With warmth in our hearts and excitement for what’s to come, we are pleased to share with you our recent press release announcing our Christmas Market itineraries. Although this year many of Europe’s markets are shuttering amid the pandemic, and travel restrictions have kept most of us home, we invite you to dream and plan for the years to come. 

 

New York City, NY – US based luxury travel tour operator and destination specialists, Tasteful Croatian Journeys (VisitCroatia.com), has expanded its collection of bespoke, luxury travel itineraries, to include winter getaways exploring some of Central Europe’s most beloved Christmas Markets.

 

For more than 30 years, Tasteful Croatian Journeys has specialized in tailor designed luxury travel to Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, and the Italian regions of Friuli Venezia Giulia and Veneto. The company, led by award-winning and internationally recognized pioneer in Croatian travel, Wanda S. Radetti, was one of the first to offer luxury travel to these regions. Tasteful Croatian Journeys offers comprehensive travel packages which include chauffeured transport, private guided tours, luxury accommodation, and personally vetted cultural experiences, all enhanced by real-time personalized concierge support. The company’s immersive, experience-based holidays are designed to encourage meaningful engagement with local people and culture and illuminate the threads of history that have bound the region since the times of the Roman Empire. Long before sustainable tourism was in the lexicon of sophisticated travelers, Radetti established her local network of guides, restauranteurs, wine and olive oil producers, chefs, skippers, drivers, and hoteliers. She connects her travelers with professionals chosen not only for their expertise and excellence in service, but for their ability to open doors that few others can open.

 

Tasteful Croatian Journey’s winter itineraries focus on the Christmas markets of Zagreb, Ljubljana, Lake Bled, Munich, Salzburg, and Prague. The new destinations in Southern Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic were chosen for their rich history and culture, beautiful scenery, and storybook charm. Strong cultural and historical ties to Croatia dating back to the Austro-Hungarian Empire and earlier make the region a natural extension of Tasteful Croatian Journey’s established geographical domain. The carefully curated selection of destinations serves to highlight both traditional, long-established Christmas Markets with those less traveled by foreign visitors. Radetti and her team composed personal journeys include special access to the best winter experiences; torch-lit treks, castle tours, festive concerts, food tours, snowshoeing excursions, Christmas Cookie baking classes, and romantic horse-drawn sleigh rides are among the memorable and immersive seasonal experiences available to Yuletide travelers. Detailed destination information and sample itineraries are available on the company’s website:

Christmas Markets

Luxury Itinerary: Advent in Zagreb, Ljubljana & Lake Bled

Luxury Itinerary: The Christmas Markets of Central Europe

 

As with all Tasteful Croatian Journeys’ tailor designed itineraries, intimate, first-hand knowledge is an important component of planning. Radetti glows when expressing her love for the holiday season, “As those who know me will recall, I have long sung the praises of Zagreb’s spectacular, city-wide Christmas market. Zagreb won the well-deserved title of ‘Best Christmas Market’ in Europe three years in a row, yet it is still under the radar of many American travelers. The same can be said of the charming markets and traditional celebrations found in Slovenia’s Ljubljana and Lake Bled. Going to Croatia and Slovenia for Christmas, for me is going home. It is always a most personal and moving experience which touches my heart. We are hearted to bring these special moments of joy to our travelers as well.”

 

Expanding beyond Croatia and Slovenia, to offer Tasteful Croatian Journeys travelers’ the Christmas markets of Central Europe was a logical evolution for Radetti. “Modern travelers are extremely sophisticated; they do not want a been-there-done-that experience.” Radetti continues, “We speak at length with each of our travelers, a common thread we hear is interest in experiencing Europe’s traditions and seasonal celebrations.” When Luxury Travel Designer, Tia Lovisa Moreira, joined the team, this was the serendipitous moment Radetti had been waiting for. Before joining Tasteful Croatian Journeys in March 2018, Lovisa Moreira lived in Munich for close to a decade and traveled extensively in her time there. In April 2019, Lovisa Moreira attended the Czech Republic Travel Trade Day and pre workshop FAM tours of West and South Bohemia. “Tia has put her extensive knowledge of Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic to work in designing our Christmas itineraries. She knows the Christmas Market scene inside and out,” Radetti states. “I am blessed to be at the helm of a talented and well-rounded team of young women, each of whom brings wonderful and unique experience to the company. Tia and the team have worked in close harmony to develop the new destinations and expand our regional network. Our absolute priority is that we always strive for perfection so that our travelers can expect the same high level of quality and expertise that we have become known for in Croatia.”

 

Although many of Europe’s Christmas Markets will not be taking place in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tasteful Croatian Journeys expects to see long term interest in Christmas bookings for 2021 and beyond. Currently, tourism makes up roughly 20% of Croatia’s GDP, despite being largely seasonal. Approximately 81% of tourist arrivals take place from the months of May to September (Source: Ministry of Tourism, and the European Commission). “For too long Croatia has been thought of as purely a summer destination, although Dubrovnik has beautiful, mild weather all year round, and Zagreb has one of the most enchanting Christmas Markets in the world. Winter has always been a favorite time of mine to travel to Croatia and a wonderful opportunity to experience an authentic and little seen side of the country. We hope that in promoting travel outside of the typical tourist season, we can do our part not only in sharing authentic Croatian culture, but also in stimulating the local economy and supporting those small businesses which struggle through low season. We hope to see Christmastime travel be a win-win for all.”

 

For more information and to sign up to receive the latest news and blogs from the VisitCroatia.com – Tasteful Croatian Journeys team, visit www.visitcroatia.com.