The island of Rab is a fab getaway
Four weeks ago today, I enjoyed a number of quintessentially Croatian holiday experiences. The most pleasurable was probably the two hours spent in a secluded spot in a rocky outcrop just outside Pula, taking in the late-afternoon sun and plunging intermittently into the enticing deep-blue waters beyond.
Adrian Bridge & Julia Warren, Daily Telegraph, 25th June 2011
The article: Croatia and Slovenia: new pleasures and old-world charms
Santos Rab on – er – the island of Rab and Carpe Diem Beach on the island of Hvar are recommended in the Guardian’s guide to Europe’s best beach clubs
The Guardian, 24th June 2011
With its long Adriatic coastline, running parallel to the north east coast of Italy and with more than 1185 islands, Croatia is an ideal destination to explore by boat. We’re not talking humongous floating hotels, but vintage sailing ships – an entirely more traditional and visceral cruising experience.
Jodie Jeynes, Portsmouth News, 24th June 2011
The article: Cruise Croatia
‘Kate and William would have been very happy here,’ I thought as I sat on a coastal wall at Rab, dangling my feet in the clear as crystal Croatian waters. The royal couple were invited to this Adriatic island after British newspapers declared it a possible honeymoon destination. As we know, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge plumped for the Seychelles, but I suspect charming Rab would have made for a happy honeymoon.
Rachel Jones, Portsmouth News, 22nd June 2011
The article: Island is just right for royal romance
It was Take Your Parents to Work week at the Frugal Traveler, and you should see my office! Pine-covered islands jutting out from a stretch of the Adriatic that shifts from deep navy to aquamarine like a color-coded relief map; stone houses with red-tile roofs clustered improbably on the sides of mountains and along the edges of the harbors and swimmer-friendly coves filled with fishing boats. The company cafeteria’s weekly special? The freshest fish, squid and octopus, with sides of local cheese and thin-sliced prsut (sounds like — and is like — prosciutto). And my Slavic office-mates are just about the nicest people I’ve ever worked with.
Seth Kugel, New York Times, 21st June 2011
The article: Croatia: Take Your Parents to Work Week
Note from Visit Croatia: We LOVE this article!
With over 1,000 islands dotting the beautiful clear waters of the Adriatic off the coast of Croatia, the area offers a stunning setting for a sailing holiday. Spend the day island hopping and exploring rocky coves, then return to harbour and enjoy an evening meal in one of the many picturesque villages that even in summer offer an escape from the crowds.
hello!magazine.com, June 2011
The article: Sailing off the coast of Croatia
The BBC TV programme Three Men Go To Venice featured comedians Rory McGrath, Griff Rhys Jones and Dara O Briain sail from Montenegro to Venice – with plenty of time in a very beautiful Croatia (Dubrovnik, Korcula, Vis, Split and Pula). More details here: Three Men Go To Venice
BBC, June 2011
Zadar is no longer a best-kept secret kind of town, but it’s still a long way from mass tourism. The proprietors of restaurants, bars and hotels understand the importance of attentive service, but as a foreigner you don’t feel that you are being constantly sold to, either. An exciting club scene is also a counterpoint to the spectacular national parks, beaches and coves nearby.
Sophy Grimshaw, Ryanair Magaine, 15th June 2011
The article: Zadar on the Ground
A local exhibition showcasing artworks banned by 20th century totatitarian regimes has lifted out of oblivion a powerful symbol of socialist glamour: former Yugoslav leader Josip Broz Tito’s famous presidential yacht Galeb.
Lajla Veselica, AFP, 15th June 2011
The article: Croatian exhibition spotlights Tito’s Galeb yacht
A picture of a waterspout off the coast of Dubrovnik gets selected as one of the Daily Telegraph’s Pictures of the Day
The Daily Telegraph, 14th June 2011
A cute little video from CNN iReport, filmed in Dubrovnik, on the origin of the tie (yes, it is Croatian!): Hey Dad, Here’s Your Tie From…
CNN iReport, 10th June 2011
A wonderful video giving a rather good idea of what sailing between Croatia’s islands is like: Sailing Croatia’s Adriatic coast.
