Archers actress Amy Shindler for the Mail on Sunday on her Croatian holiday at Villa Turquoise, on Brac Island earier in the summer

28th November 2011

An wonderully amusing article by Amy Shindler on her Croatian villa holiday experience on the Island of Brac at Villa Turquoise booked with Croatia Gems! Sunbathing, exploring and experiencing the Croatian summer 'island style', Amy visited many lovely spots on Brac and Hvar Island during her stay and her article is an entertaining and realistic take on the villa holiday perspective! Read the full article below...!

Thanks Amy! We're glad you had such a great time.

Check out the full Mail on Sunday article here!

Click here to take a look at Villa Turquoise for yourself & call us on 0044 (0)117 9732643 for a chat or email us on info@croatiagems.com

Rory McGrath, Griff Rhys Jones & Dara O Brian journey up the coast of Croatia...

Rory McGrath, Griff Rhys Jones and Dara O Brian travelled from Montenegro to Venice, for the BBC travelogue series and were enchanted by the Croatian Islands, saying they were "pure" when most places in the Med weren't like that anymore. They experience some wonderful Dalmatian Klappa singing (acapella harmonies), taste and enjoy some delicious local wines, sail old fishing boats, and are treated to the coastal scenery from their boat.

The video below is worth a look - you can see they were really impressed and in wonder at the islands...

Click here for Croatia Gems Special Offers & call us on 0044 (0)117 9732643 for a chat or email us on info@croatiagems.com

A bit of local knowledge from us to guide you to a superb sunset watching evening venue!

Restaurant Levanat on the edge of Lapad Bay, Dubrovnik- It's quite hard to review this place without being a bit reluctant to divulge it to the rest of the world! This a the prettiest spot and you would hardly know it is there. It is reachable via the path around Lapad Bay, a great beach in Dubrovnik - it's maybe a 15 or 20 minute walk to the end where the restaurant is but you would hardly know you were close to the bustling bay you left behind.

Mostly it is known to us as a super relaxing spot to take some shade from the sun when taking a day out along the beaches of the Bay of Lapad. A shadey walk along the little path which meanders around the bay will bring you to many places you wouldn't imagine to be there, but this is a special one. The sunsets from here are amazing. Another place to try to eat at is the Hotel More which is more upscale but has that same special feeling about it. Ultimately relaxing and beautiful.

The food at Levanat is good - a good range and fabulous pancakes and coffee!. Any time is a good time to go there but we'd advise getting there for the end of the sunbathing day and watching the sun go down, and then wandering back to the main beach to slowly wind into the evening! This place certainly has the location and the view.

Check out Listing information for Restaurant Levenat

Click here for Croatia Gems Special Offers & call us on 0044 (0)117 9732643 for a chat or email us on info@croatiagems.com

Amazing New Cheap Flights from Ryanair to Croatia - Offer for 2 day only!

Brilliant new flights just announced by Ryanair for flights to Zadar and Pula in Croatia on the Adriatic Sea fror £9. This amazing offer is only valid for 2 days!! So get your tickets by the 10th March to encure your flights.

Check out our Flights page for more information on Flights and travel to Croatia

Click here for Croatia Gems Special Offers & call us on 0044 (0)117 9732643 for a chat or email us on info@croatiagems.com

Travel and Tourism here means the Mystery of Natural Beauty and History. Not long ago, the National Geographic Adventure Magazine named Croatia as ‘Destination of the Year’, now look at it!

The world so very large, yet opportunities to enjoy many places on Earth can be scarce. For travelers, tourists, business and commerce, or naturalists and students of history, the Southern European region known as Croatia, is a diverse wonderland of plains, lakes and rolling hills, densely wooded mountains, and rocky coastlines. More than this, the region has many national parks, numerous medieval castles, historic cities and sites, a wealth of resorts and up-scale activities such as yachting and fishing, and all modern conveniences. From Croatia to you, here is a travel destination that is truly broadening and refreshing for every member of the family.

