Written By: JayWay Travel
We go back a long way with Croatia, because this gorgeous country on the Adriatic was where we started. This is our tenth season arranging custom tours to Croatia for guests of all budget levels and age groups, from honeymooners to seniors and from budget-conscious to five-star luxury.
As we’ve expanded our map over the years, Slovenia has become another favorite of our guests, with the charming capital Ljubljana and the Julian Alps region, and specifically Lake Bled the major draws.
JayWay’s Custom Tours allow our guests to shape their own itineraries while we take care of transportation, guides and accommodations, maximizing sightseeing time and removing the stress.
The must-sees
Croatia and Slovenia have outstanding sights, both natural and man-made. Here’s a run-through of the most popular locations in our custom itineraries.
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik has become a major port of call for Mediterranean cruises and with good reason. The Old Town is spectacular from any angle. While the cruise ships do cause some crowds in the high season, we help our guests avoid them. The best time to be in the city is after the crowds have left, but there’s plenty to do in and around the city that avoids them.
Split
The Roman Emperor Diocletian built his retirement home, a palace, right up to the sea in Split back in the 4th century AD. Much of it still stands, a testament to the solidity of Roman architecture and the Croatian reverence for antiquity. Some of our favorite hotels in Split are built right into the walls of the palace. That exposed old stonework seems to connect you with the city’s rich past.
Hvar
Europe’s self-styled sunniest island is popular with the yacht set, film stars and big name recording artists, but that doesn’t mean it has lost its authenticity. You can choose to rub shoulders with the rich and famous in one of the few five-star hotels, or experience a more local way of life by staying in an apartment. Outside of Hvar you can explore rugged countryside on an off-road tour, and the incredible Pakleni archipelago makes for the perfect boat trip.
Plitvice Lakes
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and a place of outstanding natural beauty, this is Croatia’s first National Park. A stroll around this flawless environment where the only modes of transport are electric powered boats and land trains is one of the highlights of the country. We recommend staying the night then visiting the park first thing in the morning.
Rovinj
Dating from the time of the Venetian empire, Rovinj is by far the loveliest town on Croatia’s Istrian peninsula. It’s an excellent base for exploring the interior of the peninsula, often referred to as Croatia’s Tuscany, with hilltop villages like Motovun and Groznjan. To the south is the port city of Pula, notable for the Roman amphitheatre and the lively fresh food market.
Ljubljana
The capital of Slovenia has a population of under 400,000. Its Old Town, tucked beneath the castle hill and complete with a river running through it, makes this one of our favorite small cities anywhere on our map. The numerous cultural and culinary influences here make our food tour a hit with everyone, showcasing the regional cuisines of the whole country.
Lake Bled
We’re not sure if there’s a more picture-perfect lake anywhere, complete with a church on an island and a beautiful location watched over by a castle. Bled is the ideal place for some light exercise, either cycling around the lake or renting a row boat to reach the island. Oh, and did we mention the signature cream cakes you can reward yourself with?
What’s a JayWay Custom Tour Like?
Our happy guests say it better than we ever could:
“Every step of the way, JayWay was there to plan, customize and perfect our trip. The personalized service, the expert advice and guidance as well as attention to detail helped make our honeymoon in Croatia feel seamless. Plus, their online portal, with trip itinerary and detailed info on our destinations, was absolutely incredible. A+ service and experience.”
Candice & Jonathan from New York, NY
“Our entire trip was personalized and exceeded our expectations in every way. The accommodations that JayWay has chosen afford comfort and a true taste of Croatia. Everyone from the owner, Jay, to the ground manager Marija in Croatia and the drivers did everything in their power to be of help and assistance with great professionalism and kindness.”
Ann & Kaylyn, from Pennsylvania
“JayWay made our honeymoon planning so carefree: once we got to Croatia we knew everything was already taken care of! We enjoyed all of the extra excursions and insider knowledge suggested to us as well as the hotels and apartments we stayed at. To think of planning a trip of this magnitude while also planning my wedding was overwhelming. I am so very thankful for JayWay and the team that helped make our honeymoon so memorable.”
Holly & Michael, Boston, MA
And a comment from one of the many travel agents whose clients we’ve arranged trips for:
“I found your company very easy to work with. You took all the time we needed and you were so good about helping pull all the pieces together to create the exact vacation my clients were looking for. Hopefully we will work together again in the future when I have clients looking to go to Croatia or any of the other countries you offer.”
Jacki Hanson of JH World Travel
If you’d like to hear that kind of appreciation from your clients, get in touch. We specialize in hand-crafting tours and our local teams throughout Central and Eastern Europe are on-hand to ensure that your clients’ trip will go perfectly.