By the same survey, in regional selection Istria is reanked as the most desirable destination, followed by Bavaria, Tyrol in Germany and Lake Garda in Italy.

The analysis was made on the basis of a survey of 1.7 million of ADAC’s members.

The top four destinations for German camping enthusiasts are Germany, Italy, Croatia and France.

Have a look:

Video comercial ‘Numbers’ was made by BBDO marketing agency in the running of 10, 20 and 30 seconds.

Here is a 30 seconds version – have a look & enjoy:

Boutique Croatia: Holiday Options (0844 477 0452; holidayoptions.co.uk) is predicting Croatia to be a big seller for 2010, so it has expanded its selection of boutique-style hotels. Additions include the family-run Hotel Bozica, built into the cliffs, just 15 metres from the water’s edge on the Island of Sipan on the Dubrovnik Riviera (from £575 per week, B&B, with flights) and the Palazzo Hotel & Spa, which is situated in the heart of Porec and has an infinity pool and spa (from £563 per week, B&B, including flights). (Read the whole article here)

In today’s Guardian article ‘Europe (without the euro)’, Croatia was featured as one of European ‘fantastic destination’ out of  the eurozone.

Here is an excerpt from the article:

Croatia:  The land of 1,000 islands, Croatia is a popular summer destination with its beautiful coastline, tranquil mountains and national parks.

Ecologically one of Europe’s best-preserved countries, exploring it takes you on a thousand-year journey through history, which has been turbulent, exciting and glorious.

Lie on golden sandy beaches and swim in romantic coves that are but a stone’s throw from ancient Roman monuments and streets as old as the emperor Diocletian himself… read the whole article here

In yesterday’s article in The Mirror, titled ‘Go to Croatia for sunshine beaches and cheap prices’, the author writes about holidaying in Dalmatian coastal resort of Baska Voda and at Island of Brac.

Here is an excerpt from the article:

I’m standing at Vidova Gora, the highest point on the Croatian island of Brac, looking down on a world that seems to have turned Wedgwood blue. Distant horizons merge into a hazy blue sky that blurs into a lazy blue sea.
Far below is the seaside resort of Bol and the stunningly beautiful beach of Zlatni Rat… I wake to a wonderful sight from my window, a tumble of white stone houses with terracotta roofs, to my right are the Biokovo Mountains, to my left the Adriatic Sea… Read the whole article here + check other Beaches in Croatia

• Glam beach retreats for under €100 :  Beach bungalows, Palmizana, Croatia

Glitzy Hvar is Croatia’s celebrity magnet. It’s here that the moneyed dock their mega yachts, stepping ashore to strut the town’s pale marble promenade.

But 10 minutes away courtesy of a private speedboat, lies the island paradise of Palmizana and Pansion Meneghello whose bungalows and two restaurants are tucked around 200m of sandy beach.

A botanical haven, the thick Mediterranean pines, palms and fragrant eucalyptus that cover the island were planted a century ago by Eugenio Manghello, the grandfather of the current owners.

• 0038 52 171 7270, palmizana.hr, four-person bungalows from €210pp pw. Nearest airport: Split.

• Mum, can we move here? Croatia : Villa Carlini, Istria

Nature and Kind promises an “authentic and enriching experience beyond the ordinary” and these double-storey villas on the Istrian peninsula – known for its vineyards, olive trees and Medieval towns – appear to do the job.

Restored using Istrian stone, wood and terracotta and featuring a walled garden that encloses a pool, lawn and patches of lavender and rosemary, Villa Carlini strikes a good balance between authenticity and a hi-spec retreat.

And, if you like doing stuff there’s tons of activities, including game fishing, cycling, boat charters to nearby islands, dolphin-watching, waterskiing and snorkelling.

• Nature and Kind (0845 299 7776, natureandkind.com) has a week from €511pp (based on eight sharing). Nearest airport: Pula.

