Croatia is increasing in popularity. Cruise lines & tour operators have all increased offerings for Croatia in 2010.

Below is a daily account of a recent trip to Croatia with Collette Vacations.

For more details on the itinerary, click here:

Day 1

Overnight Flights from Various Gateways

Day 2 – Zagreb

Currency: Croatian Kuna (currently about 6 – 1)

Guests typically connect through either Frankfurt or Munich & arrive into Zagreb airport – which is quite small and very easy to navigate.  Money Exchange & ATM’s are available right inside the terminal at the very competitive rates which is quite convenient.

Transfer to the Westin Hotel Zagreb – the hotel is quite unremarkable from the outside, but lives up to the Westin name on the inside very nice rooms and the heavenly beds. The location is terrific just an easy stroll from the old town & shopping areas. Time is free the first afternoon before a welcome dinner which consisted of a very nice buffett at the hotel.

Day 3 – Zagreb – Bled, Slovenia

Currency: In Slovenia the currency if Euro so be sure to inform you clients.

The next morning we do a city tour of Zagreb – which is the capital of Croatia the highlight being, the old town, Cathedral & Dolac markets which are sprawling open air markets selling all sorts of fruits, vegetables, flowers & local goods… It was raining quite hard our first day so we where limited as to what we could see of the markets. The general impression is the city is rather large and industrial (what one might expect from a former eastern block country) with the hightlights being the old town & markets.

We leave town after lunch for the drive to Bled, Slovenia about 2.5 hours away through some lovely farm couuntry.  The border crossing is quite simple – we do have to depart the coach but it went quickly and everyone was pleasd to get another stamp in their paqssport.  At first glance one would wonder why on earth we would drive North out of Croatia into another country but once you arrive in Bled it all becomes very clear.  Bled is a spectacular little Alpine Village and the Hotel Golf is right in the heart of town on a hill over looking Lake Bled with the castle & Julian Alps as a backdrop and the island with the Catherdral in the center…

Most guests had a view of the lake from their rooms and all rooms have a nice balcony.  The hotel has a very nice pool area and spa (clothing is optional so tell clients to beware!) the pool is free but the spa charges admission.  The evening we had a buffet dinner at the hotel which was fine.

Day 4 – Bled, Slovenia, Opatija, Croatia

In the morning we walk down to the lakefront from the hotel (about 200 steps) and take a Pletna boat ride out to the island to visit St. Mary’s Church & the wishing bell.  Once on the island it is a steep climb up to the church either on stone steps or a gravel walking path.  The tiny church is spectacular and people really enjoyed taking a pull at the wishing bell (legend has it that if you get it to ring on your frist three pulls you will receive a wish – I did and I will keep you posted…)

We take the Pletna boats back to the hotel and the cleints walk back up the steps to the hotel…  We headed out to Opatija but the tour typically spends two (2) nights in Bled.

We drive toward the coast stopping off for a wine tasting & winery tour.  This was a big hit with the everyone – the facility is very nice and the wines were quite inexpensive.

Along the way we begin to get glimpses of the specatcular coastline for the first time. Our next stop is the seaside town of Opatija.  Our Hotel in Opatija is The Hotel Agava – which is a great property right on the main street and only a few blocks from all of the action.  Opatija is very reminicent of the beautiful seaside hamlets on the French & Italian Riviera’s – outdoor café’s, great little shops and restaurants, a great seaside promenade which is 8 miles long – where everyone goes for a stroll in the evenings this is all only a few easy blocks from the hotel. 

Again, we only spent one night here but the normal tour spends two.

Dinner was again the buffett in the hotel which was fine.