The Independent, 9th June 2011
Forget the usual suspects. This summer, adventurous American travelers are coming to the Adriatic coast in record numbers to do what residents of countries like Spain, Italy, and Greece have been doing en masse every summer for decades -– taking in the sights (and beaches) at still-reasonable rates in one of Europe’s newly most desirable hotspots: Croatia.
Charlie Amter, BlackBook, 25th May 2011
The article: Adriatic Allure: Your Summer Croatia Cheat Sheet [link no longer works]
I love the knack Croatians have for taking a humble stretch of rocky shoreline and turning it into a wildly romantic bar or cafe. At Valentino Bar in the coastal town of Rovinj, the woman who runs the place hands out pillows as you arrive — an invitation to find your own nook in the rocks overlooking the bay. As the sunset fades and the flames on the old-time candelabra seem to brighten, you realize that you don’t need to be rich to enjoy a luxurious moment on the Adriatic coast.
Rick Steves, Seattle Times, 24th May 2011
The article: The coastal delights of Croatia
A fascinating video from The Telegraph, showing British World War II veterans returning to the island of Vis where they were stationed: Croatian island of Vis remembers World War Two role
The Telegraph, 23rd May 2011
How to holiday like a rockstar? The Guardian says to cruise the Adriatic like Beyonce and Jay-Z.
The Guardian, 22nd May 2011
“Would you like a free hug?” An offer I couldn’t refuse. I turned to see a group of cheerful girls in orange T-shirts, opened my arms and embraced all the youth and joie de vivre of Zadar. A memorable, tactile introduction to one of Croatia’s most delightful cities, golden, vibrant, resilient, young at heart.
Barbara Ender, Geneva Lunch, 17th May 2011
The article: Weekend Break in Zadar, Croatia
You’ll never forget walking the walls of Dubrovnik. Put this on your bucket list now! Climb the ancient stairs of this walled city and take your first look at centuries of history. The tile roofs tell its story — some roofs are aged, multicolored brick, and have survived centuries of invading powers. Amazing.
Jo Ann Askey, San Diego Reader, 15th May 2011
The article: Walking the Walls of Dubrovnik, Croatia
Croatia is blissful: it’s as tidy as Switzerland and looks a bit like Italy.
Joanna Lumley, Evening Standard, 6th May 2011
The article: Joanna Lumley’s My London
The Big 50 in Ryanair’s April-May 2011 magazine selects the top 50 things to do in Ryanair’s destinations for €50 or under. Included is The Garden club and lounge, near Zadar, at number 14; Rijeka’s Peek & Poke computer museum at number 19; and at number 36 the animal sanctuary on Veliki Brijuni, near Pula, which is home to animals once gifted to Yugoslavia’s leader Tito.
Ryanair Magazine, April-May 2011
Channel 4’s Vacation Vacation Vacation – presented by Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer (yes, those two from all those property programmes) – included Dubrovnik as a budget option in its City Breaks episode. Unfortunately, the programme doesn’t seem to be online anymore.
Channel 4, 4th May 2011
Croatia gets into Skyscanner’s top 10 in their Top 100 Most Popular Destinations for British Tourists 2011 list, which has been complied from searches made on the site.
Skyscanner, 3rd May 2011
I’ve been warned that, like almost everyone living in Croatia’s Dalmatian Islands, Jure Kvinta suffers from pomalo, a condition said to be so insidious, so overwhelming, so unstoppable, that it could undermine my entire mission. That would be tragic. I’ve come all the way to Croatia to find Jure, to conduct business of the utmost importance with him. Jure is the lighthouse keeper on Lastovo Island, one of the most far-flung and isolated of the Dalmatians. By all accounts, Lastovo is an enchanting little outpost, a place of limestone peaks and hidden inlets with just 600 people living in a medieval village surrounded by vineyards and olive groves.
Paul Kvinta, National Geographic Traveler, May-June 2011
The article: A Light on the Croatian Coast and Croatian Coast Photo Gallery
Rab is selected as the island of choice for nudists in CNNGo.com’s 10 islands for every type of traveler.
CNNGo.com, 29th April 2011
A fascinating video from The Guardian on Velebit National Park.
The Guardian, 28th April 2011
More than 40 beaches on Istria’s 333-mile coast have earned a coveted Blue Flag for superior water quality and environmental management standards. While not as familiar to North Americans as Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast, this densely forested peninsula at the top right-hand corner of the Adriatic Sea has been a popular summer hot spot since Austro-Hungarian Empire days.
