Dear Wanda,

Pat and I want to thank you for the great trip you planned for us. It perfectly matched what we were looking for and we hated to come home.

I wanted to pass on some specific comments:

The pace of the trip was just about right. We might have wanted to spend an additional day in Split, but I am not sure what we would have wanted to give up. I was surprised at how much I liked Dubrovnik, when the cruise crowds were not there. We were lucky enough to snag a table on Saturday night at a café near the Cathedral (with very bad food) to listen to the concert with the Tenor Stijepo Gled Markos- the scene was magical!

Guides: While most of the guides were very good, Goran in Rovinj and Stefan in Montenegro were outstanding.

Drivers:  We very much enjoyed our drives with our driver from Zagreb to Rovinj (I apologize for not knowing his name) and with Marko in Dubrovnik and appreciated their willingness to indulge our desire to ask a million questions about life in Croatia. We learned so much from them.

Meals:  We were blown away by the wonderful food and wine in Croatia. Our cooking experiences  TCJ Croatia Immersion – Tastefully at the Esplanade™, in Zagreb with Darko and  the TCJ Croatia Immersion – Tastefully at the Lesic Dimitri Palace™ in Korcula were so enjoyable. As you know, I had reservations about the Chef’s Table at the Lesic Dmitri; however, the fabulous food and wine and being hosted by Drazen totally won us over; we had a great evening. Villa Meneghetti was everything you said it would be and more.

As I had requested, Iva made reservations at Zigante for lunch. In retrospect, we should have allowed ourselves more time to roam around Motovun and probably eaten our lunch there. It would have made for a much more relaxed day. Unfortunately, did not have a good experience at Zigante and ended up not staying for lunch. 

The seaplane was great-the only time I haven’t worried about flying over the water.

Our day yachting was an incredible experience that we will not forget for a long time. The great crew made it even more memorable. We stopped for lunch at Zori-wonderful ambience and delicious food.

We were very happy with all the hotel accommodations. Your selections were diverse and top quality and we were very well treated by the staff.

I know in your website you stress that you have a concierge on the ground in Croatia. I really didn’t give it much thought.  However, it will be very important factor in any future trip I plan. Iva was incredible. We know from our guides, drivers and Drazen, that she was like our personal guardian angel on our travels through Croatia. Pat and I toasted her as we sat in the Venice Residence for getting us the early check in, so we were not sitting out in the teeming rain. What had started out as a miserable day ended up being a fantastic day thanks to Iva.

Thank you so much for making this a trip we will remember.

Mary Ann, Rooney & Madeline Grimberg – Newton, MA
October 7, 2015

Dear Wanda, 

I want to say how much we enjoyed our trip to beautiful Croatia. You created a perfect family vacation, with just right amount of culture and relaxation time. Every detail was so well taken care of, we didn’t worry about anything. The drivers and all the guides were very professional, knowledgeable and flexible and helped us understand the history of Croatia and the various places we visited.  And the accommodations you chose were perfect. We wish we could have stayed longer, especially in that gem of a hotel in Korcula. Thank you for a fantastic experience!

Here’s what my son said:  “I loved jumping into the ocean right from the hotel in Dubrovnik. And walking around the wall was really cool. My favorite place was the hotel with the long table (in Korcula). I wish we had stayed there a few more days.”  Milo Boublik 12 yrs old

Best,

Mimi Boublik & family – New York, NY
October 16, 2015

Hi Wanda & The entire Visit Croatia team!

Thank you so very much for all of your assistance while we were in Croatia.  You were simply wonderful.  Your entire team made our 15 year wedding anniversary dreamlike and seamless.  Everything flowed perfectly. The locations, sites, hotel, and recommendations made us truly feel like we had the insights of a “local”.  We loved being in the best locations within each city and the knowledge of local guides. 

Now, what’s next??  Are there other areas that you can also provide similar insights?  If so, I would love to know.    

Thanks so much and looking forward to the pleasure of working with you again soon!

Regards

Jon & Erin Schiller – Cold Spring, NY
September 25, 2015

Dear Wanda,

The Croatian trip you arranged for the 2 of us in May was beautifully done.

Every driver and every guide arrived on time, and all were of high quality. We felt well cared for. Each driver had modern, clean cars, supplied bottled water for our use, and was friendly yet professional.  Because we enjoy history you booked guides for walking tours in each town we visited and once again we were well pleased.  It was especially helpful to us that your printed itinerary had restaurant suggestions and sightseeing activities listed for each town, and we used them extensively. 

Our friends will be sure to get our recommendation to use VisitCroatia for their own trips. 

Thank you for well done arrangements from start to finish. 

Stephan & Marynell Gordon – Virginia Beach, VA
June 14, 2015

We will be leaving Croatia this morning and I want to thank you–Wanda and Iva and all your assistants–for helping us plan this wonderful visit.

Everything you have suggested and arranged for us has been perfect!  We have loved each restaurant and every experience. Goran was a fabulous guide–so knowledgeable and so relaxed and charming!  Our driver was great and everywhere they took us was so worthwhile and interesting. We will definitely come back to Croatia to explore more of this beautiful and friendly country and we will ask for your assistance in planning our next visit!

