Well, you might have seen it in mega popular HBO TV series Game of Thrones. Dubrovnik Game of Thrones locations are very popular among young tourists lately. Besides being the pearl of Adriatic, Dubrovnik became town of the kings too! Game of Thrones was based on George Martin’s novels - A Song of Ice and Fire. It is a story about war between seven kingdoms for the control and power for the Iron Thorne – the King’s Landings.

It is filmed in four successful seasons with fans all around the world. Dubrovnik Games of Thrones was filmed in three seasons by now. Dubrovnik represents King’s Landing – the capital of Seven Kingdoms situated in the mythical land of Westeros.  This magical city was just perfect location for filming, but the city walls had to be changed a bit by computer animation.  The role of King’s Landings first belonged to Malt, but Dubrovnik played that important role from the second season. If you watched it, you will recognize Old Town walls in the attack of Baratheons scenes. Especially interesting Dubrovnik Game of Thrones scenes are filmed on most famous Dubrovnik fortress.

Lovrijenac Fortress (St. Lawrence’s fortress) represents Reed Keep – the castell of young and evil King Joffrey. This amazing fortress is a part of many battle scenes in Dubrovnik Game of Thrones episodes. When you look down from Lovrijenac, you will see the Blackwater Bay and bloody battle scenes underneath it. The biggest scene filmed in Dubrovnik Game of Thrones is rebellion against King Joeffery.

Even small city parks were used to film countryside scenes in Dubrovnik Game of Thrones. In Dubrovnik Game of Thrones you will also recognize St. Dominic Street. This curvy street leads to the Ploče gates – the east entrance to the Old Town Dubrovnik.

Lokrum – the small Island across Dubrovnik is actually Qarth. All trading routes are passing through this great and important city. Rector’s Palace also represented this magical city in some scenes of Dubrovnik Game of Thrones. Quart is pictured as a beautiful oasis surrounded by the desert.

From Buza bar, you can have great view to Lokrum Island while sipping the cold drink in warm summer days too!

Zarkovica hill in Dubrovnik surrounding was desert of Khal Drogo – one of the major characters from the first season. This warrior falls in love with Daenerys Targaryen, the Mother of Dragons who decided to fight for the King’s Landings too. Part of Dubrovnik Game of Thrones was also centuries old arboretum in Trsteno. Trsteno is small place approx. 20km away from Dubrovnik. Trsteno represents gardens of the King’s Landings palace in Dubrovnik Game of Thrones.

The series became popular all over the world with lots of fans. Many fans are coming to Croatia only to see the places where the scenes Dubrovnik Game of Thrones were taken. The series is very interesting but very often also brutal and bloody. While filming Dubrovnik Game of Thrones scenes around 1000 locals and tourists played as statist. To be a part of this gigantic project was a dream of every young tourist and citizen of Dubronik too.

Filming map covers different places. Other locations for Game of Thrones were Iceland, Scotland, Ireland and Morocco. Iceland represented Beyond The Wall – dark side of the world. Doune Castle in Scotland was Winterfell. This historical castle is actually around one hour from Edinburgh and Glasgow. In Games of Thrones Winterfell is one of the seven kingdoms that belonged to the Stark family. Castle Ward in Northern Ireland was Winterfell’s courtyard and actually is only few kilometres south of Belfast. County Antrim in Northern Ireland was used as parts of the Dothraki Sea.

Our tip: While in Dubrovnik you can book one-day walking tour ()to see all shooting places. The price is around $80,00.

As a part of this tour you will see the place where the scene when Joffrey starts a riot at King’s Landing was shot, Jaime’s return to King’s Landings and many, many others scenes. The tour includes the guide (usually person who was the part of the set) and entrance tickets to Dubrovnik city walls, Lovrijenac Fortress and excursion to Trsteno Arboretum.

For biggest fans there is 12-day Discover Croatia tour  for approx.. $2,149,00. This 12-day tour will show you highlights from Dubrovnik Game of Thrones and all other locations around Croatia.

