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

In August, 2011, our family of six, including our two daughters and their fiances, had the great pleasure of taking a vacation in Croatia, expertly organized by the team at Tasteful Croatian Journeys. Wanda Radetti and her staff listened closely to our interests and needs, and put a great trip together for us, with lovely hotels, efficient and courteous land travel, knowledgeable city guides, and even the helpful connection to family on a coastal island. We had sea view rooms overlooking islands and the old city of Dubrovnik, and an extremely comfortable hotel within Diocletian’s Palace in Split which even had an original Roman wall in our hotel room. We had drivers take us on day trips from Dubrovnik to Kotor and Sveti Stefan in Montenegro, and from Split to the spectacular Plitvice Lakes National Park. Guides in these locations were arranged and waiting for our arrival. The highlight of this very special Tasteful Croatian Journey, that only Wanda with her extensive professional experience and personal relationships could have made possible was an unforgettable week on a magnificent 57 foot Beneteau luxury sailing yacht cruising the Dalmatian coast and visiting the wonderful islands of Hvar, Vis, Lastovo, and Korcula. Sebastian, our skipper, and Gaspar, his young first mate, were absolutely extraordinary: excellent sailors, great guides, first class chefs, and wonderful, fun-loving people to be around. Our idyllic days consisted of breakfast, sailing to a quiet cove for a swim, a delicious multi-course lunch with Gaspar’s family’s Slovenian wines, an afternoon sail to a local marina, and a great fish dinner in the marina restaurant. While we were not obligated to include Sebastian and Gaspar in our dinners, we enjoyed their company so much that their inclusion was an obvious enhancement to our experience. To top this off, Wanda was able to help connect us to my wife’s father’s Croatian family on the island of Korcula, with whom we had a wonderful visit. All in all, this was one of the great vacations of our lives (certainly the best of our childrens’ lives), and the job done by Tasteful Croatian Journeys was instrumental in the success of the trip. We can recommend them wholeheartedly.

Jeffrey Gaynor – CA
January 10, 2012 – Condé Nast Traveler

I could not have made a better decision in having Wanda and Tasteful Croatian Journeys help us navigate our journey throughout Croatia in August 2011. Wanda gave great recommendations and truly understands what is required to have a luxurious vacation. Her planning of our itinerary was complete perfection. Our guide in Hvar was a local and a seasoned professional who took us to unexpected places and made great restaurant recommendations. Our overall favorite destination of the trip was Korcula where we loved our guide, accommodation, the town itself and its gorgeous views. Our only regret was not being able to spend more time there! Also, our hotel in Split was superb in its comfort and convenient location within the city.  My three older children who traveled with me thoroughly enjoyed their time swimming in the Adriatic and also wine tasting at each of the local wineries. I have to say that Croatia was one of our favorite places to visit as a family. I would recommend Wanda and Tasteful Croatian Journeys to anyone hoping to get an inside look at the culture and beauty that Croatia embodies.

Rowena Nazareth – Canada
August 2011

In June 2011 we embarked on a fantastic adventure to Croatia. Toni’s father is of Croatian descent, and we thought this would be a wonderful opportunity to visit his ancestral homeland. We had visited various travel websites and local travel agencies, and none seemed to fit our needs. Then Toni read the Conde Nast Traveler magazine and there she discovered Wanda Radetti! We contacted Wanda, and she was as excited about getting us to Croatia and having a wonderful experience as we were. Since we didn’t know Croatia at all, she helped us plan an itinerary that would not only take us from one end of the country to the other, but also included a day trip to Montenegro. Because of her intimate knowledge about the hotels and various restaurants along the way, the owners greeted us as personal guests and we felt very special indeed. She provided a personalized travel guide that contained a detailed list of the hotels and lengths of our stay, descriptions of the cities we would visit, detailed dining recommendations, a detailed itinerary with times for departure and arrival, and names of drivers including time and pickup locations. Since we wanted to see as much as possible, she helped us plan our time most efficiently. Without exception, the drivers and guides she provided were knowledgeable, courteous, and downright fun, and we all had a wonderful time getting to know one another. Each accommodation was wonderful, ranging from large and well known, to small gems. Wanda’s restaurant recommendations, along with suggestions for markets, shopping, cultural attractions and sights, served to greatly enrich our overall experience. This great service wasn’t by accident, since she had vetted all of the hotels, restaurants, drivers, guides, and quality of service through personal visits. Communication with her was excellent and she took the time to explain her itinerary recommendations, while asking for and listening to our requests. She was happy to work with our budget, while still providing a wonderful experience. There is no downside to Wanda’s service. We recommend Wanda and Tasteful Croatian Journeys without reservation to anyone planning to travel to this beautiful country and know first-hand its wonderful people.

