“The Mediterranean as it once was” reads the caption of an advertising campaign by the Croatian Tourist Board. Unbeknownst to many as a vacation destination, yet becoming increasingly popular amongst those in the know, Croatia offers a combination of sights, culture, scenery and gastronomic pleasures second to none. Shaped like a boomerang on the map, Croatia is nestled between the sea, the Dinaric Mountains and Central Europe, on the eastern shores of the Adriatic, and as such part of the Mediterranean region. There are two distinctive and very different regions that make up the country: the northern Slavonian plains, home to the cosmopolitan capital Zagreb and similar to its northern neighbor Austria in landscape and appearance; then Dalmatia, the coastal area ranging from the Italian border and the Istrian peninsula all the way down to Dubrovnik, the Pearl of the Adriatic. An integral part of Dalmatia are the over 1000 islands, best experienced by private sailing yacht.
Numerous surprises await the unexcpected traveler in this former Yugoslav republic; my favorite recommendations include the Sea Organ in the coastal town of Zadar (indeed a musical instrument installation translating the motion and waves of the sea into audible sounds), the Istrian peninsula famous for its white truffles, the vineyards of Peljesac and Korcula, as well as the historic center of Split, a UNESCO World Heritage site. History buffs will interestingly note the early Croatian civilization introduced by King Tomislav in 925 A.D., along with the development of the Glagolica script, an early Slavic alphabet and predecessor to the modern Cyrillic letter system.
Luxury accommodation in Croatia is among the best in the region: the legendary Esplanade Hotel in Zagreb, built in 1925 for the passengers of the Orient Express; the Meridien Lav Resort in Split featuring one of the best spas in Europe; Dubrovnik Palace Hotel, perched on a cliff above the azure waters of the Adriatic and often host to al-fresco concerts and opera performances, to name a few.
Macair will be delighted to fly you and your family into and out of one of the numerous airports throughout the country: Zagreb, Split, Zadar, Dubrovnik, and even to Tivat or Podgorica in Montenegro, Croatia’s southerly neighbor. Leave it to our destination experts who will gladly arrange accommodation, sightseeing, ground transportation and even a private yacht for you to make your vacation a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Your next trip is only a phone call (or e-mail) away: +1-949-250-1359, info@macairinc.com.
