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Discover Croatia on a Luxury Yacht! 7 Night Cruise With Flights, Meals & Lots More, €2234

croatia

I can hear it now, the sound of the captain saying ‘Pool’s open’, before jumping straight into the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic. Researching this fabulous cruise, I’m thinking how amazing it would be to discover Croatia on a luxury yacht….

 

I don’t actually need to read the full itinerary, I’m already sold! To see how the other half live, by spending a week in Croatia on a luxury yacht, it doesn’t get much better than this! For anyone who has been following me over the last few years, you will know that I absolutely LOVE Croatia. I spent a week travelling along the Dubrovnik Riviera two years ago, and every little village or cove we found was delightful, not to mention the fairy tale city of Dubrovnik. While Dubrovnik is on most bucket lists, I believe the real beauty lies in the surrounding islands, and the best way to see them, is by boat.

Croatia on a luxury yacht

Croatia Tours are offering you the chance to holiday like a celebrity. You will visit the hidden gems of Croatia on board a luxury yacht. The deluxe ‘Maritimo’ holds up to 38 people and has state of the art facilities on board. The spacious sun deck has loungers all passengers, as well as a jacuzzi if you fancy some bubbles while you sail off into the sunset!  Hot and cold breakfasts are served each morning as well as a four course lunch in the afternoon. Seven staff are on hand to cater for your every need, and with 38 being the maximum number of guests on board – no doubt the service will be excellent! Kids are not allowed on this cruise, so you can expect plenty of time to sit back and relax, in calm peaceful surroundings.

Croatia on a luxury yacht

Where does it go?

Itineraries vary slightly depending on when you travel but in both cases you will have the opportunity to overnight in the magical city of Dubrovnik. You can enjoy a free guided walking tour or go it alone. Choose to hike the famous city walls of Dubrovnik, or chill out and watch some tombstoners from one of the many cliff bars. For more info check out my Dubrovnik blog.

Croatia on a luxury yacht

You will also have the chance to visit many of Croatia’s famous islands.  Explore the salt lakes and National Park in Mljet or take the perfect instagram photo in the lavender fields in Hvar.  Hvar is renowned for being a celebrity hang out. Beyonce, Bono, Tom Cruise and even Prince Harry have all holidayed here. Stop off in the trendy city of Split before over-nighting in Korcula, which is one of the best preserved medieval cities in the Mediterranean. Expect lots of gourmet foods and fine wines in this lively city. Beach lovers will enjoy the famous famous Zlatni Rat beach, also known as the Golden Horn, a natural phenomenon, that is widely regarded as one of Europe’s best beaches. Another highlight will be the captain’s dinner when you overnight in Sipan Island.

Croatia on a luxury yacht

Let’s not forget that you will also have the opportunity to jump into the sea when you come across a hidden cove; to explore a secluded bay with no one around and dock in the centre of the smallest village, something that would be impossible in a larger vessel.  There are daily swimming stops and you can get involved as much or as little as you like.  The phrase ‘it’s about the journey not the destination’, springs to mind.

Croatia on a luxury yacht

Costs and what’s included:

Prices for a one week trip on the on the 22nd of September is €2234. This includes flights, checked baggage, airport transfers, a seven night cruise with breakfast and four course lunch each day, two evening meals and lots more. You can also avail of free guided walking tours in Dubrovnik, Hvar, Korcula and Split, a cable car ticket in Dubrovnik and entrance ticket to Mljet National Park.  See more details and the full itinerary here.

If you fancy chilling out in one of Croatia’s prettiest resorts, why not extend your stay? Price for the seven night cruise and a four night stay in the 5* Croatia Hotel in Cavat is only €2504. Click here for more details.

For anyone looking to fly independently, you can book the cruise without flights from €1600 per person.

 

For more details visit Croatia Tours or call them on +353 1 8780800.

 

Prices are correct at the time of issue but are subject to change. This post was sponsored by Croatia Tours but all views, as always, are my own.