Thanks so much,

Elizabeth Landes & family – Winnetka, IL
July 2, 2015

Dear Wanda and Iva,

Thank you very much for making our family trip a complete success! I am hero in the eyes of my family.

Each of the stops in our itinerary was unique and lovely, we enjoyed very much the choice of hotels and suggested restaurants, our guides and driver were very courteous and professional and the big bus was a complete hit for all the members of our group. I specially appreciated the constant support by Iva throughout the journey and knowing that I was not testing new grounds.

Thanks you again and very warm regards!

Monica Restrepo & family – Bethesday, MD
August 10, 2015

Hi Wanda, 

I wanted to let you know that we had the most amazing trip to Croatia in July.  What a beautiful place; we are already dreaming of next time.  Everything was divine and seamless, which when traveling with three small children, is quite the compliment.  Thank you for your attention to all the travel details and helping make this a memorable vacation.  

I have had many people express interest in visiting Croatia when they hear about our trip or they say it has been on their ‘list’ of places to go.  I wanted to let you know that I have passed along your name for them to have on file. 

Melissa Holton & family – Houston, TX
September 10, 2015

Hello Wanda,

I meant to write sooner, but you can probably guess now that I’ve been raving about my trip! It truly was amazing and everything was just perfect! You nailed my itinerary and you really designed something that was exactly what I was looking for. Now it’s a matter of when I can go back again.

Thank you again,

Tracey Geddis – Chadds Ford, PA
July 4, 2015

Minutia and details are for a different expression of the particulars of the trip you planned for us. They’re valuable, sure, but those kind of things are for my mom to examine.

That kind of stuff isn’t for me. I’m all about broad strokes. Collecting the small parts and joining them with poetry.

It wasn’t hard to do because Croatia and the people who live there made it pretty easy to feel romantic about and towards.

Never having been to Croatia before was daunting because there were high expectations and high stakes. Recognition of a fatherland is a very important part of what it is to be an American, and when that recognition turns to love it can be a valuable addition to the texture of who you are. Not only knowing where you come from, but the kind of people you’re descended from is a privilege, but a necessity.

I don’t think I would feel this way about Croatia if it wasn’t for all the work you did. It wasn’t the spectacular hotels that I’m going to remember, though they were almost universally lovely and accommodating. It wasn’t the exquisite food I’ll brag about for years. I’m going to remember the exceedingly wonderful drivers, guides, and servers who showed us their homeland with pride, precision, and intelligence I’ve never seen anywhere else. Neven, Predrag, Nenad, Philip, Andrea, Ajlin Bojo, Lea Niki, Marina, Mladin, and Lucianja are people I’ll never forget and, more importantly, see again (and I’m really shitty with names, just ask my mom).

Our guide in Korcula said, and this is a paraphrase, “I’m thankful because our ancestors left this place as a gift for us today,” as we stood in the shadow of that town’s lovey bell tower. I’ve read a hundred books about architecture, history, and world culture and hadn’t come to that resolution about our ancestors. Of course not every town is like Korcula, but it made me very emotional and made me think about what it is to be Croatian.

It’s never been easy living where great empires meet. Croatians did not have Croatia for a long, long time. They’ve lived in Rome, Austria, Yugoslavia, Venice, Italy, and a cacophony of other places over the course of history. 

They never stopped being Croatians. That’s ultimately what our ancestors left for us like the Korculans of old left for the folks who live there now.

Seeing the streets bustling with tourists, full restaurants, busy shops, and fruitful fields is an indication that the wait has been and will be worth it. Most people don’t know it yet, but Croatia is a place they’ll want to experience. If they get 1/4th the treatment we did they’ll want to go back immediately.

You didn’t plan a trip for us, you planned a pilgrimage. For that I thank you.

Ivan & Rubina Oremus – Wayne, IL
July 3, 2015

Dear Wanda,

I don’t know quite where to begin.  This was absolutely the best trip of our lifetime. 

From the minute that we arrived until our departure, every detail of the trip was meticulously planned out.  The country is magnificent, the people welcoming and charming, each guide was well-versed in the history of the country and I could sense them making adjustments to the tour as they learned more about us.  They were very gracious in answering all of our questions, which were more about the current government, lifestyle, education and medical care in the country than the beautiful sites we were visiting.  Each guide was charming in his or her own way and well-known in their areas, as were all of the drivers.

The hotels and rooms were extraordinary.  We loved the variety, from modern waterfront hotels to ageless palaces.  I must say our favorite room was the Arabian room in Korcula. It was like something out of a movie set.

All of the restaurants that Iva chose for us were delicious with beautiful atmosphere.  Each one was spectacular that it is impossible to single one out.  But, the setting of the restaurant that we ate in during our visit to Montenegro was breathtaking, the food so fresh and the staff so welcoming.  The same holds true for the restaurant in the hotel that we stay at in Korcula.  I told our waiter that he should be a guide.  He was such a delight.  And then the chef at the restaurant at the Esplanade in Zagreb came out to meet us twice, made us special dishes and gave us each pralines as a present. 

We loved all of the Old Cities and learning about Croatian heritage.  Everyone we met is so proud of their country.  It was so refreshing and we just loved it.

Thanks you for everything.  We will definitely return and have shared our experience with anyone who will listen.

Barbara & Phillip Horowitz – New York, NY
June 13, 2016