Ernie & Toni Marquez – MD
July 9, 2011 – Condé Nast Traveler

I would like to compliment Wanda and her staff in New York and Croatia for all of their hard work and attention to detail on our family trip to Croatia. Wanda knows the country, the people, and the places! We started our adventure in Zagreb, the capital city. As Wanda told us, Zagreb is not a “must see” in Croatia, but we enjoyed it, especially the Native Art Museum. After seeing Split and Dubrovnik, on the Adriatic Coast, we know why Wanda wanted us to concentrate our trip there! We really enjoyed touring Diocletian’s Palace in Split; the islands of Hvar and Korcula; the Peljesac peninsula; and, of course, Dubrovnik. The hotel in Dubrovnik could not have been better. The sea view was incredible and it gave us easy walking access to the old walled city. Don’t miss walking on top of the old city walls! We did all of this in a week, so it is not a difficult trip. Also, thanks to Conde Nast for listing Wanda! PF, Texas

P.F. – TX
May 19, 2011 – Condé Nast Traveler

When we planned our eight day trip to Croatia in May 2006, the country was somewhat off the beaten track. There had been little coverage of the country in the tourism media. From the moment we spoke to Wanda, we knew that we were in the right hands. Her enthusiasm for her native country was infectious. We were met by our guide/driver in Venice and drove to Opatija in northern Croatia via Trieste. For the next two days we explored the Istria Peninsula and then drove down the coast to Split where we stayed two nights at a wonderful hotel located in the middle of Diocletian’s huge palace. We never tired of viewing the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic. With a second guide/driver we followed the coast to Dubrovnik where we spent two days exploring that fascinating city. While we very much enjoyed the sites that we visited, perhaps the highlight of the trip was discussing life during the war with our guides. Our first guide had lived all of his life in Opatija but had a Serbian patronymic. He and his family were subjected to considerable abuse even after he joined the Croatian Army. Our second guide had grown up in Dubrovnik and had joined the fighters protecting the city. His hatred of the Serbs was not far under the surface. Had he met our first guide he would have been immediately suspicious of him based on his name – the horrors of civil war! It was interesting to hear their differing views of Tito and later Croatian leaders. Wanda’s choice of guides, hotels and itinerary was excellent. Although we had driven over much of northern Europe, given the complexities of the Croatian language and highway signage, we were delighted to have a driver! We were also pleased that we avoided the camper/trailer invasion of northern Europeans that occurs during the summer months. We look forward to returning to explore the beautiful coastal islands.

John & Susan Curby – MO
April 10, 2011 – Condé Nast Traveler

We traveled to Croatia September 9-17, 2010. Wanda and her staff at Tasteful Croatian Journeys were invaluable in creating a wonderful experience for us. Wanda listened carefully to our interests and budget for the trip. She devised an itinerary that provided exactly what we wanted and that fell within our budget She provided a contact person for each step of our journey so we always felt that we were in good hands. Wanda has a concierge in Croatia who discreetly checked in with us periodically to be sure our needs were being met. The accommodations that she arranged for us suited us perfectly. She arranged private transfers to and from the airport that I would definitely recommend. She facilitated car rental for us that was easier than renting a car in the U.S. We will definitely use Tasteful Croatian Journeys for our next trip to Croatia!

Bruce Cameron – WA
February 22, 2011 – Condé Nast Traveler

Dear Wanda, please forgive the delay in sending you these words of gratitude for the marvelous trip you helped my daughter, Jennifer and grand-daughter, Nichole arrange to Croatia in August and September of 2010. Your work was brilliant! My husband and I continue to share our experiences of Croatia with each other and our friends. Jennifer and Nichole wanted so much to make it perfect for us and with your help they did. Jan, our driver, was excellent, knowledgeable, courteous, helpful and a delight to be around. Our guides and interpreters were competent as well, but we spent most of our time with Sandra who was essential to us in communicating with our relatives. She actually knew some of our cousins. What a small world! Thank you, also, for the itineraries and historical references, restaurants, and updates. In every way your expertise was exhibited. We hope to have the occasion to use your company again.

Lu & Carole Vaughn – CA
February 4, 2011

If you want a trip to remember, I suggest contacting Wanda S. Radetti of Tasteful Croatian Journeys. After listening to our travel experiences, our likes and dislikes, Wanda created a wonderful vacation in Croatia and Slovenia. Her attention to detail surpasses any agent we have ever used. On our return, she wanted to hear not only the positives but the negatives as well. I know she will respond to our comments because she strives to improve her operation in order to give her clients the best experience possible. Leslie and Ed Goldenberg

Dr. Edward & Mrs. Leslie Goldenberg – DE
December 15, 2010 – Condé Nast Traveler

Our recent trip to Croatia, arranged by Wanda Radetti and Tasteful Croatian Journeys, surpassed all of our expectations. My friend and I enjoyed all the splendors of Croatia and more… Our journey began with our arrival in splendid Dubrovnik, and concluded with two glorious days in Trieste, the capital of Friuli Venezia Giulia, a region of Italy. In concert with her believe that political borders are places where countries meet rather than separate, Wanda also arranged our private guided excursions to Bosnia and Montenegro. Every detail was carefully planned for us in advance, which allowed us to enjoy the experience stress free. The hotels, professional guides and drivers all delivered 5 star service and accommodations. Having the Croatia specialist, Wanda Radetti, customize an itinerary for you is a great advantage. When the hotel staff, guides, maitre d and other service providers hear that you are a client of Wanda Radetti, it is as if a member of their family has been recommended to their personal care. I highly recommend Wanda’s expertise and services to everyone looking for a memorable trip to Croatia and the adjacent countries.

Ms. Eva Ledesma – New York, NY
November 29, 2010 – Condé Nast Traveler