Split – beautiful town in middle Dalmatia is new location for season 4 of Game of Thrones. It is still not clear what it will represent but some scenes were already done at place that really was a palace of an emperor. The palace belonged to Roman emperor Diocletian and was built in 4^th century. KIis Fortress was place where Daenerys gains back her power. Klis is situated 13, 5 km away from Split and around 27 km away from Trogir. Trogir is one of the best places to visit in Croatia so do not miss it! Beautiful National Park Krka on Krka River in the background of Šibenik was a great place to take the shots of countryside. Krka is close to one more of the best places to visit in Croatia – Skradin,so visit this beautiful place too.

If you decide to visit middle Dalmatia book your apartment in Trogir and Split area and take a tour around. If you are ready to party, why not combine it with visiting Ultra Europe Festival in Split in June 2014?

If you imagined Dubrovnik as boring historical city this changed you mind for sure!

Book your apartment in Dubrovnik and visit King’s Landings now!

The post Game of Thrones in Dubrovnik! appeared first on Online Croatia.

The time when the sun and the sea were only thing to offer to the tourists passed long time ago. More and more tourist agencies are creating very interesting offers. Here are some options for what to do in Trogir and Čiovo Island for you.

Our tip: to enjoy every minute of your holiday explore the options before arriving. If you want to have some active holidays we recommend to check our offer and book apartment at Okrug Gornji on Čiovo Island.

What to do in Trogir and Čiovo Island

Kayaking

We suggest you two routes: kayak to the nearby islands or around town of Trogir.

Route around Trogir is 7 km (4,5 miles) long and takes 3 hours.
Route starts in Seget Donji. From Seget continues to Trogir and back to Seget.

Trogir is surrounded by the sea so you will have the opportunity to see the whole town from different perspective. Instead of following your guide through crowded streets, this way you can also get lots of interesting information. The atmosphere is very relaxing so you usually get more than rough statistics. You will get true lively story about the town history and cultural heritage.

If you are afraid kayak is to demanding for you, do not be! You will get the opportunity to stop for a while. You can have a rest on the beach and refresh in Adriatic sea. You can chose between morning or evening routes.

Second route starts from Port of Seget Donji  too. First goes one-hour boat drive to Drvenik Island. From there you will take your kayak for 7 km (4,5 miles) long tour.

While on Drvenik, do not miss to see beautiful Blue Lagoon beach and swim in crystal clear sea. You will feel like in tropical paradise in the middle of Adriatic Sea. A full day trip starts around 8:30am and finishes around 4:30pm.

Previous experience is not necessary, as the routes are not very demanding. Minimum age is 8, so this could be very nice family trip. The price is around 35€ – 45€. Most companies are providing a drink or even a light lunch in one of the many beach restaurants and bars. Both routes are available from middle of the May until the end of September.

Our tip: If you already have experience and prefer to go on your own, you can rent kayak and enjoy by yourself. Bring some water, sun protection and hat. You can find many beach bars and small restaurants to have a snack and refresh. If you are thinking about what to do while in Trogir and Čiovo Island, kayaking is wonderful option.

What to do in Trogir and Čiovo Island  

Biking

Trogir is one of the best places to visit in Croatia. Do not stop there and discover the whole area with the bike!

If your want to explore side areas and see the parts that you cannot visit by car, renting a bike is a good idea.

You can rent bicycles at many points in Trogir and Ciovo Island. It is even possible to order one to your apartment door. You can rent bicycles in different sizes and for all ages, so family holidays can be very fun. Most charming route to cycling on the island Ciovo is through Slatine and Okrug Gornji. You can also go all the way to Trogir and more forward to Seget Vranjica.

Price to rent a bike  goes around 15 – 20€ per day. Protective helmet is included but do not forget to bring some water, hat and protective cream.

By bike, you will get the opportunity to visit uninhabited parts of the island. There is nice route next to the 2 km long pebble beach in Okrug Gornji. It is full of beach bars where you can stop and refresh. You will also find many restaurants with traditional dishes and light lunches. It is not necessary to bring the food with you. Check our recommendations for your lunch and choose between some of the best Croatian dishes.

Our Tip: The beautiful landscape is there for you to discover. Do not hesitate to stop and talk to the locals. They will be happy to help you with advices.