This is a true gem of a town and everyone loved it…

Day 5 – Opatija – Plitvice Lakes

The next morning we head inland toward Plitvice Lake National Park – in short – they are nothing short of spectacular…  We arrived in the early afternoon and did a quick check into our rooms – The Jezero Hotel is 3 star but completely fine and the location inside the park more than makes up for any shortcomings.  While none of the rooms have views of the lakes they all come with a balcony & which offers a view of the surrounding forest (or parking lot with forest in the background) but the rooms are fine.  We take the coach about 2 miles down the road to entrance one at this point the clients can decide whether of not they want to make the hike around the lake – the short version is about a 1.5 hour stroll on some uneven ground and the longer version can be up to 4 hours.  At the end of the walk & boat ride the clients need to walk 400 stairs back up to the hotel….  The good news is from entrance # 1 all clients get paid admission to the park and get to hear the rangers presentation (Mariana was our guide & she was great) from there it is a very easy walk to a lookout over the largest and most spectacular of all of the waterfalls.  At this point three (3) people decided to head back to the hotel with the coach driver & the rest soldiered on… The walk is not too difficult but the ground & boardwalks are uneven and there are few rails.  Everyone did fine – slow & steady – then we reach the boats which take us back to the hotel – here we had to climb the stairs back up but they have all the time in the world so it was not a problem. There is also a longer version of the hike but due to time constraints we could not complete it before dark.

It is interesting to note that on this drive from Opatija into Plitvice, we pass through the Lika region of Croatia – this held a large Serbian population before the war and was bombed extensively – we learned a great deal about this terrible war and saw first hand, homes with bullet & mortar holes, burned out churches & heard an intirguing & frightening history from Jovanka.  It is incredible that this war was less than twenty years ago…

Day 6 – Plitvice – Dubrovnik

We left early the next morning for the long trek down to Dubrovnik.  This day started on the new highway that is being completed – it is very impressive and offers some incredible views of the mountains & glimpses of the sea as well as some engineering feats of the road itself… We arrived in Split in the late morning and had a very interesting tour of the Diocleatian Palace – great photo opportunities and an interesting and animated local guide names Ivan.  The normal tour spends the night in Split but we continued on to Dubrovnik which is another 3 hours down the road….

This drive was incredible as we left the highway (it has not yet been completed this far south) and drove along the Dalmaltian Coast. Note: This tour actually visits three countries as we drive along the coast we pass through a few miles of Bosnia/Hercegovina – complete with border crossing etc. – but there is no passport stamp.

We arrive into Dubrovnik in the late afternoon just in time for an incredible sunset over the Adriatic – The Hotel President is a bit outside of town but the #6 bus stops directly in front of the hotel & for 8 Kuna (about $1.65 US) you can be at the gate of Old Dubrovnik in about 15 mintutes…  The hotel is terrific ALL rooms are oceanfront with a balcony overlooking the seas & islands – it is truly a spectacular property.

This evening was free and Jovanka brought most of the group into town on the city bus and showed them around the old city – which is incredible especially at night.  I have been to dozens of “old town’s” around the world and I must say this is one of the most impressive I have ever witnessed.

Day 7 Dubrovnik – Korcula – Dubrovnik

Today we took a day trip out to the Island of Korcula – it is about a 2 hour coach ride north through some lovely vineyards and small villages and then a 15 minute boat ride out to this perfect little island – wonderful old city and beautiful views of the sea.  This is the legendary birthplace of Marco Polo.

Note: This tour is typically done on the drive from Split to Dubrovnik so there the 2 hour drive north is not required.  Due to being before season a lot of shops etc on the island were closed but when our clients go it will be boooming.

Tonight dinner was on our own and the coach dropped us off in town & had one pick up time… many clients deccided to stay later and took the city bus home.

Day 8 – Dubrovnik

This morning we had a city tour of the old city and its incredible history by a LOVELY local guide named Ivana.  After that some free time to walk the city walls or just expore on our own.  We later departed for our farewell dinner.  We drive about 45 minutes South of the city offering us a completely new view of the the old city from the road overlooking the city at night.  Dinner is in a family run farmhouse that has been very nicely renovated – the grounds are beautiful & we were greeted with wine by two gentlemen dressed in period cosumes singing and playing the guitar & madolin – dinner was nice and the everyone really enjoyed the local music even singing along and dancing – it was a great end to the tour.

Day 9 Dubrovnik – Depart for Home

In closing, Croatia greatly exceeded my expectationa – the accomodations are very nice, it is clean, everyone we came in contact with spoke English (this is not an issue at all.) There is a good deal of walking on this tour but it is all worth it. There is incredible history, both natural & architectural beauty – it really does have it all… once you see Dubrovnik you will understand why everyone has been fighting for this land for thousands of years.

All in all it is a fantastic destination – You will love it!