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Antonia Šutić Ljuština

Adventure hunter, hot air balloon enthusiast, foodie. After years of working as a tour guide and travel agent all over Europe, I found my true passion right here, at home. We create itineraries that will cater to every individual interest for a truly one-of-a-kind vacation.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"Tailor-made tours: Sightseeing, Hot Air Balloon, Food & Wine, Heritage and Historical, Birdwatching, Game of Thrones, Sailing. There is no greater excitement than working on an itinerary that involves a mix of adventure activities, historical sightseeing and appreciating the best of the region through food, wine, and local stories."

How did you get involved in travel?

"Traveling and exploring was something that defined me from early childhood. After working as an IT consultant right after high school and all through college, I went on to pursue my dream of being a professional traveler. It all eventually lead to the magical story of Croatique."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"The world is a truly unique place and whenever I travel I try to get the most of it as possible. Visiting a local sports team match, going to undiscovered restaurants, visiting farmer's markets, concerts.

There is one event that really sticks with me to this day, and it happened in Croatia, right in my hometown. When I started working as a tour guide in Croatia, I took a couple of travelers from the USA on a tour through the Eastern part of Croatia known as Slavonia. We visited a Buy Local Fair and had an amazing experience of joining a traditional silent "kolo" flashmob at the local square. The kolo was so long they danced right into a local store and the sales team joined them as well. We still talk about it to this day."

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Recent trip reviews for Antonia

Amazing trip seeing the highlights of Croatia!!
Croatia | Oct 19 - Oct 29, 2024

Christy
Christy W.
Solon, OH | Reviewed on Nov 05, 2024
We had an absolutely amazing vacation in Croatia! Our travel agent, Antonia ( and her assistant, Sara )were so helpful and truly made our travel so enjoyable and carefree! We wanted to see the highlights of Croatia and Antonia and Sara developed an itinerary where we visited 6 places in Croatia plus a day trip to Montenegro!
The "Trips Plans" app that we downloaded to our phones before we left the states was very helpful. A great way to be able to review our itinerary on a daily...
Read more

We had an absolutely amazing vacation in Croatia! Our travel agent, Antonia ( and her assistant, Sara )were so helpful and truly made our travel so enjoyable and carefree! We wanted to see the highlights of Croatia and Antonia and Sara developed an itinerary where we visited 6 places in Croatia plus a day trip to Montenegro!
The "Trips Plans" app that we downloaded to our phones before we left the states was very helpful. A great way to be able to review our itinerary on a daily basis! And such an added bonus that Antonia and Sara would message us every evening to make sure we were set for the following day!!

We had a wonderful group of guides! A couple in particular that we felt went above and beyond to make our experience special were:
Ivana - our guide at Plitvice Lakes Park - she truly gave us a wonderful tour and she had so much knowledge about the park.
Grgo - we loved our day on the island of Hvar! Our guide, Grgo drove us around the island allowing us to visit many of the small villages on the island and it was a highlight to visit his family owned winery, enjoying the wine along with a home cooked lunch!
Mirna - Our tour guide in Split! She was very knowledgeable on the history of Split and the Diocletian Palace.

Hotel Reviews
Amadria Park Hotel Capital
Zagreb

We were greeted warmly as we arrived to the hotel and this was nice as we were definitely tired from the long flights from the states. Wonderful breakfast the following morning!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Only a short walk into town and the main square in Zagreb with restaurants and shops!
Staff
Ivana at the front desk greeted us with drinks and chocolates when we arrived - Nice touch!!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Bastion Heritage Hotel—Relais & Châteaux
Zadar

A wonderful small boutique hotel with a nice view from our hotel room. The front desk lady ( I don't remember her name though) was very helpful. She provided me with a package of throat lozenges and hot tea as I was feeling the affects of our long travel day to Croatia! She went above and beyond to make us feel welcome to Zadar!

Authenticity & Character
Small Boutique with personal service!
Location
Super close to walk to the Sea Organ for the Sunset and the restaurants and historic sights in Zadar!
Staff
The front desk lady - see above!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Ambasador
Split

The Hotel Ambassador was truly our favorite hotel. The service was wonderful! And the view from our hotel room was amazing!! We had a wonderful balcony looking out at the Sea where we were able to enjoy a drink with the beautiful view!! Niksa ( a server at breakfast) helped to make our mornings wonderful as we enjoyed the delicious breakfast! The special breakfast items that could be ordered ( not on the buffet) were delicious!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Perfect location to walking to the Palace, many restaurants and the nightlife in Split!!
Staff
See above on my notes about Niksa ( Breakfast server).
Cleanliness & Comfort
Our hotel room had wonderful amentities!! And the rooms were very spacious! Loved our view from our hotel room balcony!!And our king size bed looked out to the Sea!! Beautiful!!
Aminess Korčula Heritage Hotel
Korčula

We loved the small and quaint island of Korcula, but the Aminess Korcula Heritage Hotel is very tired and needs to be renovated! The rooms are extremely small and the bathroom shower is way too small! I would suggest guests are not booked at this hotel until the renovation can be completed!