If kayak is not your option for what to do in Trogir and Čiovo Island take your family to the unforgettable sightseeing by bike!

What to do in Trogir and Čiovo Island 

Multi sport Tour

Multi-sport tour combines bike and kayak. This is great opportunity to explore the area from the inside and the outside. Tour starts with 10 kilometers (6miles) bicycle tour and finishes with 7 kilometers (4.5 miles) kayak tour. The tour starts in the village of Zedno – few kilometers away from Trogir. From there you will bike to the top of the island. While on top, stop and look at the fabulous islands in front of you. Then turn around and on the other side, you will see beautiful mountains of Kozjak and Mosor. This route will take you to the Lady of Prizidnica. It is small sanctuary on a beautiful and unique location. Here you will feel nothing but tranquility.

After that, you will cycle to the small beach for a break and light lunch. Traditional Dalmatian food is on menu of course. If not hungry, you can just relax on the beach, take a swim or snorkel before jumping in your kayak.

After exploring Ciovo Island from the inside, paddling around it will make the picture complete.  Stunning cliffs and amazing sea caves shaped by the sea will show you all its beauty. On this tour, you will stop for a while and have a rest on small beach. This beach can be reached only from the sea. Here you will be served again with delicious traditional Dalmatian food.

After lunch, you will have enough time to enjoy the see, swim and snorkel before paddling back to the north side of Čiovo Island. You might be tired but you batteries will be full. This route takes around 8 hours and it starts in the morning around 9 am. Suggested minimum age is 12 years and the price goes around 100€ per person.

Our tip: Ask for family or group discount if there are more than three of you. Try not to drink too much of vine with your lunch. Under the strong sun it will make you feel dizzy.

If you are coming in July 2014 do not miss to visit Ultra Europe Festival in Split!

If you are coming with the friends this can be fabulous answer to what to do in Trogir and Čiovo Island. Definitely do not miss it!

The post What to do in Trogir and Čiovo Island? appeared first on Online Croatia.

There are also some small places you will never see on brochures but will take your breath away. We are bringing you the list of five places with soul in Croatia you should definitely visit!

TROGIR one of the BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN CROATIA

No matter how breathtaking, for some places in the world you never heard of. TripAdvisor has announced Trogir to be one of it! The reviewer states that Trogir is full of character and good restaurants. Someone called it a small Venice once but we believe Trogir is much more lively then Venice. The old part of the town is situated between the island Čiovo and mainland. Čiovo is connected by bridge with old part of Trogir and mainland is also connected by bridge to old town so old town Trogir is basically an island.

Trogir is the town where you will find all you need; from cultural heritage, warm pebble beaches and excellent restaurants for reasonable prices. You will not feel that people are pushy, but relaxed-typical Mediterranean people. It is also a perfect base if you would like to research surrounding areas. It is only 25 km away from Split. Boat lines to nearby islands are very good. You can visit Drvenik, Šolta, Brač and Vis islands. Do not miss to take a boat trip to the island Drvenik. You will be stunned by beauty of its beach Blue Lagoon. Blue Lagoon has crystal see and sandy sea bottom. Looks like a small tropical paradise on Adria.

Trogir also has many beautiful beaches where you can enjoy sports activities: tennis, bowling, water skiing, surfing, and snorkeling. If staying longer you can even take diving lessons and do underwater photography.

To learn more about cultural heritage visit Cathedral of St. Lawrence. It was built for more than three centuries from 13th till 16th century. You can see mixes the Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles. Climb up to one of many church bells and you will see the beautiful panorama of whole town.

If you come to Trogir this June do not miss biggest medieval fair in Europe – Battle of nations. This is very interesting national team competition in medieval battles with lots of fans all around the world.

Our tip: if you are staying longer rent villa or apartment on Čiovo, you can enjoy better beaches and visit Trogir every day. Our tip is Okrug Gornji, check our beautiful villas and apartments in Okrug Gornji!
If you stay short book some villa or apartment in Trogir.

Did you know: Trogir was named after the word Tragos. Tragos is actually Greek word for goat. When the Greeks firs came to this area they saw the goats on the hill and named the town that way.

