Introducing the world’s best vacation crafters
February 23, 2012
…Among my favorite new friends is Wanda Radetti, an enthusiastic advocate of travel to her homeland, the 1,185 islands that make up Croatia. Her New York-based company, Tasteful Croatian Journeys, is deliberately small and clearly focused. She will have your clients meet the lamplighter in Zagreb’s Old Town and she can score tickets for the Grand Masked Ball in Rijeka held each year during Carnival…
Lynn Gardner
Thank you so very much for the recommendation for Tasteful Croatian Journeys! We recently took a two-week vacation to Dubrovnik and the Istrian Peninsula of Croatia. Croatia is a beautiful country with literally hundreds of breathtaking sights to see. And I sought the help of a highly recommended travel agent to help guide me through a myriad of options. It was probably the best travel decision I have ever made.
Wanda Radetti was impeccably astute in her planning and her recommendations for us. She listened closely to our preferences and turned our vacation into a sublime experience. Beautiful, charming hotels, sophisticated restaurants and breath-taking locations greeted us everywhere we went. Wanda arranged personal drivers for us who were polite, punctual and fluent in English. Before we left for Croatia, we received a wonderful travel packet including our itinerary and her lyrical notes to us on the history and spirit of each site we visited. After reading her historical background notes and walking the cobblestoned streets, I felt the sense of awe that years of antiquity provide.
As the capital and historic jewel of the country, Dubovnik is spectacular for history buffs, photographers and gourmands alike. Its coastline and harbor are dramatic and we especially loved the abundance of fresh seafood. I have fond memories of sitting in a quaint alfresco restaurant after a busy day, eating mussels and drinking crisp white wine, while boats entered and left the scenic harbor.
The Istrian peninsula is varied and stunning. It was a continuing delight in each of the towns and villages we visited. The people were kind and the beauty of the Adriatic Sea unforgettable.
We were cordially welcomed by name in each place we visited. It is hard to say enough about the magic that Tasteful Croatian Journeys and Wanda created for us! I have recommended Ms. Radetti and her staff to friends.
Lynn Gardner – Albania
February 24, 2012 – Condé Nast Traveler
Karen Edwards
Wanda and her staff at Tasteful Croatian Journeys allowed my two daughters and me to have a completely enjoyable and worry-free experience in Croatia in July of last year (2011). All parts of the trip – guides, hotels, cars, drivers and restaurants – exceeded our expectations. Working with Wanda and her staff was easy: during the planning phase they promptly updated any changes we made and then they checked in with us throughout the trip to make sure we had everything we needed. Our first hotel in Trieste, Italy was fabulous; my daughters and I truly adored our amazing room in an exquisite and grand hotel. Not wanting to change hotels every day, but eager to explore Croatia, we were quite happy to find that Wanda had booked us for most of the next week into a very comfortable hotel with spacious rooms and fabulous Adriatic views that I still keep as background on my cell phone. My teenagers were happy being on the water and having a pool. We all enjoyed the convenience of walking into town to shop and sample the many good restaurants. Our personal driver and local tour guide picked us up each day to show us some neighboring towns and historical treasures – even my teenagers enjoyed sightseeing with them! We would have happily stayed even longer just to soak up the ambiance of the Istrian peninsula. A highlight of our trip was our visit to the Plitvice Lakes which my daughter had researched prior to our trip and which was what drew us to Croatia initially. The beautiful turquoise lakes and waterfalls in the middle of a forest were breathtaking – no wonder it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site! Our local driver, Cedo, and I discussed how Tasteful Croatian Journeys had sent us to all the best places —including some that most people who visit Croatia never get to see. Wanda definitely listened to me during our initial conversations and then used her own vision and expertise to create the best vacation we have had in years – very relaxing and carefree, yet full of new experiences and special memories. I have already recommended Wanda and Tasteful Croatian Journeys to two of my friends and would highly recommend them to anyone else looking for a luxury, tailor-made “journey” in and around one of the loveliest parts of Europe. We can’t wait to go back and see more.
Karen Edwards – MD
February 13, 2012 – Condé Nast Traveler