Tasteful Croatian Journeys, with Wanda Radetti as our contact person, was an excellent travel source. We had no prior experience with Croatian travel, and Wanda spent a great deal of time with us on the phone asking specific questions regarding goals and area of interest. Our group included six women, all of whom were focused on historical cities, island travel by small boat and a five-star resort in Dubrovnik to end the journey. Our actual experience exceeded our expectations due to the incredible Croatian boat crew, support staff, city tour guides and restaurant/resort personnel. We came home with great memories of medieval stone cities, freshly prepared Croatian cuisine, welcoming locals, lots of laughs and a thirst
to see more! Thank you Wanda! We made a good choice using Tasteful Croatian Journeys.

Terry Cornett – Palm Springs, CA
September 2017

Our two weeks in Croatia were wonderful. The itinerary was perfect for giving us a taste of the different parts of Croatia – culture, landscape, food, personality of the pople. All the guides were absolutely fabulous. The restaurant recommendations were great – we particularly enjoyed Kantinon, La Puntulina, Adio Mare, Filipi, Aterina and Dubravkin Put. The hotels were well located and marvelous, with one exception, The Marko Polo in Korcula, which was disappointing, However the The Excelsior in Dubrovnik made up for it as we got upgraded to a suite with an incredible view. Most of all we enjoyed the stress free vacation, the knowledge that the drivers and guides would be there on time and not having to worry about any arrangements. The only changes I would suggest for your future clients would be a different hotel in Korcula and an adjustment in the Istria – Split segment. There seems to be no option but the 6 AM flight from Pula, which means getting up at 4 AM, but the problem is that you can’t check into the hotel in Split until 2-3PM. It might be good to either move up the time of the meeting with the guide in Split, or maybe visit Zadar before arriving in Split. Otherwise, the trip was perfect.

Daniela Faibes – Mountainside, NJ
September 2017

Dear Wanda–

Your selection of local guides and hotels made our trip to Croatia memorable. We felt that the guides were very knowledgeable in their area of expertise and the historical perspective we gained from them helped us better understand why Croatia has played such a important role as country that straddled the East and the West. They also exceeded our expectations as they accommodated our interests and needs.

We can enthusiastically recommend your services to travelers who wish to explore Croatia.

P.S. The guide that I could not remember in our phone conversation last week was the guide who showed me Trski Vrh, and she was mediocre. I could not recommend her.

Sincerely,

Daniel Kido – Riverside, CA
June 2017

Dear Wanda and the Visit Croatia Team,

Many thanks from Yasamin and me for creating such a beautiful experience for us in Croatia this past week. Everything was seamless.

Each venue offered special experiences and the boat ride from Hvar to Korchula was fabulous.

Concluding the trip in Dubrovnik was a great finale.

Our last night we ate at Dubrovka enjoying fine food and warm evening temperatures as the sun set turning the sky pastel pinks and blues while the large moon rose over the city wall.

It was splendid and a wonderful conclusion to our relaxing week in Croatia.

Thank you all.
Best wishes,

Laila & Yasamin – New York, NY
July 2017

This being our second trip to Croatia, another sunny jaunt planned by Wanda, the bar was about as high as possible. The last trip, summer 2015, totally floored me from top to bottom. Every detail meticulous, every sight dazzling, every meal memorable. To say that I didn’t expect this trip to surpass that one would be a reasonable statement. Somehow it did. A combination of a greatest hits of the last trip in conjunction with an injection of new, equally fulfilling, experiences made for a trip that has me longing for a third.

We began in Split, a city whose charm is unquantifiable, for three nights in the Hotel Vestibul Palace. On our third day we took a trip to the town of Trogir & took part in a cooking class with Ivana Oresic. We procured all of the ingredients at the town’s market, including a piece of shark that we cooked with figs & wine to my shocking delight.

From Split we took the catamaran to Hvar &, through a series of serendipitous events, were lead through its picturesque hills by a close friend’s cousin Sinisa, who is Wanda’s point-man on island. One meal, arguably the most memorable of the trip, was eaten on top of a remote hill in a tiny town out of Lord of the Rings with barely the trace of running water & electricity.

The “peka” is a Croatian cooking method that cannot be missed. Vegetables are cooked for hours with meats or fish of your choosing under a “bell” in a bed of charcoal. A visit to the Plavac Mali was another memorable excursion, the best among the many wineries in the country. After Hvar we took the catamaran to Orebic, a quiet town on the water at the foot of the lovely grey seaside mountains. The hotel, which we moved to after a plumbing incident at our previously-scheduled hotel, was a complete treat with lovely views of the Adriatic, a comfortable swimming pool, & superb staff. One excursion, lead by the one & only Josip saw us eat another flooring peka lunch in the town of Kuna. Every product was house made, from the smoky hams to the outrageous walnut brandy.

From Orebic Josip drove us to the iconic port of Dubrovnik for the final leg of the trip. As we did on our last trip we stayed at the scenic Villa Dubrovnik, a hotel that I with the aesthetic qualities of an Apple Store & the accommodations of any Four Seasons. The hotel’s sharp wooden cruiser ferries guests to & from Old Dubrovnik in a James Bond fashion. From Dubrovnik we took two fabulous day trips; the first a trip took us into the surrounding countryside to a town where we were given a lesson & demonstration in the art of silk weaving.