The International Tourism Fair Crotour 2009 will take place at Zagreb at ‘Zagrebacki velesajam’ from 1st to 5th of April, with intention to introduce foreign tour operators to offers of tourist services of Croatia.

The fair is intended for tour operators, owners of hotel , restaurants, marinas, campsites and other tourist facilities, as well as everyone else interested in using tourist services.

It is also aimed at a very wide public audience, professional organizations and associations.

Among others, the Crotour’s events will also include the ”Buy Croatia” tourism fair organized by Croatian Tourist Board’s to promote destinations in the continental parts of Croatia.

The International Tourism Fair Crotour 2009 is being held under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Croatia and supported by the Croatian Tourist Board and the World Tourism Organization.

Read more about the Fair and find contact info check  here

The integrated group expects to carry more than 20,000 holidaymakers to Croatia this summer.

The combined resource will enable those numbers to be exceeded if there is demand, according to the two companies..

Read the whole article

This convertible van , model ‘Tourist’ 1000 was produced in 1960′s by IMV (Industrija Motornih Vozil) which was a car manufacturer based in Novo Mesto, Slovenia, established in 1954.

The van looks similar to well known Volkswagen Van that was very popular at the time (even my father had one of these).

The above image is a scan of IMVs broshure from 1964 (click on image to see large photo).

Click here to see non convertible version of the same model + check other old photos and broshures  of other vintage means of travel

.. we handcrafted a holiday that offered all the elements they (teenagers) were after, albeit not in quite the same configuration. We would be providing them  with a foreign location (Croatia), sunshine (temperatures in the mid-30sC), an element of the urban (three independently organised days in Zagreb), plus plenty of own-age social opportunities in the form of a week-long families-with-teenagers activity holiday, run by the Adventure Company, at a little village in the beautiful Plitvice National Park…

Read the whole article here

Chasing butterflies, Croatia
Croatia is the naturalists’ latest darling, and this new group tour, run with the charity Butterfly Conservation, reveals why. Staying in comfortable hotels, see exquisite creatures around the turquoise lakes and waterfalls of Plitvice, the limestone gorges of Paklenica, and the seldom-visited Velebit Mountains, with dramatic coastal scenery en route. The names flutter off the tongue: cleopatra, little tiger blue, southern festoon and the great sooty satyr.

• Nature Trek (01962 733051, naturetrek.co.uk). Seven nights from June 7, £1,295pp inc flights, transfers, all meals and lepidopterist (butterfly expert) guide.

Read to whole article here

Beyond Boundaries Travel has created two customized tours of Croatia that will have travelers cruising the islands, sightseeing in the beautiful port cities and quaint island harbors, and taking cycling tours of the islands.

The tour begins in Split and concludes in Dubrovnik, includes visit to Trogir and can be done in reverse if preferred. The tour takes visitors through olive orchards, vineyards, medieval fortifications, green forests, fertile valleys, and subtropical parks with free time to explore a number of Dalmatian islands including Brac,  Korcula , Hvar , Mljet and Sipan.

Cyclists ride as a group, with each rider proceeding at their desired pace. There will be two guides to lead both the cycling and walking tours and guides provide a briefing and maps for each cycle tour. Each ride will include stops for refreshments and to visit interesting sights.

The “Kapetan Jure”, the accommodation for the duration of the trip, is an 88 foot wooden motor yacht built in 2000 in a traditional Croatian motor sailor style. The ship has 15 passenger cabins with 11 twin bed cabins on the main deck and 4 double bed cabins below deck. Each cabin has a private bath. The below deck area is air conditioned. The upper deck contains an open sundeck and the main salon and bar where all meals will be served.