KORČULA one of the BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN CROATIA

Like someone once said: Korcula is carved as a beautiful jewel…

Olive trees and vineyards centuries old keep this island away from hustle of modern world. Nothing is worth of hurrying up. Sea air and smell of the pines will just come over you so just slow down and relax. It would be good idea to get someone to remind you when you have to leave.

Korcula is famous for knight game Moreška. Moreška is very interesting sword dance for love, playing in Korčula for more than 500 years.

Besides cultural sightseeing, you can also have a long walks around the island or bicycling. The paths are excellent even for those who did not do it for long time. If you like something more demanding you can also surf, snorkel, or dive. There are more than 200 species of fish and other sea creatures to meet. Kayak could be good option especially if you want to explore many hidden caves around the island. If you decide to visit Korcula later in the year you can help locals with picking olives and grapes and take your own olive oil and vine home with you. You can also rent a car, scooter or boat to explore the whole island.

Island is very close to Dubrovnik so you can take a boat trip every day and make one-day excursion. Korčula you can also reach by boat line from Split or drive through Pelješac vineyards and take a boat in Orebic to drive you just across to Korčula.

You can go to Pupnat and enjoy very nice restaurant there and while in Korcula town do not miss restaurant at Maja and Tonka

Our tip: While there, eat like Croatian and try tuna in white sauce with tasteful Pošip Čara or Grk from local vineyard! Try to visit Čara vinery and try their other vines.

Did you know: Korcula is a birthplace of one of the most famous seaman explorer Marco Polo? His journey on the Slik Road from Europe to Asia lasted around 24 years. Part of that time he spent as a Kublai Kan minister. Inspired by his stories Amerigo Vespuci and Christofor Colombo started their own journey, which culminated by discovering America. Moreover, in Korcula you can visit the birth house of Marco Polo. Historians are still discussing that option, but if you visit Korcula it won’t matter after all!

Find your perfect apartment in Korcula…

CAVTAT one of the BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN CROATIA

If you want to enjoy beauty of Dubrovnik but avoid its hustle then stay in Cavtat. It is close enough to visit Dubrovnik whenever you wish (only 18km). Bus lines are excellent so you can catch a bus every hour. In summer you can also take a boat cab to drive you directly to the old port. Dubrovnik Airport is also about 15 minutes away by car.

Dubrovnik is real pearl of Adriatic which makes so many people wanting to visit it, so it can be crowded. As we all want to fill our batteries before going back home we recommend Cavtat instead. If you look south from Dubrovnik port you will see tiny town growing from the stones. One glimpse will explain you its Croatian name – to blossom.

Antique name for Cavtat was Epidaurus, so yes, it was Roman colony too but it is founded by Greeks in 4^th century BC. Do you ever wonder why Romans and Greeks loved this area so much? Well, you will have to come and check it out yourselves. We promise you will not be disappointed.

In city center you will find everything you might need, from post office, pharmacy, bars and really good restaurants. Walking on the long sea front promenade that circles peninsula is great way to breathe some fresh sea air and finally to spend some quality time with your family or friends.

Cavtat also offers different possibilities as diving or kayaking around small islands in front. Adrenalin park St. Ana offers variety of activities like zorbing, spin roller, motto cross, squad, but also riding.

In background of Cavtat in hills, you will find number of rural tourism households. Dishes are prepared on most traditional ways and all waiters are dressed in national costumes too. This could be nice one-day trip if you decide to have a long walk around. The hosts will welcome you with homemade brandy with herbs. Of course, it is not polite to reject them so make sure to have a solid breakfast before tasting it. It is really quite strong so locals are often amused by grimaces that tourists make on first sip. Every Sunday morning at 11 am you can visit CIlipi and see traditional folk dancing too.

From Cavtat you can easily visit neighbour countries Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro to get the better picture about this region.

Our tip: Visit restaurant Monković, located a bit outside the town. It is beautiful rural place offering local specialties. It is situated in traditional mill on the bank of river Ljuta. Definitely try homemade Lamb under the bell link

Find perfect apartments or villas in Cavtat!

SKRADIN one of the BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN CROATIA 

Skradin is a typical small Dalmatian town whose traditional houses are built in Venetian style. You really want to see how people in Dalmatia lived long before the tourism? Then this is where you need to go.