 

Sarah

 

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Five Star Holiday to Croatia, 20th October, 1 week €498!

croatia hotel

Always wanted to see Dubrovnik? Check out this five star holiday in Croatia for only €498!

 

The medieval city of Dubrovnik should be on everyone’s wish list. It is so well preserved and looks like something straight out of a fairytale. Walk around the city walls, take the cable car to Srd Hill and then catch the sunset from one of the many cliff bars. Although you can stay in the heart of the old town I think the best way to enjoy it, is to holiday in one of the resorts close by. Dubrovnik is actually quite small and can be packed with cruise ship visitors during the day. However, staying outside the centre, lets you have the best of both worlds! Relax by the sea or pool during the day and pop in the evening when the city is less crowded.

five star holiday to Croatia

I have chosen the pretty town of Cavtat, a resort I stayed in with my family a few years ago. Once a small fishing village it is now a picture postcard resort with upmarket hotels and crystal clear waters. Dine in one of the many restaurants that are dotted along the seafront promenade and admire the sea-views or the mountainous backdrop. If you fancy spending the day in Dubrovnik,  catch a water taxi from the shore, or hop on the local bus. For more details on visiting this incredible city, read my Dubrovnik blog.

five star holiday to croatia

You will be staying in the 5 Star Hotel Croatia  which is located on a peninsula with stunning sea views. This luxurious hotel receives excellent reviews on tripadvisor and is a Travellers Choice award winner. On site facilities include an outdoor and indoor pool, spa, fitness centre and a selection of restaurants and bars. Rooms are contemporary and spacious with a balcony and free WiFi.

Fly from Dublin to Dubrovnik on the 16th of October and enjoy a seven night stay with breakfast and free spa access, for only €498 per person! Want to travel over the October bank holiday weekend? Simply edit the dates when you click on the links below. The total price for flights and a seven-night stay on the 25th of October is €620 per person. 

View flights here €101pp

View hotel here  €397pp

 

Prices are correct at time of issue but are subject to change. Note that some of the links in this post are affiliate links, where I receive a small commission if a booking is made

 

Sarah

 

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Dubrovnik for May Bank Holiday Weekend, Flights & 5 Star Hotel, 3 Nights, €393!

dubrovnik-805155_1280_opt

I went to Dubrovnik last year and absolutely LOVED it. Try this amazing deal to Dubrovnik for the May bank holiday weekend and I know you will love it too!

One of Europe’s most dramatic cities, I was a bit awestruck when I stepped inside the old town of Dubrovnik. This walled city, although smaller than I expected, is remarkably well kept. In fact it’s almost like you stepped on to a movie set at times. When you walk along the medieval city walls ( something you just have to do ) you come across turrets, drawbridges and the most spectacular views.  Sunrise and sunset are the best times to catch the light on the city’s terracotta roof tops 👌 You should also ride the cable car to the fortress on Srd hill, to catch the view of the whole city, the museum there is worth a visit too.

Dubrovnik, one of the top ten holiday destinations for 2016 by The Travel Expert

Once inside the walls, the city is quite small and very east to navigate. This makes Dubrovnik an ideal choice for a weekend break because unlike other European cities, you should get to see all the sights in three days. Streets are mixed with stylish shops, trendy restaurants and some of the coolest cliff-top bars you are likely to find -anywhere! For more info on where to go and what to see in Dubrovnik, read my blog here.

Cafe Bard, Dubrovnik

I found a great deal flying direct with Aer Lingus from Dublin to Dubrovnik on Friday the  28th of April. Spend three nights in the highly rated 5* Hotel Croatia for only €393. Situated in the upmarket resort of Cavtat, one of the areas prettiest resorts. This gives you the best of both worlds, you can enjoy the relaxing resort of Cavtat and catch the ferry to Dubrovnik at any time. This hotel receives excellent reviews on tripadvisor and includes FREE wifi and FREE breakfast!

