Mr. and Mrs. Anselmi – Chester, NJ

Tasteful Croatian Journeys planned a phenomenal trip to Dalmatia for us, leaving us with magical memories and a desire to return to experience the other treasures of Croatia and surrounding areas. The choices of accommodations, guides, and everything in-between were spot-on, making every day an invigorating adventure of people, sights, history, and cuisine. True to the company name, everything was tasteful – exquisitely so. A profound thank you to Tia and her incredible team.

Thanks,

Andrew

Andrew Anselmi – Chester, NJ, USA
October 1, 2025

Hally & Chris Ahern – New York, NY

Dear Tasteful Croatian Journeys Team,

I cannot thank you enough for helping me to arrange this incredible trip to Croatia. We had a WONDERFUL time – our accommodations in each stop were perfect. Our drivers and guides were all timely and professional.

I will absolutely recommend your service to anyone I know even just considering a future trip to the area. I wish all travel agents were as good as you!!

All the best,

Hally and Chris

 

Welcome gift at Hotel Bellevue, Dubrovnik.		Sunrise view from hotel balcony, Hotel Bellevue (Dubrovnik).
Dinner seaside in Korcula.		Blue cave excursion.
Breakfast at Hotel Zuviteo.		View from our room, Hotel Adriana.

Day trip to Moro Beach (Stupe) from Korcula.

 
Hally and Chris Ahern – New York, NY, USA
September 7, 2025

Stephanie & Marc Steren – Bethesda, MD

What a fabulous trip!! I can’t say it enough that it was one of the best trips we have ever taken from start to finish! You are AMAZING and we can’t thank you enough for making this a trip of a lifetime. From the flowers and the champagne and the fantastic tour guides and the delicious restaurants with perfect tables and the hotels (each one with different charm!) we just loved it all!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU. Our only complaint is that you only do Croatia and we kept saying we need a Tia in every country we visit. You are just amazing from start to finish. ❤️

The best anniversary trip! 😍

I will tell everyone about you and anytime you need a reference I am happy to let them know how fantastic you are!

Stephanie & Marc Steren – Bethesda, MD, USA
August 28, 2025

 

Travel + Leisure, August 7, 2025 – Unsung Food Paradise in Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia

Full article here

By Tia Lovisa Moreira
August 7, 2025

Istria—a region that includes parts of Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia—is a fascinating cultural hub that I love to recommend to travelers looking for a culinary-focused trip. Taste delicious wines, hunt for truffles, and visit innovative restaurants on this journey through a relatively compact area.
Read more…

Mr. and Mrs. Love – Studio City, CA

Hi Tia and Mirela:

Thank you for providing us with such an amazing experience. Everything was perfect and first class. We truly had one of the most memorable trips of a lifetime. I cannot imagine that we will not go back one day!

Thank you so much for all your assistance and advice.

Tia: You truly picked the right places for us to stay and I would be happy to discuss particulars if you are interested.

Thanks again. I am so glad I found your company.

Hvala,

Steve Love

Steven & Jeanie Love – Studio City, CA, USA
July 28, 2025

Rudy & Trini – Camas, WA

Thank you Tia and Mirela for an awesome trip to Croatia! We had a great time!

Your bookings and recommendations were excellent – hotel was outstanding, wine experience was so good (we love the wine and bought 6 bottles) and concierge service was great and responsive.

It was a pleasure working with you.

Cheers,

Rudy & Trini – Camas, WA, USA
July 16, 2025

Gloria PUTOVANJE Magazine – December 2024

December 11, 2024

 

LUXURY REDEFINED: WANDA S. RADETTI AND THE ART OF TAILOR-MADE JOURNEYS TO CROATIA

 
By TANJA VUČIĆEVIĆ
Photos: Private Collection

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
 

Wanda with her team, Mirela Benić and Tia Lovisa Moreira.
 

“Luxury is a sensation — a feeling that transcends matter and engages all senses.”
– Wanda S. Radetti

For American tourists, a luxury journey through Croatia is no longer defined solely by predictable comfort and indulgence. Their expectations extend beyond impeccably “polished” five-star hotel rooms, first-class flights, and fine dining experiences. Instead, they seek authentic, meaningful memories that resonate long after their journey ends.
 
Wanda S. Radetti, a New Yorker with roots in Rijeka, has spent the last 30 years mastering the art of crafting such experiences. As the founder and owner of Tasteful Croatian Journeys, she was the first to introduce Croatia to the most discerning travelers from the U.S and Canada, a testament to her vision and passion.
 