The second trip was a small island hopping campaign on a private boat to the Elephites. In both trips the lunches were sublime and company of the guides friendly. Dubrovnik’s airport is the departure point for many Croatian journeys, but the more I thought about it the more I couldn’t accept that as the case. because the taste the country leaves in your mouth is so sweet and smooth that it makes you yearn to come back as soon as the plane lifts off the runway.

Without the herculean efforts of Wanda from Tasteful Croatian Journeys, in New York & in the country itself, out jaunt would not have been nearly as good as easy & enjoyable as it was.

For that I’m grateful.

John C. – Chicago, IL
Rubina Oremus – Wayne, IL
June 2017

Dear Wanda,

I wanted to follow up with you after our wonderful trip to Croatia. This was one of the best family trips we have ever taken due to your great input, planning and coordination. Clearly you are a country expert to pull off such a great trip in such a short time. Every aspect of our trip was organized, well communicated, simply yet luxurious. Your team did an excellent job not only on the front end but also during our trip. When our hotel was canceled in Split due to a hotel error, your team notified us immediately and already had us booked in a superior facility ( it ended up being my daughters favorite). During the entire 15 days we never missed a beat because of your flawless planning, team and great in country personnel.

The local contacts that you have managed to partner with were so friendly and informative. Every guide or driver was more than willing to listen and share their personal experiences. This made the trip even more rewarding giving us a real feel for what it is like living in Croatia and Bosnia. Whether randomly stopping to visit an ancient burial ground, an ad hoc dinner of in country specialty, Peka, recommendations of local cuisine reminiscent of Grandma’s cooking (brought tears of joy to my wife) or inserting a private serenade of a Croatian Klapa group during our journey through Split was simply unforgettable.

My sister-in-law and brother-in-law are now considering visiting Croatia. I have forwarded your information to them. I am positive they will experience a trip of a life time.

Thank you!!

Mark Martin – St Louis, MO
May 2017

We had a wonderful experience in Croatia! We loved Medjugorje and our guide, Juliana who was very insightful and informative. She spoke perfect English and was such a great guide. Our drivers all around were excellent. We had great experiences with Tom, Mladen, and Josip on all our private chauffeur driven transfers and excursions. The travel experience was completely first class, extremely professional and overall a terrific itinerary. All of our service providers, the guides, drivers, captain and crew on the yacht were excellent. We had a fabulous trip and strongly recommend using Wanda’s Tasteful Croatian Journeys services!

James B. Dobbs – Deer Park, IL
June 2017

Dear Wanda, 

We had a wonderful driver yesterday to Montenegro. Unfortunately the traffic was terrible at the border and again very bad getting into Kotor.  Our guide in Kotor  was great as well as very handsome  which we old ladies really enjoyed.  It was pouring rain so unfortunately we didn’t get to enjoy the city as much as if the weather had been good but hopefully we can come back someday.

Today is our last day in Croatia which we are all sad about.  We have had a wonderful trip  and enjoyed ourselves very much.  There were a few glitches and disappointments  which I would be happy to share with you if you are interested.  But all together it’s been a fantastic trip  and we love Croatia!

 Thank you,

Ellen Sneider – Palm Desert, CA
September 2017

Dear Wanda,

We have just returned from our Croatian journey, as you know. It was all a delight and the afterglow will linger a long time.

The hotels were fine, the sights glorious, the guides all excellent and – best of all – our sailboat and crew. I cannot recommend our captain and hostess enough (Marena and Verdan.) They were superb sailors and companions; our boat was well outfitted and extremely comfortable.

The entire experience was smooth and reliable. Ernie and I are veteran travelers and know there are often problems that happen behind the scenes, but this was perfectly executed! We look forward to recommending you to others.

All best, Naomi

Naomi S. – New York City, NY
September 2017

Dear Wanda,

Just a little note to thank you for planning such a wonderful trip. It was truly an event. All of your people were so knowledgeable and friendly and are a credit to your organization. It was great having your local concierge to rely upon when necessary.

We did speak with Anna Grgic and the food at her Le Bistro was amazing. I did have the strukli.

We did get a real education in those great Croatian wines.

The experience in Prislice was very moving for me. After seeing the names in the cemetery there, it is evident that over half of our parishioners here at St. Nicholas Croatian Church in Pittsburgh have roots in that area.

Also in the Mirgoj Cemetery in Zagreb, we found a plot of Zivic graves.

You definitely should add Ruzmarin in Opatija and a new restaurant in Spit called Zoi to your recommended list. A local recommended Vinodol in Zagreb and arranged a reservation. We were seated in the middle of the restaurant and treated like royalty by the owner/chef Mario Cepak. He is a real showman and the food is spectacular. Visitors to Korcula would also probably enjoy the Maxo Vanka Museum and the spectacular setting of its cafe.

It would have been impossible for us to have duplicated this experience on our own.
We will not hesitate to use your services in planning our next trip.

Steve Zivic – Pittsburgh, PA
September 2017