Authenticity & Character
The hotel needs to be renovated!
Location
Location is great - perfect for walking around the quaint island!
Staff
The front desk staff were very welcoming and although the hotel is tired looking, the staff helped to make our experience at the hotel enjoyable!
Cleanliness & Comfort
The hotel needs to be renovated- bathroom ( shower) is way too small!!
Hotel More
Dubrovnik

Beautiful hotel with wonderful views from our hotel room as well as the Cave Bar! We actually enjoyed not staying in the walled city - It was only a 10 minute Uber ride from our hotel to the walled city. We went to the walled city to walk the walls as well as for dinner one evening when we were in Dubrovnik. The hotel is confusing though to navigate the floors for the hotel rooms, breakfast, etc. It took us a couple days before we understood the layout of the hotel!

Authenticity & Character
Beautiful views
Location
Very convenient and easy to get an uber ride from the hotel to Dubrovnik's walled city.
Staff
The hotel staff could have done a better job of showing us the pool, hot tub and restaurant location. It took us some time to navigate the hotel property.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel rooms were very spacious and the views from our hotel room balcony was wonderful!
Activity Reviews
Private Walking Tour of Plitvice Lakes National Park
Private Walking Tour of Plitvice Lakes National Park
Croatia

We definitely recommend touring the Plitvice Lakes Park - absolutely beautiful!! We really enjoyed having a private guide - Ivana (our tour guide) was very knowledgeable and helped to make our experience so enjoyable. She was able to show us areas and give us information on the park that would have been difficult if we didn't have a guide!

Quality of Experience
Beautiful Park and a great way to begin our vacation in Croatia!!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Allan did a great job of driving us from Zagreb to the Plitivice Park.
Gourmet Experience at Local Winery
Gourmet Experience at Local Winery
Croatia

We loved this experience! The staff at the Ante Sladic Winery made our experience very special! We were able to meet the wine makers ( Ante and his grandfather, Yure). We even were able to take photos with both of them! Simon did a wonderful job of guiding us through the wines he was serving with the homemade lunch!

Quality of Experience
Food
The Homemade lunch served with the Ante Sladic wines was delicious!!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
See above on the guide and wine makers from Ante Sladic Winery!
Transport
Duga was our driver from our hotel in Zadar to Krka National and then onto the Ante Sladic Winery and finally to our hotel in Split! He was a great conversationalist as we drove to the various stops for the day!
Private Walking Tour of Split
Private Walking Tour of Split
Croatia

We had a morning walking tour of Split with a private guide, Mirna, She was very knowledgeable as we walked through the Diocletian Palace ( lots of great information about the history of the Palace and the Roman Emperor Diocletian) and the downtown area of Split. She was also able to give us suggestions of other areas of Split we could tour later in the afternoon ( the Marjan Park with beautiful views of Split).

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Hvar Day Trip from Split
Hvar Day Trip from Split
Croatia

Our day on the island of Hvar was one of our favorite days! Grgo, our tour guide met us when we got off the catamaran boat ( coming from Split). We had a wonderful day as he drove us around the island visiting many of the small villages and learning about the history of the island of Hvar. We ended our day enjoying a lunch at the Matkovic Winery ( Grgo's family winery) with a homemade lunch made by his mom and enjoying the wines. We did not spend anytime in the town of Hvar. As Grgo suggested, it was more enjoyable to see the more remote areas of the island!

Quality of Experience
Food
The homemade lunch was delicious!!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
We really enjoyed our Guide, Grgo!
Transport
Private Walking Tour of Dubrovnik
Private Walking Tour of Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik

We had a couple hour tour with a private guide (Ivana) in the walled city in Dubrovnik. It was important to have the tour to learn more about the history of the walled city. So when we returned to walk the walls, we had a better understanding of the history of the city and its amazing walls!!

Quality of Experience
After the couple hour tour of the walled city with Ivana, she walked us to the Cable Car. This was a wonderful experience - taking the cable car to see the beautiful views and enjoy a delicious dinner at the Panorama restaurant. We highly recommend making a reservation at the Panorama restaurant. The food was wonderful and the views spectacular!!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide, Ivana was very knowledgeable and helpful!!
Transport
Our driver, Peter picked us up at our hotel and drove us to the walled city to meet our guide, Ivana.
Private Lumbarda Wine Tour & Konoba Dinner
Private Lumbarda Wine Tour & Konoba Dinner
Korčula

We really enjoyed our morning time by ourselves on the quaint island of Korcula! In the afternoon, we met our guide, Damir at our hotel and he drove us to the Lumbarda area for a personal winery tasting at a local winery. Since we travelled in late Oct to Croatia, many of the wineries were closed for the season. We enjoyed the small winery tasting and tour but it was our understanding that we would be touring a couple wineries with a pasta dinner at one of them ( that was what was stated on our Trip App). After we visited the one winery, Damir drove us back to Korcula and we had dinner with him. We would have preferred enjoying dinner by ourselves since the 2nd winery was not an option.