 

Click here to book flights: €225pp

Click here to book hotel: €168pp

 

Prices are correct at the time of issue but are subject to change. Note that some links above are affiliate links where I receive a small commission if a booking is made.

 

Sarah

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DestinationsEuropeSunseekers

Visiting Croatia And Montenegro

Cavtat

Croatia and Montenegro have so much to offer. Dubrovnik and Kotor are spectacular, the village of Cavtat is charming, and Montenegro’s fjord is sublime.

I searched the apartment for the free wifi password, only to discover it was ‘welcome to my home’. I knew from that moment, I was going to like it here! I wanted to see visit Croatia and Montenegro and searched for a resort that would not be too crowded during the summer months – Cavtat ticked all boxes.

 

Surrounded by cypress trees, when we arrived in the picturesque resort, it reminded me of the Tuscan coast. We stayed at the Villa Milica, which is only a few minutes from the seashore and a leisurely 20 minute stroll to the village. A traditional farmhouse, we were warmly greeted by the owner Milica who kindly offered to give us a lift to the grocery store, for what she called our ‘big shop’!
 

 

 
This spacious two-bedroomed apartment is a mixture of old and new. It has a country cottage feel, but with all mod cons including a large double bath, a separate shower room, and a huge balcony with sea views.

Villa Milica, Cavat, by The Travel Expert

Cavtat is situated about 45 minutes from Dubrovnik by water taxi and has everything you need for a relaxing break. The village is really authentic, with stone buildings housing superb restaurants. The town remains unspoilt and although there are plenty of restaurants and bars to choose from, they fit in with the landscape perfectly.
 

 

 
Bugenvila is one of Cavtat’s best restaurants, but you will need to book it a day in advance. The food would rival many Michelin Star restaurant and the service was excellent. Unlike many restaurants there, they have a separate kids menu so the prices are very reasonable for such high quality food.
 

 

 
Try the hangar steak, you wont be disappointed. Pizzeria Desteka was another great find. It has great pizza and an ideal choice for a family night out. In fact most restaurants were very reasonably priced and the quality was very high.

Bugenvila Restaurant, Cavtat, by The Travel Expert

Be prepared to ogle at the super yachts as you enjoy a drink at the waters edge – there are many multi-million euro yachts here. The emerald green sea is the perfect temperature for bathing, although the beaches are stoney. In fact, most beaches along the Dalmatian coast are stoney, so make sure you bring surf shoes.
 

 

 
There are great watersports available, including jet skiing and scuba diving. There are plenty of small fish that swim close to the shore, so we picked up cheap snorkel masks and spent hours swimming with them.

Cavtat is a good choice for families and couples. There are lots of four and five star hotels perfectly suited for couples who a upmarket holiday as well as apartments like ours which are great for families.

Cavtat, Croatia, by The Travel Expert
 

 

 

Visiting Dubrovnik from Cavtat

There are regular ferries / water taxis to the old town of Dubrovnik – this suited us perfectly. We took the 5pm ferry so we could climb the city walls when the city was less crowded. It was also nice to explore the city at night time and soak up the atmosphere over dinner.
 

 

 
We also took an early ferry another day and rode the cable car to Srd Hill and enjoyed a leisurely lunch. This is a great way to see the city without the crowds and heat, with the added advantage of enjoying a one hour boat trip on the Adriatic Sea.

Read: My top tips for discovering Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik, Croatia as seen from the cable car on top Srd Hill
 

 

 

Day trip to Montenegro from Croatia

From Cavtat there are numerous boat trips and excursions to choose from. We decided to take a day trip to Montenegro, and booked this through the local Croatia tours representative. Normally we would hire a car and travel independently, but the organised coach tour was a better option.
 

 

 
With the recent influx of migrants to Italy and Greece, the border check points have long delays. We were advised that if travelling by car you could be hours waiting to get through – the tour was a much better option.

We drove around the bay of Kotor and saw the Mediterranean fjord – the only fjord in Southern Europe. The scenery was spectacular. We stopped at the beautiful walled city of Kotor and had plenty of time to explore the cathedral and the city’s winding streets.
 