National Geographic Traveler, April 2011
The article: 10 Best Trips of Summer 2011 (Istria is 10th!)
Yahoo! Travel UK & Ireland suggest the Arena in Pula as an alternative for the “overrated” Rome Colosseum: 10 overrated tourist destinations (And our site gets a mention there – thanks!)
Nikki Bayley, Yahoo! Travel UK & Ireland, April 2011
An itinerary for Croatia and Slovenia: Going Our Way: 101 Dalmatian sights (more or less)
Carol Sottili, Washington Post, 20th April 2011
Vis gets selected as an ideal destination for solo travellers The Guardian’s guide, Summer holidays: 10 of the best trips for solo travellers
The Guardian, 20th April 2011
The waves were getting higher. At times they lifted the front of the kayak so far that my legs seemed to take off, while the stern became submerged. More than an hour into our expedition to the medieval walls of Ston, the Adriatic was determined to break our will. But we were driven forward by the prospect of the best seafood on the Dalmatian Coast – freshly-farmed mussels and oysters from the Peljesac Peninsula.
Chris Lawrence, Daily Mail, 20th April 2011
The article: Croatia by kayak: Hidden beaches and cities of the Dalmatian Coast – under paddle power
The Dubrovnik I see on this warm spring morning fully lives up to the city’s oft-used description as the “Pearl of the Adriatic”. Ferries and other boats dash to nearby islands, locals chat in the cafés and the dome of the cathedral glints in the sun.
Nick Harrison, Daily Telegraph, 19th April 2011
The article: Dubrovnik, Croatia: cultural city guide & Dubrovnik, Croatia: packages, hotels, restaurants and getting around
Hellomagazine.com’s lovely Plitvice Lakes photo album: Plitvice, a watery paradise in Croatia
Hellomagazine.com, April 2011
Summer crowds throng the island of Hvar, a Dalmatian hotspot, so best pay a visit now.
Jane Foster, Daily Telegraph, 13th April 2011
The article: Hvar, Croatia: the perfect break
Croatia is about to extend the “world’s biggest welcome,” thanks to an industrious outdoor enthusiast and a bit of ingenious use of technology.
Kraig Becker, Gadling, 8th April 2011
The article: Croatia set to offer “world’s biggest welcome”
A humerous reader’s tale of an ill-fated boat trip in Croatia wins The Telegraph’s weekly travel writing competition: Just back: a sinking feeling in Croatia
Daily Telegraph, 8th April 2011
Pat yourself on the back if you knew that Croatia produces excellent sheep’s milk cheese. I certainly didn’t, and my reference books are pretty silent on Balkan cheeses beyond feta.
Janet Fletcher, San Francisco Chronicle, 3rd April 2011
The article: Paski Sir a surprise from Croatia’s native sheep
Absolutely, Croatia — with the history of Greece, the beauty of Italy, the romance of Paris — is a great choice for an anniversary. Think tile roofs, blue waters, soaring cliffs: What’s not romantic about that?
Kerri Westenberg, Star Tribune, 2nd April 2011
The article: Travel Q & A: We’ll Always Have Croatia
Advice on DIY island-hopping in Croatia in the Telegraph’s travel advice column: Travel advice: Atol refunds; Croatian islands; US road tolls; cruise ship illness
Gill Charlton, Daily Telegraph, 1st April 2011
With medieval towns set atop verdant hills, and ancient fishing villages scattered along an unspoiled coastline, the Istrian Peninsula is a picture postcard world in greens and blues.
Hellomagazine.com, March 2011
The article: Istria: Croatia in shades of blue and green
The tragedy and comedy of broken relationships are chronicled in Zagreb.
David Whitley, Sydney Morning Herald, 27th March 2011
The article: Loves me not
If the Grand Canyon were covered in Technicolor green moss, spotted with 16 lakes across its base and laced with thousands of falls along its walls, it would look a little something like Plitvice Lakes National Park in southwestern Croatia.
Beth Collins, Budget Travel.com (via CNN), 17th March 2011
The article: 10 most beautiful waterfalls
Next month, the Croatian resort of Opatija will resonate to the sounds of a musical event which aims to recall the glory days of somewhere once termed the “Nice of the Adriatic” by the great and the good of the Austro-Hungarian empire.