Quality of Experience
Food
See above regarding the food and wineries availability
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Damir was a good guide showing us the area of Lumbarda
Transport
Sea Kayak Tour on Korčula
Sea Kayak Tour on Korčula
Korčula

Super fun to be able to go Kayaking in the Sea! We enjoyed our guide, Mislav. He was full of great information and very funny!! During our kayak trip, we stopped at an old island of Vrnik ( with an old limestone quarry). Super cool to see that and learn more about the history of the area!

Quality of Experience
See above!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
See above about our guide, Mislav
Transport
A taxi driver picked us up at our hotel and delivered us back to our hotel after the kayaking
Private Day Trip to Montenegro - Perast & Kotor
Private Day Trip to Montenegro - Perast & Kotor
Dubrovnik

Montenegro was spectacular!! We were so happy that we scheduled a day tour to see the country!! Our guide, Mirjana was wonderful. She was so very knowledgeable -we toured both Perast and Kotor! The small boat trip from Perast to see the "Our Lady of the Rocks" old church was wonderful! After touring Kotor, we had a choice to have lunch in the town of Kotor or take the cable car to the Forza restaurant at the top. We were so happy that we chose taking the cable car and we loved the beautiful views and the lunch from the top!!

Quality of Experience
See above!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide, Mirjana was wonderful!
Transport
Our driver, Peter did a wonderful job of driving us across the border ( we only had a 45 minute wait getting through the border crossing between Croatia and Montenegro.
Konavle Region Culinary Experience (small group)
Konavle Region Culinary Experience (small group)
Croatia

The cooking class and experience in Konavle at the Kameni Dvori family estate was a wonderful way to spend our last evening in Croatia!! The guides and family members (Nike and Katarina) made the experience of helping to cook our dinner so much fun ( we made homemade bread and pasta)! And we had lots of laughs with the 2 other guests that we met! We even walked through the family farm to pick vegetables and fruits for our dinner!

Quality of Experience
See Above
Food
The food was delicious and it was fun taking part in the preparation and cooking of our meal!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The Kameni Dvori family members are full of so much love for the area and the farm that they live on!!
Transport
Local specialist: Antonia Šutić Ljuština

Antonia was very responsive and helped answer...
Slovenia | Sep 27 - Oct 3, 2024

G
Grant M.
Canada | Reviewed on Oct 06, 2024
Antonia was very responsive and helped answer all my questions quickly. I was very impressed with the tour she put together and arranged to have us picked up in Budapest to start. We saw a lot of the country and had a great time. Highly recommend. Read more

Antonia was very responsive and helped answer all my questions quickly. I was very impressed with the tour she put together and arranged to have us picked up in Budapest to start. We saw a lot of the country and had a great time. Highly recommend.

Hotel Review
AS BOUTIQUE HOTEL
Ljubljana

Really nice hotel in a good location and friendly helpful staff

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Discover Bled Town and Enjoy Pletna Boat Ride
Discover Bled Town and Enjoy Pletna Boat Ride
Bled
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Antonia Šutić Ljuština
Antonia
Antonia Šutić Ljuština
Local specialist in Zagreb, Croatia | Replied on Nov 04, 2024

Hi Grant,

Thank you so much for your feedback!

I am happy to hear you enjoyed your trip to Slovenia, it's truly a beautiful country full of quaint little places to explore.

I hope we will get a chance to work together again, and I wish you many exciting adventures in the future!

Best,
Antonia

From start to finish we had an incredible tri...
Croatia | Sep 16 - Sep 25, 2024

C
Carol B.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Sep 26, 2024

From start to finish we had an incredible trip to Croatia. Antonia did a fantastic job with our trip plan. Every transfer and tour went off without a problem. Every driver, guide, tour/experience, and accomodation was phenominal! Croatia is such a beautiful country with warm, welcoming, and helpful people. I loved the small experiences that allowed us to get to know the guides and drivers and hear their stories. Antonia always made sure she was available if we needed anything at all. This was a trip we will not forget- Thank-you Antonia!

Local specialist: Antonia Šutić Ljuština
Antonia
Antonia Šutić Ljuština
Local specialist in Zagreb, Croatia | Replied on Oct 04, 2024

Hi Carol,
Thank you for your kind words and for taking the time to leave me a review! I’m so happy you had a great time in my home country and thank you so much for putting your trust in me and Kimkim! It was a true pleasure working with you and I sincerely hope that you will choose Croatia as your travel destination once more.
I wish you all the best!
Antonia

