Croatia - Yesterday’s Secret, Tomorrow's Holiday

Last year we launched our new Essentially Prestige brand with our Love Croatia programme and we are delighted to say that it has been a resounding success as thousands of you enjoyed holidays in Croatia. 

Essentially Prestige offers a wider selection of value holidays and accommodation than our established, sister operation, Prestige Holidays.

Love Croatia offers flexible lengths of stay and hotels from three to five stars. So if you want a budget stay in a value-for-money apartment, a good stylish hotel or a luxury experience, you’ll find all of them here.

There are also many family run, smaller and boutique style hotels which have long been favourites with UK travellers. We’ve also added many new hotels for 2012 and five new resorts.

There are more villas and apartments, casual cruises, another lighthouse, a coach tour, golfing breaks an eco-centre and a country farmhouse. New for 2012 are weddings and blessing ceremonies.

Our Love Croatia programme has been designed by experts, to bring you a fabulous stay in one of the most beautiful countries in Europe.

To view the Essentially Prestige Brochure on-line please click here.

Our Croatia Regions / Resorts

ISTRIA - Heart shaped peninsula of blue and green, artists and poets, awarding winning wines and olive oils, hilltop villages and beautiful bays, historic treasures yet stylish and fun....more

KVARNER - One of Croatia’s best kept secrets. Fabulous seafood restaurants, stunning islands and a world class spa scene. Home to the new Festival Kvarner in famous Opatija, free tickets for guests....more

RAB - Once selected by British Royalty for lunch and a swim, a hauntingly striking island with dramatic rocks, and 22 sandy beaches and coves - a rarity in Croatia, plus the medieval town of Rab itself....more

ZAGREB - One of the most underrated capital cities in Europe. Gritty, historic, cultural with a hint of a fairytale, beautiful parks and great shopping. Perfect weekend break....more

ZADAR - The yet to be discovered Dalmatian town with some eclectic and playful waterfront attractions and the rather special twinkling Night of the Full Moon party every July....more

SPLIT - Croatia’s second biggest city and a powerhouse of history, culture, sport, theatre, gossip, love, intrigue and sunshine....more

HVAR - Known as a haunt for the jet-set yet Hvar has a gentler side of lavender heaths, tiny islands which you can visit for the day (sometimes with a cove to yourself ) plus a stunning waterfront....more

BRAC - Traditional fishing villages, pretty bays, vineyards and pastures, Vidova Gora, the Adriatic’s highest point and a white stone pavement through pine woods to Zlatni Rat, Croatia’s most photographed beach....more

MAKARSKA - Tree-lined waterfront, one of the best beaches in Croatia, watched over by the dramatic Biokovo mountains, a buzzing atmosphere and stylish nightlife – great for all ages....more

KORCULA - An island of traditions, wine, olives, churches and towers, white stone piazzas and all of them look as though they are straight from a film set....more

DUBROVNIK - Lives up to its name of ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’. Every stone tells a story yet this is no museum city. A glamorous living gem (and the most celebrated place in Croatia) ...more

TWO CENTRE - The best of both worlds is utterly achievable on a two-centre holiday in Croatia. Combining a few days sightseeing in a city with a few more days of sea and spa experience on the coast can be a perfect combination – especially if you have limited time...more

CASUAL CRUISES - Three itineraries to some of the well known and the hideaway spots in Croatia’s big blue. Informal, gulet-style craft ensure a relaxed way to enjoy one of the most beautiful coastlines....more

OUT AND ABOUT - Memorable self-drive experiences...more

CROATIAN LIGHTHOUSES - Surrounded (usually by the big blue...more

GRAND TOUR OF CROATIA - A snapshot of it all ...more

WEDDINGS - Your perfect day ...more

From the air, Croatia’s coastline is breathtakingly beautiful

As deep, emerald pine woods descend to the shore, then white stone beaches and islands sparkle before the bright sapphire blue of the Adriatic sea hits your eyes. This is Croatia’s wow factor.

For many years the tourist board has used the slogan “the Mediterranean as it once was”. It’s a perfect description of this amazing little country of 1,244 islands of which approximately 50 are inhabited.

There are few destinations less than a threehour flight from the UK that offer the diversity of Croatia. Most visitors head for the coast and islands where the pristine waters of the Adriatic are some of the cleanest in the world. More than 120 beaches and marinas have been awarded the coveted Blue Flag status.

This new country became independent in 1991, is set to join the European Union in 2013 and has a long and colourful history. Liburnian, Illyrian and other tribes, the Romans, Venetians. Hungarians and Ottomans have all left their cultural stamp.

In some places, tiny stone houses and temples are still standing from Illyrian times and national treasures also include Roman relics, medieval walled cities, churches, basilicas, palaces and temples in styles from Byzantine to Baroque.

Exquisite stone carvings are seen on buildings in even the smallest cobbled streets. Quaint villages and towns usually lead to a hidden cloister here or a beautiful piazza there. Simply stunning.

So what of contemporary Croatia? Croatians on the coast enjoy the Mediterranean lifestyle with the flair and charm of the Italians just across the water. Customs such as the afternoon siesta in summer and the ‘corsa’ evening walk are all here, as are festivals of dance, music and tradition using the open air treasures as a stage.

Service is usually of a high standard in even the simplest of restaurants and the world’s brand
names are available in quality shops and stores.

Temperatures in July and August, the hottest months, are 28 - 32°C. May, June and September are usually sunny and between 23 - 27°C, April and October are often around a pleasant 17 - 21°C and nights can be a little chillier. The sea usually remains warm until mid October.

Closer than you think too. Flight times are short. London to Pula, Rijeka and Zagreb is usually two hours, to Zadar and Split around two hours 15 minutes and to Dubrovnik two hours 30 minutes.

Add 15 to 30 minutes for departures from Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, East Midlands, Leeds Bradford, Edinburgh and Belfast.

Wherever you choose on the coast or islands, less than a two-hour drive inland will take you into a different world of national parks, forests, waterfalls, mountains and rural traditions. We strongly recommend taking some excursions or hiring a car to explore. Driving on Croatia’s uncrowded roads is a breeze – see our section on page nine. 

LOVE CROATIA x (WE DO!)