An amazing survey of Croatian culture and geography

Croatia | Apr 30 - May 9, 2023

Convenient, modern, and well-maintained with many amenities not found in the older historical hotels (gym, transfer room with shower, full restaurant and bar). My favorite of the hotels we stayed in while in Croatia and a great place to stay in Zagreb!

The hotel was generally fine, but our room was not what I expected. One king bed was provided for my traveling buddy and me (we are not married), and the room was a bit small with a very small bathroom. The shower was so small that the temperature would scald or freeze me if I accidentally bumped into the faucet. It felt more like camping than staying in a hotel.

Convenient hotel located in the heart of Zadar. Lots of character, with professional staff and a good restaurant on site. The room was lovely, and the bathroom was surprisingly large compared to some of the hotels we had stayed in. This was a charming place to spend the night in Zadar, and I would stay again if given the opportunity.

Amazing historical hotel in the Diocletian palace. The bathroom was a little bit small, and the shower was a bit difficult to manage. However, the on-site restaurant and location made up for these slight inconveniences. The hotel had a lot of character to make for an enjoyable stay.

I loved staying in Hvar and this hotel added to the experience. The town was so lovely and warm, and this felt like being in a hidden Mediterranean villa with its location and open windows both in the room and the open courtyard of the hotel restaurant. The shower and toilet configuration were a bit awkward and the room got very wet from not having a shower door, but this was remedied with several towels. Breakfast was delicious, and the staff, while fairly incognito, were professional.

The location was terrific, but the hotel had a few quirks. The building was reasonably modern but did feel a bit dated. The shower was terrible, however--the shower door on the tub leaked like crazy, so the bathroom floor got wet during and after a shower, requiring several towels to mop up the mess. The hotel bar, pool, and restaurant were all nice amenities!

The tour started with a glitch--we couldn't find our guide and were sent to the wrong location--but she stuck around for us and gave us a fantastic tour of the city. I learned so much and really enjoyed the insider's view of Zagreb. The tour was just the right length--we got to see the sights, and some hidden history and had time for a few recommendations for dinner--and then we were able to go on our way for the evening with plenty of time to spare. This tour guide was amazing--truly a global citizen and knowledgeable about Croatia and the world at large!

I was a little hesitant at first about the kayaking adventure (it wasn't clear what the skill level would be, and it seemed like we would go into a waterfall right away), but our guide Tony was so helpful and patient. He is knowledgeable about the area and truly loves his job. He was a top-notch outdoorsman. We had three other people on the kayaking trip with us which was a fun way to meet some other people and experience the beautiful Mreznica Canyon with other travelers.

Seeing the farmers market and meeting the vendors was a real treat. I wouldn't have had the courage to go up and talk to vendors, but we got to learn about food production and what makes Croatia unique from an agricultural and culinary perspective. Our guide was warm and fun, and she took us through the Diocletian palace with some great stories of the history and culture. The food was also amazing--I enjoyed our lunch very much and feel like I got a good sample of Croatian dishes on this tour.

Our driver, the tour operator, and the cycling guide were all world-class! This was a highlight of the trip for me. I loved seeing the other side of Hvar Island, and especially loved being out on a bike, able to move faster than walking but not being in a car. I never felt unsafe on the roads, and I appreciated the new bike and helmet. I am an avid cyclist at home so this was not a terribly challenging ride, but we did see a lot of the island, experienced some of the small villages, and got so much perspective on things from our cycling guide. I have forgotten her name, but I do want to send along my thanks for being so hospitable and open. She was amazing!

This was probably the best tour I have ever been on. Our guide (whose name I have unfortunately forgotten) made it the best day. It was like walking with a friend as he took us around Dubrovnik, sharing stories, history, and, most importantly, his honest perspective and opinion. I appreciated how he could speak his mind but handled topics sensitively and appropriately (specifically, when speaking about the internal war in the 1990s). Dubrovnik might be my favorite place in Croatia because of its beauty and history. Learning about it added richness and depth to the trip, and I 100% attribute this to the guide. He was a 10/10!