Antonia and Sarah were absolutely fantastic.
Slovenia | Jun 13 - Jun 29, 2024

Kidianga
Kidianga T.
Biggs, CA | Reviewed on Sep 01, 2024
Antonia and Sarah were spectacularly awesome and a real joy to work with. They were remarkable and exceptional with the entire process from planning to updates during the trip. I visited three countries, Slovenia, Croatia, and Montenegro and everything was perfectly executed. There were no hitches. I could really tell that they went above and beyond to ensure that I had a memorable time. Simply put they did a fabulous job.
I want to thank Antonia and Sarah again for all their work planning...
Read more

Antonia and Sarah were spectacularly awesome and a real joy to work with. They were remarkable and exceptional with the entire process from planning to updates during the trip. I visited three countries, Slovenia, Croatia, and Montenegro and everything was perfectly executed. There were no hitches. I could really tell that they went above and beyond to ensure that I had a memorable time. Simply put they did a fabulous job.
I want to thank Antonia and Sarah again for all their work planning this trip. I would not hesitate to plan another trip with them. I won’t hesitate to recommend their exceptional services to friends and families.

It was truly the trip of a lifetime. I am already wanting to plan my next adventure with Antonio and Sarah. Thank you.

Hotel Review
Hotel Adriatic
Rovinj

An incredible attentive, exceptional, friendly, and polite hotel staff. If I'm ever in Rovinj, I won't hesitate to book this hotel again.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Antonia Šutić Ljuština
Antonia
Antonia Šutić Ljuština
Local specialist in Zagreb, Croatia | Replied on Oct 04, 2024

Hi Robert,
Thank you for your kind words!
Sara and I are very happy to hear you loved everything we planned for you and want to say it was a pleasure working with you. Thank you for being such a great guest and we are already looking forward to your new adventure in June!
We wish you all the best and talk to you soon!
Antonia

Slovenia trip
Slovenia | Aug 8 - Aug 18, 2024

E
Eric J.
Japan | Reviewed on Aug 25, 2024
KimKim were very good at communicating and organizing with us a holiday in Slovenia at relatively short notice. Antonia was always friendly and quick to respond and booked extras at our request for us such as restaurants which was really great.
Alenka a tour guide took us on two walking tours, she was excellent, funny, kind, knowledgeable and a brilliant tour guide we loved her.
Liza took us mountain hiking she was exceptional, she knew so much about the local environment, flowers, plants...
Read more

KimKim were very good at communicating and organizing with us a holiday in Slovenia at relatively short notice. Antonia was always friendly and quick to respond and booked extras at our request for us such as restaurants which was really great.
Alenka a tour guide took us on two walking tours, she was excellent, funny, kind, knowledgeable and a brilliant tour guide we loved her.
Liza took us mountain hiking she was exceptional, she knew so much about the local environment, flowers, plants and so on. She had so many good and funny stories to share she was a fabulous tour guide.
Slovenia is a beautiful country we were able to explore most of it in 10 days.
The company tried to secure good accommodation for us but at times, ‘resort’ hotels were not really what we wanted in such a culturally rich and beautiful country, as we wanted to explore not sit sunbathing when there were amazing historical and natural places to explore. Maybe we should have communicated that better at the time of booking.

Everyone was helpful and mostly worked out really well but there were some days where the schedule was very packed and we spent too long driving not enjoying the places for long enough, being on a tight itinerary determined by the slightly inflexible driver at times was not so relaxing and could have been improved. This could have been more tailored. For example at one historical site we were told to take only ten mins and get back to the car. This wasn’t necessarily our idea of tourism.

Hotel Reviews
Zlata Ladjica Boutique Hotel
Ljubljana

A gorgeous hotel right in the city centre. Staff were exceptional, the food was amazing, the room was beautiful. We couldn’t fault this hotel.

Authenticity & Character
Historical building.
Location
Right in the centre of the old city on the river.
Staff
Friendly, intelligent, knowledgeable and helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Clean and eco friendly
Hotel Bled Rose
Bled

A good location, nice staff but a resort hotel with lots of pink themed things around, a pink biclyce, pink artwork (maybe the colour was rose- the hotel name) the hotel glowed pink at night, which was a little odd and maybe retro tacky? I guess Lake Bled is a resort for many however so maybe we were missing the point. The advertising was odd, a video on loop as you entered, looking like a hen weekend sort of place. The rooms and facilities were really good and comfortable however. As was the breakfast and helpfulness of the staff.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Kempinski Palace Portoroz
Piran
Authenticity & Character
It was a beautiful building
Location
Too far from the old town. By a beach not really walkable to the old town so we needed taxis, if you wanted to sit on a sun bed on the hotel beach and not leave the actual hotel, it would have been very nice
Staff
Great staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Large room very comfortable
Residence Soča
Soča

Great accommodation, beautiful rooms and very spacious and near a few walking trails. Other guests were noisy outside until quite late but it was a place for families and holiday season. We enjoyed the breakfast basket which was wonderful. We were a bit confused about the hot tub and sauna procedures on site as there was no shower for either or a changing room and when we booked it for the next day the hot tub water was cold. Also it wasn’t private they could be looked straight into from other people’s accommodations. Nobody was on site to help in the evenings at reception. Maybe we missed a point here.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Plesnik
Solčava

Great food for dinner and a lovely view from the hotel outside. The room was comfortable and it was a great location for hiking. Unfortunately lots of smoking outside at breakfast from other tables whilst eating but that just seems to be the case in Slovenia not the fault of the hotel. Didn’t see the point in a swimming pool and sun loungers in this beautiful setting but other guest seemed to enjoy that.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Kayak on Soča River
Kayak on Soča River
Bovec

The team were very professional and safe and we felt very looked after. We were not aware that we were going to kayak on rapids however our tour company who booked this communicated and calm and relaxing time kayaking on the river. It was not calm and required some skill so not suitable for beginners we think.