Basically is built on Romans founds. Archaeological findings as gold rings, bracelets and necklaces, show that mostly high-class citizens of Roman Empire lived there. Now days Skradin offers variety of cozy family restaurants and small shops with unique handmade handicrafts. Definitely make sure to bring one home with you.

While in Skradin also make a trip to National Park Krka and visit its seven tuff waterfalls. This national park got its name by River Krka and it is only few kilometres away from Šibenik, and 80 km away from Split. These cascade waterfalls are unique in Europe and more than worth to be seen. Take a boat tour to small island of Visovac. There you will find monastery where Franciscan monks lived for more than 500 years. You will be impressed by waterfall Skradinski buk. It is rally unique and beautiful – real small wonder of nature.

While driving on a highway to Split, stop on a highway stop by Krka and just turn around. You will see Skradin in its full beauty. And it will take you off your feet. It is the picture you can see in movies only.  But only until you visit Skradin. On Krka you will also see lots of mills.

Our tip: visit family vinery Bibich and try their excellent vines. This vinery is situated on hills of Skradin. First grapes were planted by owner’s grandfather and now the young owner gives his best to preserve family heritage. His efforts are really remarkable so some of those vines you can also buy in the USA. 

Did you know: Hydro power plant on Krka river was built only three days after first world hydro power plant on Niagara waterfalls.

KOMIŽA one of the BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN CROATIA

Vis has been a central military base for over 40 years. This calm period helped preserving all its natural beauties. International environmental organization World Wildlife Fund declared Vis as one of the 10 best-preserved islands in the Mediterranean. Vis is a real unspoiled treasure among numerous Croatian islands.

Some of many hidden tunnels that army built around the island are tourist attractions now days available to visit.

If active holiday is only option for you, visit Komiža on Vis island. You can choose between caving, scuba diving, paragliding, hiking, rock climbing, or just having a long walks.

If you like diving there are number of location with sunken planes, sailing ships, submarines, and warships to explore around the island.

If hiking is your choice, Vis also has number of caves as Queen’s Cave filled with stalactites and stalagmites. This cave is named by Illyrian Queen Teuta who ruled in the 3rd-2nd centuries BC. It is one of the most beautiful parts of the island of Vis. Another cave was used as headquarter of Marshall Tito while hiding from Germans in 1944.

Do not miss to visit Blue Cave on island of Bisevo. As the sun penetrates into the cave through a gap see inside gets beautiful silvery-blue colour. It is one of world’s most beautiful natural phenomena. On small island Ravnik next to Vis you will find similar one called Green Cave.

Tired of action just take a quick shower and take your place in restaurant on the beachfront. Komiža is well known for excellent restaurants offering seafood, fish and especially lobsters. Lobster house restaurant where you can choose your own lobster is very interesting. So pick your catch of the day and enjoy local vine Vugava. Authentic stuffed bread called Pogača (link) will be delicious with any meal you chose. Also visit interesting restaurant Fabrika in Komiža.

Did you know: In Sand Pedro, USA lives 10 times more native born inhabitants from Komiža then in Komiža. Because of the Vine disease at the beginning of 20 century lots of people were forced to emigrate. If you add their children and grandchildren to the number, it could reach 20-25 thousands of people.

HUM one of the BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN CROATIA

Smallest town in the world

Can you imagine the town with less than 20 inhabitants and only two streets? You can find one on green hills of Istria. According to legend, Hum was built from the remaining stones of the towns that giants built in the valley of the river Mirna.

Narrow stone streets, small squares, churches and massive walls will tell you the story. Try to visit interior of one of the houses and you will want to take it home with you!

The most interesting way to reach Hum is through the Glagolitic Alley, a road marked by stone monuments. Each stone represents one letter of the Glagolitic alphabet.

While there definitely try famous Fuži with truffles and delicious vine Istarska Malvazija.

The post Best places to visit in Croatia! appeared first on Online Croatia.

Battle of Nations in Trogir 2014

It is national team competition in medieval battles, using metal weapons and a standardized list of rules, with no choreography but demanding fight requiring variety of skills and endurance. For the first time in history of this contents women category will take part too. All fighters participants go through strenuous mental and physical preparation that lasts at least a year long.