Saron Lease, owner of the Internet’s premiere website for travel resources and connections in Croatia (‘Croatia Gems’ at www.croatiagems.co.uk) says that the nation of Yugoslavia was once a hugely popular tourist destination for the British public and also the rest of Europe. With militarism in the region now 15 years in the past, and Yugoslavia re-invented as non-communist Croatia, the doors are open for a new wave of enthusiasm for travel to this destination. Only two hours from the UK, the area is un-spoiled, with pristine beaches and coastline, quality accommodations, a wide variety of things to do and see, and low-cost enjoyment of fabulous organic local foods, Lease says.

“I really love it,” Lease commented. “It’s different in Croatia to other countries. Croatia has an identity that is unique in Europe. The people I have met love where they live, and really make the most of it. It’s got a really Mediterranean outlook, where work isn’t everything, and quality-of-life is important.”

The experienced traveler will find Croatia well-developed and attractive, with a vast coastline and wonderful historic towns. 10 million people toured Croatia in 2005, and they indeed may have enjoyed this place as ‘the Mediterranean as it once was’ (the current motto for the hospitality industry here).

There are nine tourist regions, including:
1) Istria, with ancient Roman towns, and large hotels, as well as resorts, campsites and sports facilities;

2) Kvarner, with scenic gulf views, tall mountains-by-the-sea, and a dozen large islands (also animal species such as bears, and two national parks);

3) Dalmatia-Zadar, with yachting, the uninhabited islands of the Kornati National Park, Roman towns and their architectural wonders, and more;

4) Dalmatia-Sibenik, with more islands, yachting, famous cathedrals, a medieval fortress in the city of Knin, and waterfalls and religious monasteries in the national parks;

5) Dalmatia-Split, with resort towns and large islands, cathedrals, palaces, fortresses, and abundant vineyards and wine;

6) Dalmatia-Dubrovnik, featuring the fortified city, numerous islands and untouched forests;

7) Central Croatia, with old cities, castles and spas, the Marian Shrine of Marija Bistrica, nature parks, forests and wilderness, cultural architecture, and Baroque churches;

8) Slavonia has national parks, a wide variety of birds and fauna, and wines and cuisine;

9) Zagreb, which has a Central European feel, as the Croatian capital and largest cultural center, with many museums and galleries.

“Croatia is a really safe place,” said Lease. “Crime is minimal. I always feel safe. You can drink the water and swim anywhere on the coast, it’s so clean and the whole coastline is open to the public. The food is delicious---lots of fresh seafood and organic meat and vegetables. Lots of pasta and delicious thin-crust pizzas, all really cheap, too. Every restaurant has its own wine and their own olive grove, so there is a plentiful supply of olive oil. Local fishermen supply fresh fish.”

In 2006, National Geographic Adventure Magazine named Croatia as ‘Destination of the Year’, and UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) includes several Croatian sites on its World Heritage list, including the historical complex of Split with the Palace of Diocletian, the old city of Dubrovnik, Plitvice Lakes National Park, the Cathedral of St. James in Sibenik, and others.

Almost 90-percent of the population are called Croats, with 20 other minorities. The common language is Croatian, but many people speak English, French or German, and other languages. International airports can be found in five major cities, with a total of 68 airports throughout the region. There are also several major railways, and some of the most modern and safe highways in Europe (many of these are toll-roads). Bus traffic is very common and widely-used---you can arrive almost anywhere in Croatia in comfort and style using the pleasant, modern bus system. Croatia also has several large seaports, and river transportation along the Danube or Sava waterways, is well-developed. Mobile and land-line telephone service reaches at least 6 million Croatian customers, with 1.5 million Internet users, and regular radio and television service as well.

“One of the reasons we set up the company (‘Croatia Gems’) was that we foresaw a big demand for quality accommodations in Croatia, but Croatia itself didn’t market the area well, and didn’t know what modern visitors wanted,” Lease added. “Croatia is a really interesting place to visit---the history, environment, etc. It is stunningly beautiful, cheap when you get there, and just very uncomplicated. It’s an amazing place for a holiday.”