Julia Warren, Daily Telegraph, 21st March 2011
The article: Croatia: New life for Opatija, the ‘Nice of the Adriatic’
Discovering new locations for a holiday or short break always comes with a degree of risk or uncertainty. But any pre-trip worries or anxiety about spending time in Croatia’s finest five-star hotel were quickly dispersed. The Hotel Monte Mulini is the first to be built to international five-star standards in beautiful Rovinj on the Istrian peninsula. Certainly no one could be disappointed with its luxury, its situation, its food and all-round hospitality.
Terry Redhead, EDP24, 19th March 2011
Located in central Croatia, Karlovac has the unique distinction of sitting near the confluence of four rivers. That makes it a fantastic, if lesser known, destination for paddlers looking for a variety of challenges.
Kraig Becker, Gadling, 16th March 2011
The article: 5 European adventure destinations
Has the world had enough of The King’s Speech? Baftas. Oscars. Endless choruses of praise in newspaper columns. Colin Firth’s grinning face. Saturation point is surely near. And yet, the movie’s runaway success has shone several spotlights into unlikely places. One of which is Rab, in Croatia. Here is an island of just 36 square miles, huddled in the Adriatic to the west of Rijeka. It has long glorious beaches, a cluster of medieval churches and, in the town of the same name, a picturesque enclave that comes minus the summer crowds that you find further south in Dubrovnik and along the Dalmatian Coast.
Daily Mail, 16th March 2011
The article: Welcome to Rab, the rising corner of Croatia with a curious (and mildly scandalous) royal connection
War Photo Ltd in Dubrovnik is selected as the winning readers’ tip in the Guardian Trave’s search for the best photography galleries
The Guardian, 14th March 2011
The article: Readers’ tips: photography galleries
He was the least aggressive among the dozens of locals waving sobe signs in our faces. My fiancé, Jay, and I had just stepped off the ferry onto the Croatian island of Korcula, where the placard-carriers were standing on the dock, competing with one another for the opportunity to provide arriving tourists with a bed for a few bucks. But Quiet Guy (for lack of a better name) stood calmly with his sign, perhaps noticing we were amateurs. He asked in English whether Jay and I needed a room. Indeed we did. He showed us a brochure with photos of his place, so he seemed legit.
Kayleigh Kulp, Los Angeles Times, 8th March 2011
The article: Croatia: Seeking shelter in a sobe [Note: it should be “soba” – room – not “sobe” – rooms!]
I’m walking along a stretch of the Adriatic Sea that reminds me of another time, another hemisphere. It’s not the forest of pine trees that offers shade along the seawall on a poster-perfect 70-degree day. It’s not the little docked boats bobbing up and down or the donkey braying in the distance, competing with birds for the lone sound in the air.
John Henderson, Los Angeles Times, 8th March 2011
The article: The Kvarner Islands: Adriatic idyll
It is dusk in Zagreb, Croatia’s forgotten capital, and for the past half-hour I have been watching the hunched man as he lights the gas lamps peppered throughout the city’s downtown core. By the wrinkles on his face, I could almost believe he has been doing it since the lamps were first lit in 1863. I ask him his name, but he doesn’t speak a word of English. He simply smiles and moves on to the next.
Sandra Macgregor, The Globe and Mail, 2nd March 2011
The article: What’s hard to find in Zagreb? English menus, credit cards and tourists
Old Zagreb is so compact you can reach most of its cultural jewels on foot. Numerous museums and galleries, plus dozens of cafés and restaurants, are just yards apart in the Lower Town – a grid of handsome buildings and parks reflecting the city’s standing in the Austro-Hungarian empire – and in the cobbled streets of the hilly Upper Town. But with so much choice in Croatia’s capital you need to be selective.
Alistair Fraser, Daily Telegraph, 1st March 2011
The article: Zagreb, Croatia: a cultural city guide & Zagreb, Croatia: flights, sights, hotels and restaurants
‘Dubrovnik is a small city, but it suffices the world’ a Dubrovnik poet of the 16th Century said. And, he’s right! Known as the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’, this picturesque city has few rivals for its beauty and architecture. Dubrovnik is said to have reached its golden age in the 16th Century, when Venetian glory and power was on the wane.
