Croatia among the hottest and coolest holiday destinations in 2009

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Croatia is choosen by Mirror.co.uk as one of the hottest and coolest holiday destinations in 2009. This is an extract from the yesterday’s article:

Your puny pound won’t buy you a cafe au lait in Paris any more. Or a packet of patatas fritas in Benidorm. So where can you go to escape the inevitable British drizzle – and get value for money? Greece and Spain will still be high on the list, of course, particularly in all-inclusive resorts. But there is sun, sea and sightseeing to be enjoyed beyond the Eurozone. Here are four hot tips for 2009…

FOR COUPLES: Red-roofed Dubrovnik gets busy with cruise passengers during the day but at night its cobbled streets are lined with bars and restaurants, and you can escape the daytime crowds with boat trips to outlying islands. A romantic five-star hotel will be opening in June on Korcula, the closest to Dubrovnik of the larger Dalmatian islands. The Lesic Dimitri Palace is a restored 18th century bishop’s palace with six residences, each inspired by a destination on Marco Polo’s Silk Road travels.

FOR HEALTH NUTS: For more than 100 years, balmy Croatia has been a centre for relieving aches and pains. Lovran is a beautiful historic town and resort on the Opatija Riviera and the stunning Villa Astra hotel has the only flotation tank in Croatia. There are life coach programmes, spa services and tai chi on the lawn.

FOR FAMILIES: No sandcastles here – the beaches are mainly pebbly. But the sea is crystal clear and clean, and there are plenty of family-friendly hotels. The four-star Falkensteiner Family Hotel Diadora, opening in spring, has a babysitting service, entertainment programme, sport and excursions, children’s cinema, children’s water world and an exclusively-for-children restaurant.

FOR BACKPACKERS: Independent travellers can discover Croatia and its islands by hopping on the famous Jadrolinija ferries, from Rijeka to Dubrovnik.

FOR ACTIVITIES: Head inland to go birdwatching in Kopacki Rit, do a photo-safari in the Velebit mountains, enjoy wine-tasting in the Slavonia region and try white-water rafting in various places… read the whole article here