Trip Includes: 7 nights aboard the motor yacht “Kapetan Jure” + All meals in Croatia + Multi-speed tour bicycle + Bicycle tour guides + All airport transfers and ground transportation + Daily Cabin Cleaning + Towel Change Midweek

Cost is $1699 per person (double occupancy). Tour dates are September 6th-13th, 2008 and for reverse trip: September 13th-20th. For more information, please visit the website: http://www.beyondboundariestravel.com/barge_bike/2008/croatia.html

The permanent exhibition of Dubrovnik’s tourism history will have on display old photos, postcards and souvenirs of Dubrovnik as well as variety of documentary photographs of famous people visiting Dubrovnik at the start of last century, vintage Dubrovnik tourism and hotel brochures and other promotional material and artefacts used in Dubrovnik hotels in the last century.

The exhibition venues will be the foyer of cinema ‘Sloboda’ – near Onofrijeva Fountain and at Gradska Kafana – a popular Dubrovnik’s cafe. Both venues are located in the very centre of the Dubrovnik Old Town – at the Stradun promenade.

Shame that we couldn’t find the exact date of the opening of this exhibition  so, in the meantime, while we work out the dates, have a look at our ‘permanent’ on-line exhibition of history of tourism in Dubrovnik and further: 

• Vintage Luggage Labels of Croatian Hotels – includes Dubrovnik Hotels
• Old Photos of Dubrovnik
• Dubrovnik at Ralley Adriatique 1952
• Hotel Lapad Dubrovnik Luggage Label
• Hotel Komodor Dubrovnik Luggage Label
• Holidaying in Croatia in 1960′s  + more history of Croatian Tourism

Vukovar–Srijem County is the easternmost region in Croatia, situated  along the fertile banks of Danube and full of spacious green plains. The area is abundant in cultural heritage, historical buildings, interesting traditional customs, preserved nature and distinctive landscapes. This is also an area of rich gastronomy, and the typical rural image present in most of the region is supplemented with the interesting story of Slavonia urban centers – the towns of Vukovar, Vinkovci and Županja, as well as other smaller urban centers.

The county offers numerous options for excursion tourism, weekend recreation, or longer stays both in urban areas and in Slavonia where visitors can enjoy homemade specialties such as wine, brandy, cured meat products – kulen, kulenova seka, cracklings and homemade sausages – as well as various Slavonian sweets.

The most popular Slavonian wine varieties like Graševina, Traminac, Pinot and Chardonnay are predominantly produced in the area around Vukovar and Ilok, where the famous Ilok Wine Cellars are located.

The area is also known for its cultural wealth, the story of the Vucedol Dove being the most popular feature within it. The area around the town of Vukovar, which has become known as the Hero Town in contemporary history following the Homeland War, contains archeological sites with exceptionally valuable localities from the Vucedol culture era.

Vukovar-Srijem County also has two important historical castles: the Eltz family’s castle in Vukovar and the Odeschalchi family’s castle in Ilok. Both castles house Town Museums open to visitors despite the current reconstruction. The Cardak castle in Županja houses the Stjepan Gruber Native Museum, including the permanent Ethnological Exhibition.

Visitors will also be interested to know about the numerous traditional Slavonian events held in the county throughout the year : Ethno Weekend in the Ethno Town, Actor Festival, Ilok Grape Harvest, Brandy Exhibition, White Horses, Youth and Beauty of Slavonia, Otok Spring, Šokac Village, Tourist Forum, and Vinkovci Autumns as a highlight attracting numerous visitors to Vinkovci for over 40 years.

To put it in a nutshell, this is a region that has plenty to offer in terms of tourism because the Slavonian customs, tradition and local heritage combined with modern features such as excursion & recreation destinations and rich hunting and fishing areas make this destination very attractive to tourists. The accommodation infrastructure is also developing – construction of a high-category, five-star hotel has recently begun. In addition to the existing 12 facilities located in Vinkovci, Vukovar, Županja, Ilok and Spacva, Hotel Diamant is being built in Nuštar, which will include in its offer a large wellness center, a national restaurant, a casino, and a congress center seating around 700 people.

If we add the important Danube waterway where more and more large river cruisers can be seen, we only have one thing to say – come and experience Slavonia because it is unique and thus incomparable with anything!