Quality of Experience
I’m
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Traditional Slovenian Culinary Class in Bled
Traditional Slovenian Culinary Class in Bled
Slovenia

We had a wonderful time enjoying food preparation and eating lunch. It was amazing to be part of a family to enjoy such delicious food.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Discover Bled Town and Enjoy Pletna Boat Ride
Discover Bled Town and Enjoy Pletna Boat Ride
Bled

Alenka was an amazing tour guide, she was so knowledgeable and interesting and could answer any question. It was a top notch experience. 10/10.

Quality of Experience
I
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Walking Tour of Ljubljana
Private Walking Tour of Ljubljana
Slovenia

Alenka was amazing. Truly the best. Intelligent, knowledgeable and kind we loved her tours. She even took us to her favourite local cake and gelato place we wouldn’t have stumbled upon otherwise as she grew up in the area. Amazing!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Hot Air Balloon Flight Over the Bled Lake
Hot Air Balloon Flight Over the Bled Lake
Slovenia

An amazing experience I couldn’t fault it, very professional and funny we felt part of the experience and helped dismantle the balloon at the end. The views were amazing.

Quality of Experience
I’m
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Hike to Debela Peč Mountain
Hike to Debela Peč Mountain
Slovenia

Liza the hiking guide was fantastic. She was so experienced and a real inspiration. She was funny and so knowledgeable. We were so happy to have her expert knowledge. It was an amazing day.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Postojna Cave Tour
Postojna Cave Tour
Slovenia

Such an amazing place. It was very popular with lots of people but we still really enjoyed this natural wonder. Breathtakingly beautiful caves.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Antonia Šutić Ljuština
Antonia
Antonia Šutić Ljuština
Local specialist in Zagreb, Croatia | Replied on Oct 04, 2024

Hi Eric,
Thank you so much for your valuable feedback! We greatly appreciate it and are taking into consideration all the reviews our travelers provide us with to ensure the best possible experience for everyone. I hope you enjoyed your time in Slovenia and wish you all the best!
Antonia

Thanks KimKim and Antonia!
Slovenia | Aug 3 - Aug 11, 2024

Ann
Ann E.
Canton, MI | Reviewed on Aug 16, 2024
Our agent Antonia did a fabulous job planning a terrific trip to Slovenia and Croatia. It was action-packed with lots of adventure -- canyoning, paragliding, hiking, etc. -- and we were able to see all the highlights. What I most appreciate about KimKim was the way that Antonia was in constant touch with us during the trip -- making dinner reservations, suggesting additional places to visit, trouble-shooting, and, most importantly, helping us avoid a large fine (and get back on track) when we... Read more

Our agent Antonia did a fabulous job planning a terrific trip to Slovenia and Croatia. It was action-packed with lots of adventure -- canyoning, paragliding, hiking, etc. -- and we were able to see all the highlights. What I most appreciate about KimKim was the way that Antonia was in constant touch with us during the trip -- making dinner reservations, suggesting additional places to visit, trouble-shooting, and, most importantly, helping us avoid a large fine (and get back on track) when we accidentally made a detour into Austria. The other guides Antonia arranged for us were also terrific and highly knowledgeable -- Luka on Debela Peč and Tara at Plitvice Lakes -- and we appreciated the suggestion that we meet a beekeeper.

Hotel Reviews
AS BOUTIQUE HOTEL
Ljubljana

This hotel was the best of our trip. It was cute, perfectly located, nestled in a courtyard off the street, and the staff was wonderful.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Residence Rovinj&
Rovinj

The hotel was nice enough, but it would have been better to be closer in to town, and this one was probably our least favorite because the beds were hard.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
16 Lakes Hotel
Rakovica

I wish we could have spent more time here to take advantage of all the amenities. The hotel was adorable & our room was quite large (& not just because it had 3 beds). The restaurant was excellent, which was nice because we got in so late.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Esplanade Zagreb Hotel
Zagreb

This might have been our least favorite hotel. The bathrooms were inconveniently laid out & the bathroom door was wobbly & loud. The vibe wasn't as nice as the other, more modern, hotels, and the food at the restaurant was just mediocre. Check-in & check-out took so much longer than everywhere else & the staff wasn't particularly friendly.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Bled Rose
Bled

A great hotel. Great food, felt luxurious (our room was huge, but my daughter's not so much). The location was perfect -- right on the lake, but with parking. The staff was helpful, and the breakfast was terrific. My only complaint was that, for a luxury hotel, they missed on a few details: the cosmetics mirror was broken in our room, as was the toilet paper holder (which meant the paper kept falling off onto the floor).