Since 2006, Condé Nast Traveler has consistently recognized her as the world’s top Croatia travel specialists. Wanda specializes in curating unforgettable, tailor-made journeys across Croatia—experiences that reflect her love for the country and its treasures.

About 20 years ago, she embarked on a journey with her friend Lidia Bastianich, the cookbook author and television host of Istrian heritage, to explore the lesser-known harbors and serene waves along the Croatian coast. Their boat, modest and unassuming compared to others docked in the marina of Cavtat, was far from the largest or most luxurious. Yet, it was the location—coupled with the extraordinary culinary experience—that made their trip unforgettable. They indulged on board in the finest ‘spiza,’ or local cuisine, crafted from fresh ingredients sourced from the nearby Konavle region, paired with exquisite wines from within a hundred kilometers, showcasing the true essence of the Croatian coastline. That was the first of many more annual sailings exploring the one-thousand-plus islands of the Croatian coast.
 
How do the travelers for whom I organize trips define luxury?
I can tell you that they seek exclusive, personalized experiences tailored to their personalities and interests. Luxury today consists of tangible comforts, but even more importantly, the intangible aspects of travel: impeccable service, exceptional attention to detail, and creating unforgettable moments for every client,” explains the American travel expert.

When you combine that with unique locations like Dubrovnik, Istria, Split, Korčula, Hvar, and especially Rovinj—which has recently become a rising star—you have the foundation for creating an unforgettable experience of Croatia.
 
The story of how one becomes her client begins with a phone call to her directly or to Tia Lovisa Moreira, Wanda’s right hand and Senior Luxury Travel Designer at Tasteful Croatian Journeys.

Before preparing a personalized itinerary, it is essential to have a phone conversation, as it is crucial for Wanda to get to know the person on the other end of the line. This allows her to understand the client’s interests, past travel experiences (what they liked or didn’t like), passions (culture, history, adventure, food), travel style (luxurious, relaxed, active, or family-oriented), and expectations (pace, budget, and must-sees).

On the ground, Mirela Benić, Tasteful Croatian Journeys Concierge based in Rijeka, takes care of the clients’ needs, ensuring they feel supported before, during, and after their trip to Croatia.
 
What Else Do We Discuss in the First Contact?
For example, I’ll ask them about their hobbies, requirements, and expectations, and what inspires them the most. We’ll discuss food allergies and their level of physical fitness so we can plan activities according to their abilities. This exchange helps us understand how to focus the traveler’s attention on places and experiences that will meet their specific needs. Once we connect, we begin transforming their dreams into a unique 10-to-12-day itinerary—the usual length of their stay in Croatia. Whether it is organizing a vow renewal, a private tour of a family vineyard, private cooking lessons with a local chef, or a bird-watching excursion for nature enthusiasts – explains Mrs. Radetti, who, for example, with the help of Leila Krešić-Jurić, director of the Croatian National Tourist Board in the USA, once organized a trip for a retired constitutional judge from California to Croatia which included a meeting with a Croatian judge to exchange professional experiences.

Wanda explains that organizing a personalized trip means anticipating every traveler’s need and acting unobtrusively while arranging private charters of specially designed yachts, behind-the-scenes access to cultural landmarks and events, or personalized culinary journeys… The key is understanding that today, luxury is defined by the depth of the experience. Therefore, it matters how the service is presented to the guest, whether it’s a private tour guide, skipper, or personal driver.
 
After the first trip I organized in 1994, while Croatia was going through a difficult period, little by little, I got to know and trained a network of collaborators on the ground. Sometimes it felt like I was an ‘ice breaker’ I trained professionals whose services we needed, such as private drivers. I acted as a client and guided drivers on how to be professional, elegant, patient, educated, and, of course, non-smokers. I taught them to remove their sunglasses when speaking to clients and not to wear flip-flops. I explained when it’s appropriate to talk with the guest and when it’s not. They learned that cologne should be used sparingly and that their favorite music should not be played in the car without the guest’s consent. I emphasized that it was not advisable to step on the gas to show how fast they could drive and that they should not invite their girlfriend on the ride with the guest,” explains Wanda S. Radetti, who also revealed to us that the usual seasonality of travel to Croatia (summer, summer, and only summer) is no longer crucial. Here’s how she presents to guests what they can do off-season.
 