Vukovar-Srijem County Tourist Board : www.tzvsz.hr

The video include some great shots of Bisevo - a small island in vicinity of Vis, Croatia, well known for its Blue Cave (Plava Spilja), which is one of the most popular sailing destinations in Croatia.

Also, what I liked about this video, is well presented beauty of ‘bad weather’ while sailing – rain, wind, rough seas, gray colours and similar in ‘you get rain, rainbow and sun’ part.

The video, uploaded at YouTube is split in two parts: reasons 1 to 5 and reasons 6 to 10 – have a look:

10 Reasons to Sail in Croatia – Part one: 

10 Reasons to Sail in Croatia – Part two: 

Find out more about Weather in Croatia, Sailing in Croatia, Island of Vis and Bisevo and Modra Spilja (Blue Cave)

The Adventure Company UK (www.adventurecompany.co.uk) offers Active Dalmatia tour from £799 per person. The tour includes river and bicycle activities in Dalmatia, centre based with very little travelling. 

The week is designed to encompass as many different activities as possible. Starting with an easy canoe expedition, you then head out into the countryside to explore traditional villages by bike. Returning to the river you try your hand at kayaking and the following day you’ll raft via a dramatic gorge towards Omis.

There is the chance to see a bit of Croatia’s long history as you visit the nearby town of Sinj with its museum and fortress. It’s then into the countryside for a delightful walk amongst abandoned villages and karst landscape. On your last day you return to the river to experience canyoning through the 200m deep Cetina River gorge – adrenaline definitely included!

Fodor’s The Complete Guide to European Cruises, 1st Edition is due to be published on the 5th of February.

This new guide book, subtitled as ‘A cruise lover’s guide to selecting the right trip with all the best ports of call’ also features info about Dubrovnik and Croatia . It includes variety of tourist sites in Dubrovnik Old Town, which Fodor’s describes as ‘an area that is compact and car-free.’

But don’t rent a car to get from the port to the Old Town; instead, Fodor’s says, take a shuttle, public bus, or taxi.

Recommended sites include “War Photo Limited,” a modern gallery devoted to “shocking but impressive” photojournalism, and Gradske Zidine, the 80-foot-tall city walls, first erected during the 13th century, then reinforced over the next 400 years…

In the introduction to the book, Fodor’s write: Europe was the fastest-growing cruising region in the world in 2006, and more ships will cruise there in 2007 than ever before. But cruising in Europe isn’t the same as cruising anywhere else in the world! This guide offers everything a traveler needs to know in order to plan the ideal European cruise.

Cruise expert Linda Coffman explains what makes a European cruise different and offers travelers insightful guidance on planning the best European cruise. She shares how to find the best ship and itinerary to fit every need and gives a complete overview of all the cruise lines and ships that travel European waters.

At last, Fodor’s has cut through the clutter, providing:
·Clear, detailed reviews of every major ship sailing in European waters
·Full-color photos of the best ships inside and out
·Thorough coverage of 60 major ports of call (including recommendations for the best ship-sponsored excursions and what you can see on your own)
·A complete guide to European river cruising by veteran cruiser Ralph Grizzle

Pre-order your book here

The article begins with paragraph: ‘All you need is this 13-page guide, full of holiday ideas for every type of couple.’ and follows by ‘Rowan Pelling gets us in the mood with her tips on how to get it right. And remember, romance isn’t just for Valentine’s Day..’

Under the ‘Glamorous romantic getaways’ subsection, at the 5th place, Vis Island is featured under the title ’Enjoy your own secret garden Vis, Croatia‘, followed by paragraph ‘Hidden behind the 16th-century Garibaldi Palace walls on the island of Vis, Villa Kaliopa is a secret garden of palms, sculpture and candlelit tables each out of earshot so you dont have to whisper your sweet nothings where smiley waiters present the days catch. Hire your own yacht or berth from Kaliopa harbour between May and September to see the Dalmatian islands at their best. Lazy Winch Yachting (01284 830505, lazywinch.com). Six days crewed island sailing in June from 425pp, breakfast and lunch included. Villa Kaliopa (00385 21 711 755) main courses from 25.’

