Wanda Radetti’s Thanksgiving Message

My favorite Holiday and the moment when I stand still to celebrate with gratitude the kindness, grace and support that I have received as precious gifts this year.

Grateful for our travellers, the most exquisite, inquisitive, delightful travellers, to each one, I extend my profound gratitude for the trust and the privilege that you bestow when you engage our team to compose your personal Tasteful Croatian, and more journeys and interludes.

Grateful for our team of professional partners and service providers that gracefully provided gentle and generous attention to everyone that we trust to their personal care.

Grateful for the most outstanding Travel Professionals and Planners of the World, thank you for trusting your VIP clients to our care and attention.

Grateful for the pleasures and challenges that have helped me to learn new lessons, expand my mind and heart.

Grateful for the beautiful Tasteful Croatian Journeys team that has patiently and brilliantly provided guidance and support for those “ideas & desires” that populate my thoughts every morning upon wakening. A courageous, dynamic team that shares, my expectations and that strives to delivery excellence in all that we do. Thank you, Tia, Tara, Mirela, Diego, Steve & Linda. I am in a state of appreciation because you help me to realize my dreams.

I am grateful for the support that I receive from my very generous, patient and understanding friends, old and new, that surround me with kindness and try to forgive my limitations and imperfections.
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Happy, kind and gentle Thanksgiving to family and friends, close and far away.
May you all travel in a world where people unite in peace, respect, friendships and kindness.

May all your journeys be tasteful!

 

– Wanda S. Radetti

The Fenomen Plitvice Resort

A 4-star property is designed to complement the natural environment of the famed National Park. In the middle of pristine nature, with the feeling of being in a small village of wood cabins. The beautiful and comfortable accommodations, warm staff, thoughtful local cuisine, and pristine setting, the Fenomen offers the finest accommodations for visitors to the famed Plitvice Lakes.

The Fenomen Plitvice is a true representation of their moto, “luxury meets nature”.

The Fenomen Plitvice Resort is a within the UNESCO Heritage site of Plitvice Lakes National Park, one of the few privately owned properties within walking distance to the park. The aesthetic is perfectly suited to the natural surroundings, well-appointed with outdoor facilities for entertainment and relaxation.

The cabins speak of true luxury, beautifully designed with thoughtful details. The Fenomen offers the finest accommodations for visitors to the Plitvice Lakes.

One-bedroom suites feature fireplaces, with a basket a wood ready for you to create your cozy indoor respite from the wilderness. The interior speaks to the setting, retaining the traditional style of the region, (a few of the building were even original cottages now completely renovated) featuring elegant wood paneling, with all the modern amenities needed by luxury travelers.

The staff is thoughtful and friendly. Leo and Antonella at the front desk are both locals yet have great experience working in luxury hotels around Croatia. They provide a personal touch for their guests.

When two of our Tasteful Croatian Journeys team, Tia a New York based travel designer, with Mirela our Tasteful Croatian Journeys Concierge, visited The Fenomen in November 2019 they were excited to learn about the experiences we will be creating for our travelers. For example, the property offers a few wonderful vantage points; one viewpoint overlooks Plitvice Creek and a small cascade, and the other overlooking a lake with a sunset view. In the upcoming season, Leo and Antonella will arrange for a special private dinner for our guests at one of the viewpoints!

Their restaurant is unique for the area, serving traditional regional cuisine, local delicacies, and homemade products, all prepared with the finest ingredients.

The Fenomen Plitvice places great importance and reference in their unique and beautiful National Park setting. They take great care in maintaining the integrity of the surrounding environment. This also informs their design decisions, such as the stone path which connects the buildings.

Aside from beautiful and comfortable accommodations, a warm staff, thoughtful cuisine, and pristine setting, the Fenomen offers many ways to enjoy leisure time. When relaxation is called for after a long hike in the National Park, make use of their charming small cottage with a sauna and jacuzzi, which can be reserved for exclusive use. If more activity is what guests crave, the soccer field, bocce court, horseback riding, four wheeling, cycling, or even archery may be what calls. They also have many trails on site, and a children’s playground.