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Honey Tour with Local Beekeeper
Honey Tour with Local Beekeeper
Slovenia

The kids (young adults) loved this activity & were fascinated. Our host was excellent & informative & we learned a lot about bees & beekeeping from her. The honey-tasting was fun and educational as well. My one complaint was that there wasn't enough time scheduled for this event. While it only took one hour for the tour & discussion, we were supposed to arrive early for our next activity at 11 & that meant that we didn't have enough time for the honey-tasting or to try anything at the honey cafe. This event shouldn't be scheduled so close to another timed event, as most people would need at least 90 minutes at the beekeeper's shop and possibly close to 2 hours.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Hike to Debela Peč Mountain
Hike to Debela Peč Mountain
Slovenia

This was a fantastic, rigorous hike. Our guide, Luka, was knowledgeable about the whole area & taught us a lot (& he was pretty easy on the eyes too!). It was nice having him to guide us, as selecting the path could get a bit confusing. As athletic as he was, he was also good at adjusting his pace to ours. I'm glad we summitted by one route & came down by another. The view from the top was amazing. The mountain hut was also perfectly placed for a good -- and seemingly authentic -- snack on the way down. I'm also glad we started early because, even though rain didn't turn out to be an issue, that left us sufficient time to explore more of Bled in the afternoon.

Canyoning Experience in Slovenia
Canyoning Experience in Slovenia
Bovec

This was a terrific experience & the kids loved it. People should be warned that one not only needs to be fit for the experience, but REALLY fit (although I managed at age 66). I might have preferred to start this activity somewhat earlier in the day because, with a 4:30 pm start, it got a little chilly -- & rushed -- toward the end. One of the guides was great (Peter?) -- kind, encouraging, & sweet -- but the other was a little pushy & negative with the members of the group, who were a bit more cautious (all women). He kept complaining that the group was too large, but that wasn't our fault.

Tandem Paragliding over the Soča Valley
Tandem Paragliding over the Soča Valley
Bovec

This activity was wonderful. It was exciting & just generally delightful. We all loved most of our guides -- Martin, Joseph, & Mimi (not so much Robert) -- & they were determined to make the experience fun. I will admit that I had trouble getting off the ground & my tandem guide (Robert) got pretty snappy about the way I kept falling & screwing up our launch. Fortunately, Mimi (the driver) insisted that there was no quitting in paragliding & she gave me some encouragement & feedback that, ultimately, helped me get airborne with Robert on our 5th try. We also learned a lot from all the guides -- about paragliding, about Slovenia & Slovenian history, & about the impact of climate change on paragliding.

Private Guided Hike of Plitvice Lakes National Park - (Lower & Upper Lakes)
Private Guided Hike of Plitvice Lakes National Park - (Lower & Upper Lakes)
Croatia

Plitvice is one of the most beautiful places on Earth, & we loved the hike. We were delighted with the K Hike because a significant portion of the trail took us away from the crowds (which were the only downside to Plitvice). We really enjoyed hiking with Tara, although it was clear that she was a knowledgeable guide & a sweet young women, but not a great or experienced hiker. She struggled with the uphill portion of the K hike. But she pushed through, which was impressive.

Local specialist: Antonia Šutić Ljuština
Antonia
Antonia Šutić Ljuština
Local specialist in Zagreb, Croatia | Replied on Oct 04, 2024

Hi Ann,
Thank you for your lovely review! I’m so glad you and your family had a great time and I will be sure to pass on your comments to our team! Working on the trip with you was truly a pleasure and thank you for putting your trust in me.
I wish you all the best and many new and exciting Kimkim adventures!
Antonia

Outstanding trip to Slovenia & Croatia (& Monteng, filled with adventure, fun, and plenty of gelato!
Croatia | Jul 2 - Jul 23, 2024

Court
Court D.
San Carlos, CA | Reviewed on Jul 31, 2024
I (49M) and my two kids (F16, M13) had a phenomenal time!
Antonia was fantastic working with us to build the right itinerary, with plenty of fun activities, down time, and wonderful accommodations. As well, we had several calls ahead of the trip wherein she provided numerous recommendations for things to do, as well as tips for navigating about the countries we were visiting.
Throughout the trip, the kimkim team checked-in every day to ensure all was well, and that we had whatever... Read more

I (49M) and my two kids (F16, M13) had a phenomenal time!
Antonia was fantastic working with us to build the right itinerary, with plenty of fun activities, down time, and wonderful accommodations. As well, we had several calls ahead of the trip wherein she provided numerous recommendations for things to do, as well as tips for navigating about the countries we were visiting.