Other featured destinations, among others, include Venice, Vienna, New York and Sicilly..

Read the whole article here

Although targeted above all to tourists, to use prior to coming to Croatia or upon arrival, mobiEXPLORE has shown itself to be very interesting to local users looking for information of daily culture and entertainment events, and the hospitality and recreation offer.

A tourist guide on the screen of your cell phone provides almost 160 destinations in Croatia and offers information on various aspects of the tourist offer by way of text, photos and interactive maps of cities and regions: culture, history, points of interest, active vacationing, accommodation, cuisine on offer, entertainment, news, useful tips, a mini dictionary for quick access, local customs, events and more.

The project is unique on the global market, is entirely free of charge to users and is also available at the Internet address www.mobiexplore.com

MobiEXPLORE won the gold medal at the ARCA2007 international innovation exhibition, and has been included among the prominent applications on the Nokia web site as an “application that sets entirely new levels of expression, efficiency and interactivity for mobile tourist guides.”

The success of the first mobiEXPLORE Croatia project is confirmation of the feasibility of the announcement of an entire series of cell phone tourist guides for all of the key destinations in Europe that the Gideon Company has already started in collaboration with its strategic foreign partners.

Adriatic Luxury Journeys

Adriatic Luxury Journeys is the only tour operating company in the United States specializing in luxury travel to Croatia. They exclusively offer a wide selection of luxury journeys such as small group escorted tours. Plus a variety of independent journeys that include private tours, honeymoons, boutique journeys, fly-drive vacations, and tailor-made programs for every tourist’s discriminating taste.

“For a few years now we have been assisting some of the most discerning travelers in designing their out of the ordinary vacations to Croatia and the Adriatic coast,” said Maria M. Kuchan, CEO of Adriatic Luxury Journeys.

“However” she added, “we have successfully met highly-effective logistical planning that even we thought was not possible at that time in Croatia. Often all we had were extravagant expectations from clients, a moment’s notice in peak season, and a lot of good will to perform tasks we knew no other company would consider doing”

Sometimes the challenge for ALJ was finding a six-bedroom beachfront villa on a Croatian island with a yacht, an available swimming pool, a special private chauffeur or chef, or even a babysitter. Not to mention lining up guides for sightseeing tours at the spur of the moment.

“These are all difficult tasks to be completed within only a few days’ notice, and way beyond the sort of thorough, diligent planning that usually is done in more than just two days. But we always came through! And when a client called our office from his private yacht to just reschedule a wine tour, for example, we knew we could devise a recipe to make it all work”, concluded Maria M. Kuchan.

Croatia has progressively defined itself as an attractive and exciting destination for upscale travel. More then ten new 5-star hotels including small and boutique hotels, and a growing number of luxury villas opened for business in the past couple of years. Croatia is the “in place” where one can still find luxury accommodation in seclusion, relax or enjoy plenty of activities (from sailing, diving, kayaking, hiking, biking, sightseeing, etc), experience upscale authentic and international cuisine and a variety of entertainment. A carefully designed selection of ALJ’s signature itineraries such as Croatia in Style and Croatia Adventure will certainly prove to be an ideal choice for an extraordinary vacation.

Consider ALJ’s 15-day luxury escorted journey, “Art, History and Charm of Croatia and the Adriatic,” which explores fascinating periods of Croatian history, art and culture in an elegant and unique style. Guests on this tour experience the natural beauty and artistic heritage of Croatia in a most luxurious manner. They also are pampered and surprised with an abundance of Croatia’s finest food, wine and entertainment each and every day of their trip!