From our travelers who visited in October,

“The hotel was phenomenal, and we were sorry to leave!”

About the Author:

Luxury Travel Designer and Destination Specialist, Tara Busch, has had a love of travel and an adventurous spirit since childhood. Tara’s background as a history and geography teacher, and avid world travel fueled her dream of pursuing a career in travel. Always seeking out authentic experiences, she enjoys spending time with locals, trying regional cuisine and slow travel.

Mr. Bradley & Mrs. Barbara Warady, October, 2019

Dear Wanda,

My husband and I wanted to write and thank you for planning our wonderful trip to Croatia. We had an absolutely magnificent vacation and are grateful for your work in making this trip what it was. The country is absolutely beautiful and the people were friendly and accommodating. As we passed your name around, it appears that everyone knows you!

The weather was perfect and we were informed that it was somewhat atypical for the time of year, but we were happy that it was. The hotel was truly wonderful and we are very glad that you encouraged us to stay there instead of within the Old Town. But, we did visit Old Town almost every day while in Dubrovnik. We also fell in love with Korcula, it’s a beautiful place! Our tour guides and drivers throughout. our stay were exceptional.

Thank you very much for all that you have done for us.

Thank you again

Barbara – Overland Park, KS
October 2019

Bibich Winery

In more than 30 years of visiting Croatia, and tasting the fruits of the winemaker’s harvest, it has been a tremendous pleasure to observe and enjoy the evolution of the Croatian wine regions as it mounts its resurgence from the long period of communism and heartbreaking homeland war. Each of the distinct wine regions in Croatia offer something unique, breaking new ground with old vines.

In the small village of Plastovo, near the ancient town of Skradin, not far from the pristine waterfalls of the Krka River, you will discover a rare partnership of innovation and talent. Alan Bibić and his wife Vesna have created a venue for which to offer guests a truly unique experience.

 

 

In Dalmatia, the name Bibich induces visions of boutique wine production, generations of family vintners, with a devotion to the native grape and respect for the land.

Within the walls of a humble garden is a collaboration composed of artistry, passionate winemaking, a gifted chef and intelligent team. This synergy is revealed in Vesna’s beautiful avant-garde menu composed of creative molecular gastronomy dishes, aired with  delicate Bibich vintages, set in the minimalistic garden , where you will want to linger all day.

The garden setting where the BIBICh team showcase their wine and culinary brilliance is not in fact a vineyard, although their wines are grown in three separate vineyards nearby. This enchanted garden courtyard, shaded by a century old vine, is devoted to presenting an experience – one which they have truly mastered.

 

 

When guests arrive, they will likely be greeted by the lovely and knowledgeable Jelena. Arriving at the Bibich garden has a feeling of being welcomed into the home of a friend, or an intimate garden party hosted by wine savant.

Several options are available to suit your desires, from the casual visit to experiential dining. Wines are presented with each course, and your host will offer a detailed description of each wine, modes of production and regions. Dishes are prepared with seasonal ingredients, and regularly vary.
Tours of the cellar can be arranged. Reservations are not required for daily offered tastings in the estate shop. Lite snacks are available and select wines can be purchased on site. However, we suggest our travelers who love wine, food, and culture, opt for a more immersive experience.

