The Tasteful Croatian Journeys team visits Croatia and the surrounding regions to explore and learn, seeking out new properties, restaurants, and off-the-beaten-path experiences for our travelers. On these trips, which occur several times per year, the TCJ team also has the opportunity to embrace our friends and colleagues, revisit our favorite properties, restaurants, wineries, and konobas and review the experiences we currently offer. We check, taste, test, look, listen, question and offer praise and/or suggestions for improvements. We try every type of eatery, from humble konobas (taverns) to Michelin starred restaurants – it’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it! Undoubtedly, on every visit, we are introduced to a property or a meal which so exceeds our …

As the years pass and energy flows into endeavors that call upon my heart, I reflect on the motivations and values which drive my attention. A talented writer, who I am proud to call a friend, Ms. Catherine Sabino, wrote an article for Forbes about a new luxury winery and villa in Croatia, which was developed as an homage of love and passion by Minnesota philanthropists, Mr. Lee and Mrs. Penny Anderson, together with their daughter Ms. Katherine Anderson Groethe.Tasteful Croatian Journeys has the pleasure to develop, coordinate, and manage holidays of all kinds for travelers around the world. However, it is not often that we can enjoy the distinct pleasure to accompany our travelers. In September of 2018, such …

Our network of friends, colleagues, and brilliant visionaries all share one thing in common…. We love Croatia! We all wish to share its bounty of pleasures with the world. A talented champion of this magnificent country is our friend, Mirena Bagur, Co-founder of Croatian Premium Wine Imports. We are pleased to share just a bit of her story and work as a guardian and promoter of Croatian wine. Introducing, in her own words, our friend, Ms. Mirena Bagur…     My Croatian Wine Journey I grew up in Croatia. My hometown Metkovic is based in the valley of the Neretva river in Dubrovnik-Neretva county. I am used to the vistas of the meandering Neretva, the smell of herbs, the sun …

Privacy, comfort, elegance, and sheer beauty await in a Croatian home away from home.  Our collection of the best luxury villas in Croatia has been carefully curated and assembled to meet the needs of our travelers. Each property we offer has been tested and approved, meeting our requirements, and representing the best of the best of Luxury Villas in Croatia! Here we highlight 7 stunning villas, each with unique features across a variety of locations in Croatia. From a dramatic architectural gem on the Island of Korcula, to a traditional Istrian estate set amidst luxuriant vineyards, to a modern sea view residence sure to entertain your inner child with endless opportunities for fun, these properties serve as an ideal setting …

    With travel momentarily on pause, many of us find ourselves seeking creative ways to satisfy our wanderlust from the safety and comfort of our own homes. From virtual tours of world-famous museums made available through Google Arts & Cutlure, to live performances and concerts streamed online, creative people around the world are finding ways to connect and engage from their home to yours. One of our favorite trends has been the increase in online cooking classes and demonstrations. It’s a fantastic way to learn a new skill while connecting with a people and culture far away. Tasteful Croatian Journey’s very own Chef Ivana Oresic, author of two culinary travelogues sharing nostalgic stories and traditional recipes, is now offering …

My name is Mirela Benic, the Tasteful Croatian Journeys Concierge. I am your personal concierge and Guardian Angel when you are traveling in the care of Tasteful Croatian Journeys in Croatia, Slovenia and the surrounding regions. When our friend and partner Vladimir Oravec, the owner of two luxurious yachts, invited our founder, Wanda S. Radetti, to travel with the S/Y Queen Axiera and the catamaran Princess Aphrodite, Wanda selected me to participate in her stead.  Firsthand knowledge and experience is an important element of our work, and therefore Tasteful Croatian Journeys personally tests, inspects, and approves an experience before recommending it to our travelers. I am happy to share my sailing adventure with you all, and hope that it will …

  As millions of people across the globe brace for another week of self-isolation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tasteful Croatian Journeys delves into Dubrovnik’s fascinating history as one of the first places in the world to institute a mandatory quarantine in 1377. Here to help us is our trusted guide and Dubrovnik local, Marina Missoni Barišić, discovering the history of quarantine in Dubrovnik.     TCJ: Marina, thank you so much for taking the time to speak with us and share your knowledge. Maybe you could start by telling our readers a little bit about yourself, where you’re from, and how long you’ve been working with Tasteful Croatian Journeys.  Marina: I was born and grew up in Dubrovnik. After …

Croatia’s oldest and largest national park, Plitvice Lakes has long been renowned for its pristine natural beauty… but there is more to discover here than meets the eye. Beyond the terraced lakes and tumbling cascades lie a region home to fascinating history, rich traditions, and warm, friendly people. Here, Tasteful Croatian Journeys shares our guide for guests visiting Plitvice Lakes National Park for the first time. From practical information to choosing the right trail, this guide covers everything you need to know. About Plitvice Lakes Plitvice Lakes National Park consists of 16 crystalline lakes, emerald-blue in color and connected by a series of more than 90 cascades and waterfalls. The park has been divided into two sections, the Upper Lakes …

  When a traveler first approaches our company for our specialization, as they are thinking of visiting Croatia, they arrive with visions comprised of Dubrovnik, the Island of Hvar, Split with Diocletian’s Palace and the adjacent islands that decorate the coast of the Croatian Adriatic.  But there is more, so much more, for the most curious and sophisticated traveler. When such travelers, afforded with the opportunity and curiosity to visit Croatia beyond the obvious, those who desire traveling off the “beaten path”, in search of yet to be accentuated destinations – for these travelers, the City of Rijeka comes to mind. A coastal city, and port, Rijeka is the capital of the Croatian region of Kvarner. I was born in …

The final anchor to the local collection of Maistra properties, the Grand Park Hotel opened as an instant landmark, the extraordinary architecture a celebration of the views it beholds from within. Opening to much acclaim, The Grand Park made its debut in April 2019. Its addition marks the latest luxury seaside hotel in Rovinj, Istria. Rovinj, Istria Istria, the magical region sitting within the heart shaped peninsula, whispering legends of its Venetian and Austrian heritage while delighting the senses with fruits born of its rich soil – wines, olive oils, porcini mushrooms and truffles. Rovinj sits on Istria’s western side, a fairytale fishing village, hidden from time. Distinguished by the image of the steeple of St. Euphemia Church, rising into …