 

 
Kotor was built to hide from the enemy, and therefore not on a grid system. This adds to the charm when exploring as you really don’t know where you will end up. However, the furthest point is only ten minutes walk from the entrance, so there is no chance you can get lost.  

A trip to Kotor by The Travel Expert

Our next stop was the popular town of Budva. We drove through the tunnel used by James Bond in Casino Royale, before arriving at what was unfortunately a massive let-down. Budva has an authentic walled city, but unfortunately this has been ruined by the modern resort built beside it. It looked like there was no planning involved and modern high rise blocks are placed beside the medieval city – it is such a shame.
 

 

 
After a quick bite of lunch, we took the ferry across the fjord before heading back to our hotel. I would highly recommend a day trip to Montenegro – if for no other reason than to visit Kotor, it is absolutely stunning.  Note: Although Montenegro is not in the EU, they use the Euro and don’t readily accept Croatian currency.
 

 

 

Sarah

 

City BreaksDestinationsEuropeSunseekers

Top Tips For Discovering Dubrovnik’s Old Town & Cliff Bars

Dubrovnik

It is impossible not to fall in love with Dubrovnik. It’s old walls and limestone streets are intoxicating. Check out my top Dubrovnik tips and get planning your next break away.

Walking through the streets of Dubrovnik in the blistering heat, I longed for a bar with a sea view. One of the Dubrovnik tips I read on TripAdvisor was to seek out Café Buza, but when I arrived, I was underwhelmed. People were packed like sardines under sweltering umbrellas, fighting for a view of the ocean. Fortunately for me, I didn’t hang around to tick that particular box.

I did however stumble across a unique ‘hole in the wall’. To be honest, it was my son Luke, whose curiosity got the better of him, who discovered it. We followed him through a gap in the ancient stonework. With no apparent signage or indication of what was below, we climbed down numerous stone steps only to discover the coolest cliff-top bar, packed with sunbathers and tombstoners. For those of you who have not come across that term, tombstoners are people who jump off high (and sometimes dangerous) rocks into the ocean.
 

 

 
I asked the barman if he had a card or even an address. He looked at me perplexed and said that the less people who found the bar, the better. An unusual form of marketing, I thought! It’s called Café Bard, but keep it to yourself… Everyone was chilled out sitting on cheap white plastic chairs, or sunbathing on the rocks with towels they clearly brought from home.
 

 

 
The bar reminded me of a scene from my student days. For an hour or more, we sat back and enjoyed a few beers and watched the daredevils jump from crazy heights. I wondered, with some trepidation, if that would be my children someday.

Cafe Bard, Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik had been on my wish list for many years. Finally this year, I got there. I have visited many walled cities and towns before, but Dubrovnik is special – it looks like something straight out of a film set. When you consider the walls were constructed between the 12th and 17th centuries and were bombed as recently as 1992, the town is remarkably well preserved.
 

 

 
The surrounding walls are one of the main attractions – you have to climb them. If you are not feeling energetic, or like me, have small kids with you, you can choose to climb one half. This takes about thirty – forty minutes. Dubrovnik Tips: Enter at the gate beside the port and exit at St Saviour’s church – this is less strenuous than the other half.
 

 

 
The full loop will take ninety minutes to two hours so make sure you have comfortable shoes! One of my top Dubrovnik tips is to walk the walls between 6pm and 8pm – after which they close entry. The hoards that descend on Dubrovnik from the visiting cruise ships will have more than likely left, so it should be less crowded. You may be lucky to get the sunset over the terracotta rooftops too.

The terracotta roof tops of Dubrovnik
A trip on the cable car is also worthwhile. A three minute ride will bring you to the top of Srd Hill where you can get a view of the city and the neighbouring islands. On a clear day you can see up to 60 km, hence the fortress was built here as a lookout point.
 