 

Depending on the size of your group, and specifications, some examples of offerings are as follows;

Food & Wine Pairings
• Seven course food and wine pairing, offered at lunch
• Full Tasting Menu – 13 creative courses, paired with 13 wines, perfectly paired, can be offered for lunch or dinner

Special Presentations for Group
• Tasting of 5 selected wines accompanied by 5 courses, served in the tasting room of the winery, served to groups of 10 of more
• Wine & Tapas is presented to groups of 15 or more, with 4 selected wines and tapas, served in the courtyard
• High Tea – Offered in the afternoon, small bites served with sparkling wine, a selection of teas, coffees, and fresh juices. For parties of 6 or more
• Winemakers dinner, and barrel tasting offered on request

 

Wanda visited most recently in July 2019 and enjoyed the menu here below;
• Homemade black cracker from Adriatic cuttlefish prepared with local spices, cream of garlic and cuttlefish haze on top
• Cuttlefish crispy cone filled with cuttlefish cream
• Deconstructed beat root with poppy seed butterball
• “Black is Black”: Sea brim prepared in carob flour, cuttlefish puree, cuttlefish not-caviar, salted with black salt with a touch of nigella
o Mrs Vesna’s signature dish, “Black is black”, is served on handmade black plates made by her mother
• Eggs and bacon or pasta no pasta: deconstructed eggs and bacon in pasta form
• White is White: free range rooster breast filet, pag cheese cream, white almonds, white caviar, butter powder
• Skradin risotto: famous cult dish from small town of Skradin ,always prepared for at least 8 hours
• Beef cheeks prepared in premium Bas De Bas wine for 12 hours, polenta and rosemary
• Black olive and four stages of Pag cheese
• Deconstructed tiramisu with our prošek “Ambra”

 

Visit our YouTube page for videos from Wanda’s visit to the Bibich winery

About the Author:
Luxury Travel Designer and Destination Specialist, Tara Busch, has had a love of travel and an adventurous spirit since childhood. Tara’s background as a history and geography teacher, and avid world travel fueled her dream of pursuing a career in travel. Always seeking out authentic experiences, she enjoys spending time with locals, trying regional cuisine and slow travel.

Larry & Cynthia Eisenhauer – October, 2019

Greeting,

Thank you for a wonderful and well planned trip for us.

Just a few comments on how the trip went. First each of our guides and drivers were on time, knowledgeable and helpful with suggestions beyond their assigned duties.

We may have pushed a little trying to walk the many steps in Trieste on the first day. I got quite fatigued. Maybe it was too long on an airplane and layovers.

           From Cythnia – “Sitting at the crossroads of diverse cultures and civilizations, Trieste enjoys both its legacy as a commercial port since ancient times and its current vibrant multicultural university town. I enjoyed the many architectural styles encompassed in the medieval old city and the neoclassical Austrian quarter. The colossal square, Piazza Unita Italia, faces the Adriatic Sea and buzzes day and night with activity.”

When we arrived in Ljubljana our room wasn’t ready and we were happily upgraded to the presidential suite. In Venice the room was on the first floor and the noise outside on temporary metal walkways over the canal was quite loud. I mentioned this to the front desk and they immediately moved us to and upper floor with the same lagoon view. All our accommodations were wonderful and the locations couldn’t have been better. The room in Split was very small and required walking up several flights of stairs. The benefits of the location of the Vestibule hotel were not enough to offset the inconvenience of having no space to open our luggage and the steep stairs. Nevertheless, the service of the Vestibule was exceptional.This minor complaint is more a reflection of how we were spoiled in the other hotels.

If we were to take the trip again, we would climb to fewer walled cities and take advantage of more experiences like the cooking class. Perhaps visit the Illy plant or a local vineyard or olive oil production facility.

Overall, we had a wonderful time and the arrangements you made were outstanding. We will highly recommend you to our friends and family.

Larry & Cynthia Eisenhauer – Kansas City, MO
October 2019

Keay – October, 2019

Dear Wanda, Mirela, Tia and Tasteful Croatian Journeys Team….

We have just returned from an amazing two week trip to Croatia and Slovenia, during which we traveled from Zagreb, into Ljublana in Slovenia, then Istria, and several other historic towns along the beautiful Croatian Coast until we finished up in Dubrovnik two weeks later.