Uma Balasubramaniam, The Hindu, 1st March 2011
The article: The Pearl of the Adriatic
In winter, deprived of the colour and charisma of people from planes, the islands and coastal resorts of the Mediterranean can end up looking a bit forlorn, just like our gardens. It’s for this reason that airlines re-focus their efforts on flying to destinations popular with city-breakers and skiers. This week easyJet launched a new service from Gatwick to the Croatian capital. On the face of it this looks like the basis for a short stay in Zagreb, but it also gives access to a choice of interesting resorts, Opatija and Zadar, on the Croatian Riviera.
Andrew Eames, The Independent, 23rd February 2011
The article: Croatia: The land for all seasons
Fringed by the deep blue waters of the Adriatic Sea and built of layers of architectural styles Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance put down over 2300 years since founded by the Greeks in 3BC, Trogir’s history and beauty is protected by a UNESCO World Heritage order.
Susan Bredow, news.com.au, 16th February 2011
The article: The locals know best in Trogir, Croatia
I was terrified, but totally exhilarated at having just got myself here, to this tiny island of Prvic, a 30-minute ferry ride from the medieval city of Sibenik. This is just one of 1,185 Croatian islands and base camp for the week, as a group of 15 of us took over a pretty, locally owned hotel overlooking the shore. We were a mixed bunch and, despite all my anxieties, not all swimming club types either.
Catherine Mack, The Southern Star, 12th February 2011
The article: Swimming without sharks
The locals, who were all extremely friendly, seemed actively intrigued by our foreignness. And it was wonderfully quiet, particularly at night, when we’d sit out on our regulation balcony and listen to the silence and then the nightingale that serenaded us from somewhere in the tree-covered hillside. By the end of the week, we were all converted. ‘It was great,’ pronounced our four-year-old as we stood on the car-ferry to Zadar and waved goodbye to Preko. ‘I really liked Greece this year.’
Harry Ritchie, Daily Mail, 11th February 2011
The article: Avoiding the tourists on a family holiday in Croatia, Greece’s cheaper sister
The Hotel Excelsior in Dubrovnik gets a mention in CNN’s guide to the best places to propose –
10 sweetest places for a Valentine’s Day proposal
Tiffany Lam, CNN.com, 10th February 2011
Advice on travelling around Croatia – Tour Croatia’s picturesque ‘Little Vienna’
The Wichita Eagle, 8th Febryary 2011
It may be a mere tributary of the mighty Danube but the Sava is high on the list of Europe’s main rivers. On its 1000km journey from west to east, it cuts a swath through the lands of the former Yugoslavia, connecting four countries and three capitals and dividing old city centres from their newer suburbs.
Mick Webb, The Australian, 5th February 2011
The article: The super Sava
Every now and then, clusters of tourists slow down by the green bowl between the hills. They stand over the rim for a few minutes, either puzzled or in delight, before walking down to the field. The grass is so dry it scratches at the ankles, and the sun is ruthless, but that doesn’t bother the men in white. Their cries of “Howzzat?” echo past the surrounding vineyards, caressing the still sour grapes. Along the boundary the tourists ask, “Cricket in Croatia?”
Neha Puntambekar, livemint.com, 4th February 2011
The article: Croats play cricket too
Croatia may not seem the obvious destination for a 24-year-old, but after lots of hard work last year, I was after indulgence, relaxation – and sobriety. A good friend, Bobby, is Croatian and after hearing him talk about lobster spaghetti, sunshine and rocky beaches, my best friend Pippa and I were keen to check it out, though we vowed we’d rise and sleep early all week – quite a commitment.
Gemma Arterton (yes, the actress!), The Guardian, 29th January 2011
The article: Croatia: A Bond girl’s guide
Once critically endangered, griffon vultures are now thriving on the Croatian island of Cres. Their bald heads and beady eyes make them one of the animal kingdom’s least-loved creatures, but griffon vultures
have clawed their way back from the brink of extinction in a corner of Europe thanks to the dedication of a band of conservationists.
Nick Squires, NZ Herald, 22nd January 2011
The article: Vultures saved from extinction
The Telegraph selects Zagreb as one of its Holiday destinations for 2011, calling it a “pocket-sized Vienna”
The Daily Telegraph, 1st January 2011