In autumn, imagine a private yacht weaving along the Dalmatian coast. Find quiet, secluded emerald coves where you can anchor overnight. Swim in the Adriatic Sea, which is still pleasantly warm. On a clear, crisp night, wrap yourself in a blanket on the deck, sipping “rakija” made by your skipper’s family as they teach you how to navigate by the stars. Visit off-the-beaten-path coastal destinations, join celebrations of local traditions or patron saints, or enjoy February carnivals. Rijeka is one of the most beautiful carnival cities in the world. In spring, just before Easter, spend the night in a renovated bishop’s palace on the island of Korčula and join the Good Friday procession with the locals, a tradition over 700 years old,” Wanda suggests.  Since, after three decades of organizing luxury travel to Croatia, she can recognize the unspoken desires of the most demanding travelers, it is no surprise that she has traveled the world in search of unforgettable experiences. Travel is her way of life and true passion, which she has transformed into a successful business.
 
I have traveled almost all the states of the USA and Canada, navigated the white water rapids of the Colorado River, swam in the cenotes of Yucatan, sinkholes that develop over millions of years, I swam with dolphins and fell in love in Isla Mujeres, one of the most beautiful smaller islands of the Caribbean Sea. I spent a night at a table in Mexico City tasting tequila and enjoyed coca leaf tea in Cusco. I paid the price with a terrible headache, but it was worth trying. I rode the train along the Urubamba River on my way to Machu Picchu, played blackjack at the Casino de Monte-Carlo, and regained my losses when I played my birthdate at the roulette table; I was intimidated by the shouts and banging of the tables by the players at the Casino’ in Macau. I climbed the famous pyramids in most Central American countries, visited most European countries, and petted a baby elephant on a safari in West Africa. In Mombasa, I received a marriage proposal: to impress me with his wealth, my suitor brought his camel daily to greet me on the beach… On my way to Bali, my airplane made an emergency landing in Papua New Guinea, which was an extraordinary experience,” recalls the unstoppable entrepreneur.
 
And since there are very few corners of the world she hasn’t visited, her answer to where she found the most beauty carries special weight. “Have you seen the full moon low over the sea next to Rijeka and Opatija? Believe me when I say there is no more beautiful sight in the world,” concludes Wanda S. Radetti.

Travel+Leisure A-List

December 4, 2024
 
Celebrating 30 Years of Passion and Dedication
Thirty incredible years devoted to exploring and promoting the culture, art, history, and culinary treasures of Croatia Full of life —and its neighboring countries.
It has been a journey marked by challenges and countless moments of joy and discovery.
I am deeply grateful for the recognition of the effort, expertise, and passion we share with our most curious and inspiring travelers.
Thank you to Travel + Leisure for this honor, the extraordinary VisitCroatia.com – Tasteful Croatian Journeys team, and our cherished partners, friends, and service providers. You have guided, supported, and held my hand from the first moment my heart landed in Croatia.
Here’s to many more years of creating unforgettable journeys!
 
– Wanda
 

 

Reader’s Digest, November 7, 2024 – The Best Time to Go to Croatia, According to Travel Experts

Full article here

November 7, 2024

There’s a reason it’s been voted among the top 10 countries to visit. Here’s what you need to know about the best time to go to Croatia.

Wanda Radetti, founder of VisitCroatia.com, recommends the following highlights for your visit… Read more

Louise B. – New York, NY

For anyone planning to visit Croatia, Italy’s Friuli-Venezia Giulia or Slovenia for the first time or wants to return for a deeper and more meaningful discovery of those countries, you must work with Tasteful Croatian Journeys! My first trip to the region was back in 2003 when Wanda Radetti, the company’s President, prepared an itinerary which included Croatia’s Split, Dubrovnik, and Peljesac Peninsula. Delighted by our first Croatian adventure, we wanted to return the following year and heeded her suggestion to explore Croatia’s islands of Hvar, Korcula, Mljet and Vis. Again, Ms Radetti’s team executed superbly. Our transfers from air to land to sea were seamless and the captain and crew made our day sailing and island hopping comfortable and exciting. This summer we reached out to her again. We visited Croatia’s Istrian region and its neighboring Italian city of Trieste. We savored the local dishes and wine, reveled in Istria’s Tuscany-like scenic beauty and Venetian-like hilltop and seaside towns as well as Trieste’s Liberty style architecture. But it was the insight we gained, from her passionate and well-informed professionals, into the region’s contrasting and fascinating historical context which made the trip extra special.
 
Louise Belulovich – New York, NY, USA
October 30, 2024