Background:

My wife, Suzanne, and I attend the New York Times Travel Show held in January every year at the Jacob Javits Center in New York, with the specific goal of finding a partner who can help us plan and discover a new part of the world. Croatia was on our “prospect” list this year, along with a few other possibilities, but from the moment we met your team we knew our decision was made. Croatia in 2019, it was!

I still have the map you used to lay out a possible trip, and over the next several weeks we fine-tuned the itinerary so every day was filled with new discoveries

(For the benefit of any readers unfamiliar with the history of this region, it was in the very center of the Roman Empire going back to the first century. Well preserved or reconstructed Roman, Ottoman and Venetian Coliseums, Castles, Forts, Palaces, Churches are everywhere. If you love history, you will get your fill).

We started in Zagreb, the Capital……then drove (NOTE: we had professional drivers and guides everywhere) to Ljublana, the Capitol of Slovenia (who’s total population is only 2 million…and only 4.1 million is all of Croatia)…then, after two days, back to the Istrian Peninsula, along the Adriatic Sea coast. We stayed in the seaside town of Opatija, established in the 1920’s…(which reminded me of Cannes and Monte Carlo. Beautiful hotels, spotlessly cleaned streets and waterfront. Great shops…plentiful restaurants. Spent three full days exploring the amazing sea coast towns of Istria, including Porec, Rovini, Pula, Motovon (Truffle headquarters), and mountain top fortified cities.

We then headed off to Plitvice Lakes National Park (A World Heritage UNESCO site…one on many in Croatia) which features a series of lakes and amazing waterfalls viewed from an extensive network of beautiful trails.

From Plitvice, we drove to the coastal Towns of Zadar, Sibenik, and then on to Split…the second largest city in Croatia, with a waterfront lined with Palm Trees, al fresco restaurants, shops, etc. The Diocletian Palace in Split…the most prominent landmark…was built in the 1st Century, and it is beautifully restored. Hundreds of people are lucky enough to own and live inside the palace walls.

 

 

 

From Split we took the high speed Ferry to the Island of Korchula….and stayed at the first hotel built on the island. From Korchula we took another Ferry back to the “Peninsula” (mainland) heading to the town of Ston…with a stop on the way for a private wine tasting at a 500 year old vineyard. Ston is known for having the second longest wall ever built in the world (after the Great Wall), to protect itself from the Ottoman’s.

And then on to our last stop, Dubrovnik, a walled city …12th largest in the country, with a population of only 48,000

 

 

So while the itinerary was fabulous, what really impressed us more than anything else, was the flawless planning by the Tasteful Croatan Journey’s team. Wanda, the owner, is a native Italian (born in what is now Croatia) who lives in the US. Literally anywhere we went, everyone knew Wanda…to the point of giving her much of the credit for the dramatic increase in tourism to Croatia. Wanda knows every driver and guide we used, and trained most of them herself. At virtually every hotel we checked into, we were told that Mirela Benic (the in-country team member) had called the day before our arrival to insure that our reservations were in order and that we had the best room available (with water views, of course). Mirela even recommended the best restaurants in every town and made reservations for us at the ones we chose.

So bottom line….my wife and I highly recommend Tasteful Croatian Journey’s, and as I sat down to write this “review” I can honestly say there was not one thing I would change. But most importantly…if you engage the Tasteful Croatian Journey’s team, you will be working with professionals who truly care about every detail with the goal of insuring that your vacation will be one you will always remember as “one of the BEST EVER”.

One word of advice….Croatia is no longer a “secret”. As word spreads about its beauty and place in history, crowds during the summer months can be very large. We went in October..10/11-10/25 and in most of my photos there is an absence of people. AND, the weather was in the mid to high 70’s every day…with zero rainy days.

Lastly…we considered this to be a 5 Star vacation, but the total cost was very, very fair and reasonable.

 

Sincerely.

Jay & Suzanne Keay – Chappaqua, NY
October 2019