This itinerary is filled with days reserved for meeting renowned Croatian painters and sculptors. And also chatting with well-known Croatian-American actors, plus sampling scrumptious delicacies prepared by award-winning chefs. The highlight of this small-group tour is a private concert in Dubrovnik, performed by opera star Tihana Herceg. Croatian mezzo-soprano Herceg has performed to great acclaim throughout the United States and her native Croatia. This tour has departures on June 11 and September 3, 2008, but is limited to 24 participants per tour.

About Adriatic Luxury Journeys

Adriatic Luxury Journeys is a U.S. based tour operating company specialized in luxury travel to Croatia. The professionals at Adriatic Luxury Journeys have a proven track record that includes over 20 years of success in the travel industry. Company projects have ranged from promoting Croatia in the United States, to creating and operating escorted and fully-customized incentive programs for leading U.S. businesses. Plus ALJ has orchestrated many Press & Inspection Trips for some of the most prominent journalists and media houses in the United States.

For more information, visit http://www.adriaticluxury.com/.

Contact Information Filip Horvat
Manager
Adriatic Luxury Journeys
805-268-0569
manager@adriaticluxury.com

Here is an extract from the article:

Somewhere more exotic?…

On the Croatian island of Cres, you can combine a holiday in a warm and beautiful place with helping to save the endangered Eurasian griffon vulture and preserve a vulnerable forest.

Eco Centre Caput Insulae (00 385 51 621 877; http://www.supovi.hr/ ) has seven ecological trails created by Goran Susic, who founded the project 14 years ago to preserve the island’s biodiversity and natural heritage.

You can get to Cres via a bus or ferry from Rijeka (served by Croatia Airlines from Heathrow and easyJet from Luton) or Pula (Ryanair from Stansted).

Read the whole article

Here are some short excerpts from the article:

Jim Bassett could have put away his bike helmet for the season in October. Instead he packed for a bike trip in Croatia..

…Vermont Bike Tours set up the 12-day trip, complete with two very helpful young Croatian guides, Marko and Vanja. Bassett already knew and had biked with 19 out of the 23 in the group, “and the others were friends of friends,” he said. They found that many Croatians speak English, but their main languages are Croatian, Serbian and Slovene. The country lies between Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It has a long coastline and 1,700 islands on the east side of the Adriatic Ocean, across from Venice…

..After flying from Frankfurt to Dubrovnik on October 16, they met up with some of their fellow bikers at their hotel, the Hotel Zagreb, “a delightful place in a very pleasant neighborhood.” Generally the hotels were very nice, he said, perhaps nicer than what he and Mary would have chosen for themselves…

..October 18 found the group on a bus to Split, about 100 miles away. A highlight was visiting Diocletian’s Palace, ruins of the edifice built by the Roman emperor Diocletian around the 3rd century A.D. Bassett explained, “This is a historical site of major significance. The palace is one of the most famous and integral architectural and cultural constructs on the Croatian Adriatic coast, holding an outstanding place in Mediterranean, European and world heritage.” …

Read the rest of the article + More about Cycling in Croatia

State secretary for tourism Zdenko Micic and Tourist Board director Niko Bulic said that the results exceeded official plans and expectations, describing this year’s season as “a season to remember.”

Bulic said that tourism revenue might reach EUR 7 billion, which would be an increase of 10 per cent compared to 2006.

This short promotional film is made by Dubrovnik Tourist Board.

This is what they say about winter in Dubrovnik on their site :

” Dubrovnik is different in winter, undiscovered, unknown. It becomes a real city, a city of history and science, but also a city for the pleasures of the soul…

..To walk through Dubrovnik in winter, whether with a guided group or alone, or with someone dear, will enrich your soul, more than you think possible. You will get to know a wonderful, amazing city, one you could not even begin to imagine..

…The free Winter Card will allow you to use ninety discounts, from 10 to 50 %, for cinemas, theatre shows, restaurants, Wellness centers, boutiques, souvenir shops, rent-a-car agencies, etc..”

Sounds good  – almost irresistible :-) 

Read the whole article here