 

 
This fortress is now a museum depicting the Homeland War. Although many of the articles are in Croatian only, it was very moving. To think this war happened just over 20 years ago is staggering. Watching news footage of the war from the BBC made you appreciate how much has changed in 20 years. The vibrant city below shows no outward signs of the atrocities that took place.
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Next to the museum there is a modern outdoor café. This is a good choice for lunch or a snack, with good food and spectacular views. On a hot day, the cool breeze makes the al fresco dining much easier to bear, than the narrow side streets of the old town below.

Dubrovnik, Croatia as seen from the cable car on top Srd Hill

Discovering Dubrovnik is not only about the paying attractions – wandering through the old town is an attraction in itself. Built on a grid system with one main street through the centre, it is very easy to navigate. The side streets are crammed with eateries and souvenir shops and the atmosphere is electric.
 

 

 
There are street artists performing on the main street and the whole place just feels alive. The town has two drawbridges, numerous turrets and lots of places to explore. Although it houses plenty of designer boutiques and modern ice cream parlours, it still feels medieval throughout.

An evening in Dubrovnik's old town.
My advice would be to avoid visiting for long periods during July and August, or stay in one of the resorts close to Dubrovnik rather than in the city itself. Some days there could be three cruise ships moored. That could mean 10,000 tourists walking through this small city, in soaring temperatures.
 

 

 
There are some beautiful resorts close by, all of which offer water taxis to the harbour. I stayed in Cavtat, which you can read about by clicking here. We visited Dubrovnik in the evening and early morning when temperatures were cooler and the city was less crowded. Croatia tours are the specialists to Croatia and they have many accommodation options available close to the old town.
 

 

 
Top Dubrovnik Tips: Check out the monthly cruise schedule that the Croatian Port Authority publish. If you are staying outside the city walls you can choose the days which won’t have as many cruise ships docked. Click here. 

The Croatian currency is the Kuna. Most places do not accept euro and many places do not accept credit cards either. You can however, withdraw money from cash machines in the airport or in most villages.
 

 

 

I hope you enjoyed my top tips for discovering Dubrovnik and that they help you with your travel plans. Dubrovnik is one the most spectacular cities in Europe, you can not help but be in awe of the place. Go see it.

 
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Sarah

 

 

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5 Star Luxury Hotel Croatia, 1 week, 8th September, Flights, Hotel & Transfers, €787!

croatia hotel

The medieval city of Dubrovnik should be on everyone’s wish list. Although you can stay in the heart of the old town I think the best way to enjoy it, is to holiday in one of the resorts close by.

 

The city is actually quite small and can be packed with cruise ship visitors during the day. Temperatures can also be very high, depending on the time of year.  If you choose to stay outside the centre you can literally have the best of both worlds. Relax by the sea or pool during the day and hop on a water taxi in the evening when the city is less crowded.

A visit to Dubrovnik by The Travel ExpertCavtat is the jewel in the crown on of this region. Only 20 km south of Dubrovnik, Cavtat is a an upmarket resort with a delightful old village and a palm fringed promenade. It is perfect for couples and families who want pretty resort with a relaxed pace. The medieval village has a small selection of boutiques and galleries and there are plenty of excellent restaurants to satisfy even the celebrities who hang out there. To top it all off there are numerous boats which leave from the harbour all day visiting Dubrovnik and the surrounding islands. Lets face it, there is no better way to explore this stunning coastline. Read my destination posts for more information on Cavtat and Dubrovnik.

Why not treat yourself and stay at the 5 star luxury hotel Croatia for seven nights for only €846, on the 8th of September. Enter my exclusive code TRAVELEXP10 in the promo code box to save 10% off the accommodation cost, making the total €787 per person. Highly rated on tripadvisor this was a travellers choice winner in 2015 & 2016. You just have to read the reviews to see how good this hotel really is. This price includes flights with Aer Lingus, transfers and a seven night stay, with FREE breakfast and FREE wifi.

 

Click here for more details:

 

All prices are correct at time of issue but are subject to availability.

 

Sarah

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