Throughout the trip, the kimkim team checked-in every day to ensure all was well, and that we had whatever necessary vouchers and/or travel details for the next day. This really allowed me to relax and lean into enjoying my time with my kids rather than stressing about getting ahead of the next day's itinerary or managing the small details.

Although the region was experiencing an unprecedented heatwave, it thankfully didn't limit us from exploring much (we did bow out of 1 or 2 hard hikes when temps peaked over 94º / 34º, but given we were on the coasts and often in the water, we had a blast. We felt welcome by the locals everywhere we went, and the food was delicious everywhere we ate.

Hotel Reviews
ECO Boutique Hotel AMS Beagle
Spodnje Gorje

What a fabulous hotel! Eco-designed and sustainably managed. The rooms were roomy and well appointed (especially the TV which was crucial given the Euro's were on!). The staff were incredibly warm, and provided us plenty of valuable information about activities and restaurants in the area.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Tromostovje Apartments
Ljubljana

Really fun locale in the heart of the city, with whimsical decoration, but clean, comfortable, brightly lit rooms. Ideal if you like to be right in the heart of evening activity, steps away from delicious food options and nightlife.

Authenticity & Character
Really unique hotel, with art inspired by the city.
Location
Right in the heart of the city, steps from restaurants and evening acitivities.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Heritage Hotel Santa Lucia
Split

Gorgeous hotel right in the heart of old town split. Staff were welcoming, efficient, and helpful throughout our stay. The rooms were bright, clean, and spacious. We occupied a family suite with a view overlooking the square - we were able to catch the Euro final locally, and were treated to Spanish fans singing heartily at the conclusion of the final. Despite being over a busy square, the rooms were quiet and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Located in an idea spot in the center of the old town.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Palace Natali
Dubrovnik

This was my kids' favorite accommodation through the trip (F16, M13); the rooms were authentic, unique, and charming, but very comfortable. The kitchen suite allowed us to have cool snacks and drinks as we checked-in throughout our stay (crucial in the 34º+ celsius weather in Dubrovnik during our visit). The pool was also a highlight, and we enjoyed having drinks poolside, taking frequent dips to get out of the heat. The hotel is marked with gorgeous grounds and stunning view of the Adriatic - ideal for watching a summer sunset. Staff were fantastic throughout, and service was exemplary. The walk into Dubrovnik's old town wasn't bad for 3 active people, but I imagine the stairs (coupled with high heat of the summer) would have taxed many other visitors. For us, it was just an excuse to have more gelato, but for other visitors, it's pretty easy to book a car to the old town.

Authenticity & Character
Location
tremendous westerly views
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Antonia Šutić Ljuština
Antonia
Antonia Šutić Ljuština
Local specialist in Zagreb, Croatia | Replied on Oct 04, 2024

Hi Court,
Thank you for your kind words! It was a privilege working with you and thank you for trusting us and Kimkim with your family’s vacation. Sara and I are happy to hear your family had a great time and hope we will get a chance to work together again!
We wish you all the best and many new adventures in the future!
Antonia

All the guides especially Ivana. Guide to vil...
Croatia | Jun 23 - Jun 29, 2024

SUNDARARAJAN
SUNDARARAJAN S.
India | Reviewed on Jul 06, 2024
All the guides especially Ivana. Guide to village tour superb. Antonia in boat tours was very helpful and fantastic. I would have preferred to had a boat with cover. Slightly bigger boat. Becos of sun. Especially as it was a full day tour. Otherwise all went well. Thank u all Read more

All the guides especially Ivana. Guide to village tour superb. Antonia in boat tours was very helpful and fantastic. I would have preferred to had a boat with cover. Slightly bigger boat. Becos of sun. Especially as it was a full day tour. Otherwise all went well. Thank u all

Activity Reviews
Private Walking Tour of Ljubljana
Private Walking Tour of Ljubljana
Croatia

I would recommend this city. Vibrant and historical

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Discover Bled Town and Enjoy Pletna Boat Ride
Discover Bled Town and Enjoy Pletna Boat Ride
Bled

Beautiful and fantastic weather

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private Walking Tour of Plitvice Lakes National Park
Private Walking Tour of Plitvice Lakes National Park
Slovenia

Ivana was good and helpful

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Antonia Šutić Ljuština
Antonia
Antonia Šutić Ljuština
Local specialist in Zagreb, Croatia | Replied on Oct 04, 2024

Hi Sundararajan,
Thank you for taking the time to give us your feedback and for choosing Kimkim - I am so happy to hear you enjoyed your trip! We greatly appreciate your feedback and are taking into consideration all the reviews our travelers provide us with to ensure the best possible experience for our future travelers.
I’m happy I got the be the one to introduce you to our wonderful region and hope you will visit us again!
Antonia

We wanted to take a moment to extend our than...
Slovenia | Jun 11 - Jun 20, 2024

L
lisa s.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Jun 27, 2024
We wanted to take a moment to extend our thanks to the kimkim team and especially to our local trip specialist, Antonia for helping us put together the most incredible adventure! Antonia laid out a road map so that we would see the most beautiful sights within both Slovenia and Croatia. She directed our steps to all things "must see" and we were amazed at what we experienced during the 10 day trip. It's hard to say which part of the trip was the favorite because it all was so... Read more

We wanted to take a moment to extend our thanks to the kimkim team and especially to our local trip specialist, Antonia for helping us put together the most incredible adventure! Antonia laid out a road map so that we would see the most beautiful sights within both Slovenia and Croatia. She directed our steps to all things "must see" and we were amazed at what we experienced during the 10 day trip. It's hard to say which part of the trip was the favorite because it all was so beautiful.
Antonia left nothing unfinished. She arranged for the car rental when we touched down in Slovenia. She had even contacted our first hotel to ensure that we had safely arrived the first day. Every day, Antonia sent a message to ensure that all was well and that we were enjoying ourselves. She made sure to remind us that she was available 24/7 for any questions that might arise.
Our local guides were also fantastic. Alenka H. was extremely knowledgeable and went above and beyond. She made sure that we enjoyed the local favorite dessert and sat down with us over kreme cake and coffee after a tour (and also sent us home with some salted chocolate (one cant go wrong with salted chocolate!) Alenka was quick to respond to questions texted to her after the tour for suggestions on food and souvenirs.

Another guide (I apologize that i dont have her name) provided much information and was quick to offer to take our picture with the best views behind us as we walked through Plitvice Lakes National Parks.

All too soon our vacation came to and end (as vacations always do). However, its never too soon to start planning the next adventure and i would definitely look to kimkim again to help us plan.

We will continue to look back upon this trip through wonderful memories (as well as all of the photos that will soon be hanging on our walls).
I feel as though i have made some wonderful friends on the other side of the globe. We truly are all more alike than different. To Antonia, Alenka and all the others with whom we crossed paths, I wish you well !

Until next time, Hvala!

Hotel Reviews
Old Bled House
Bled

Absolutely LOVED this hotel! Such charm. And the staff were warm and caring. Felt like staying with family.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Spirito Santo Palazzo Storico
Rovinj

Another of our favorites. Wonderful staff. Beautiful

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
all were sooooo personable. And pointed out the bikes that were available for use for a ride out along the coast and the best place for a swim
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Discover Bled Town and Enjoy Pletna Boat Ride
Discover Bled Town and Enjoy Pletna Boat Ride
Bled

Simply beautiful.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Truffle Hunting Experience
Truffle Hunting Experience
Slovenia

Fun experience. And the family was very nice.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private Walking Tour of Plitvice Lakes National Park
Private Walking Tour of Plitvice Lakes National Park
Slovenia

Amazing views.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Antonia Šutić Ljuština
Antonia
Antonia Šutić Ljuština
Local specialist in Zagreb, Croatia | Replied on Oct 04, 2024

Hi Lisa,

Thank you so much for your feedback!

I am so happy to hear you enjoyed your stay in Slovenia and Croatia, thank you for putting your trust in me and Kimkim. I will pass on your kind words to our guides, and I hope we will get a chance to work together again!

I wish you all the best and many exciting adventures in the future!

Antonia

Eighteen-day trip to Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Montenegro.
Croatia | May 27 - Jun 13, 2024

Ronald
Ronald M.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on Jun 16, 2024
It is impossible to answer what were our most memorable places, activities or people we interacted with on our trip. Why? Because in 18 days we traveled to three countries (Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro). Ten cities/towns/areas in Croatia, two in Bosnia & Herzegovina and one in Montenegro. Every day, every place, every experience from drivers to tours & guides, to hotels & personnel, to restaurants & staff, and everyone and thing in between was amazing. The people of these... Read more

It is impossible to answer what were our most memorable places, activities or people we interacted with on our trip. Why? Because in 18 days we traveled to three countries (Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro). Ten cities/towns/areas in Croatia, two in Bosnia & Herzegovina and one in Montenegro. Every day, every place, every experience from drivers to tours & guides, to hotels & personnel, to restaurants & staff, and everyone and thing in between was amazing. The people of these places in Eastern Europe are so genuine and real it absolutely warms your heart and makes you want to embrace them in every way you can. Working with Antonia in planning our sojourn to Sara, who watched over us every day, was a perfect experience. This was not just a trip or vacation; it was an enlightened education and life experience.

Local specialist: Antonia Šutić Ljuština
Antonia
Antonia Šutić Ljuština
Local specialist in Zagreb, Croatia | Replied on Oct 04, 2024

Hi Ron,

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a review!

I am so happy to hear you enjoyed your trip, the Balkan region has a lot to offer, and our local guides and drivers are a perfect introduction to the area! Having travelers with personal connection to the area is always a special delight and I hope you and Danece made many lifelong memories here! Thank you for being such wonderful guests and I truly hope we will get a chance to work together again.

Sara and I wish you all the best!

Antonia