HMB (Historical medieval battle) is spectacular and extreme sport that has its fans around the world so Trogir is expecting large number of fans to visit.

Medieval fights lovers will be cheered by few thousands of tourists during especially exciting night battles under the lights of torches. National teams from 25 different countries from four continents compete in several standard nominations, including “Triathlon Duel”, “Professional fights”, “5 vs 5″, “21 vs 21″ and “all vs all” as a full contact battles.

Medieval Trogir with its walls and fortresses will be natural environment in this battle of nations in Trogir for:

• Competitions for the best workshops of armour

• Competition for the best armour teams and separate fighters

• Competition in the best authentic men’s / women’s medieval costume

Armour workshops from Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Poland, UK, and many other countries will be presenting their authentic work to public.

Battles will take place on the campground located on the beach with stunning views of the real medieval castle. Authentic camp is to build in Soline offering variety of gastronomic selection, where the tents for participants and visitors will be raised in order to revive medieval life for four days. Medieval cuisine will also be served in over 30 restaurants and available for everyone at an appropriate price.

The spectacle is organized by the International Association for the historical medieval battle (Historical Medieval Battle International Association – HMBIA) as a new type of sports and cultural activities occurred in the modern era that will revile the history of the middle Ages.

Popularity of this festival is best illustrated by world media interest in it. Online streaming of the World Championship will be supported by the largest international web-portals, 15 TV channels and 10 radio stations. All fights in battle of nations in Trogir will be translated in 5 languages. After colorful battles presentation variety of activities will be offered to bring back the spirit of old times to Trogir.

24H massage tent with sport or relaxing massage will be offered for free to fighters by female and male professional masseuses. Authentic cabaret will be available during night hours where fighters can relax and enjoy medieval dances performed by professional female dancers. The festival will come to its end with VIP guests from the world of sports, movies and politics who will hand the prizes for the first 5 places in each category, for example the masters of medieval weapons handling and best male and female authentic costume.

Battle of Nations in Trogir 2014

Trogir has good transport connections with Split and other major Croatian cities. Split Airport is only 6 kilometers away from Trogir. In addition, during the World Championship there will be a free shuttle service for the members of the national teams, and low cost for the audience. Taxi is also always an option.

Once you are there, and after festival finishes take you time to take a closer look to the number of historical sightseeing spots:

• Camerlengo fortress – XV century
• City Hall – XV century
• North Gate – XVII century
• The city walls – XIV-XV century
• The Prince’s Palace – XIII century
• San Lorenzo Cathedral – XIII-XVI century
• Romanesque Church of St. John the Baptist – XIII century
• 8. The Gothic church of the Dominicans – XIV century

And, of course, at the end of it all blue Mediterranean see and long Trogir beaches are waiting for you to relax and enjoy!

This link will introduce you to the story but make sure to book place in one of the Trogir apartments to real experience which we will be happy to help you with.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TaAfYc4kvs#t=18

Check out our offer of Trogir apartments!

The post Battle of Nations in Trogir appeared first on Online Croatia.

So Croatia is your new holiday destination this year!!! Great choice!!

After you decided what your preferred location is, you have to make decision which apartment or villa in Croatia you want to book. Sometimes this can be very tough decision, especially if you are traveling on a long term vacation so the place you are staying would be your second home for 2, 3 weeks. You can find yourself checking 200 apartments in your dreamy location because you do not know which preferences to look for in an apartment so you do not get lost in the bunch of offers presented to you.

Follow these steps and you will easily make the right decision on which apartment or villa in Croatia you need to book!

1. PHOTOGRAPHS IN HIGH RESOLUTION

Most of the adverts will use the best photo (sea view, balcony view) which is most appealing and that catches your eye. Scroll down through the photos section and check how apartment visually “speaks” to you. Did it made you more interested in? By visualizing things you can promptly decide if something will suit you or not. The apartment or villa should be advertised with photo of each room (if you like some apartment, but you do not see picture of bathroom for example, you can always ask for more photos). The photos should be in high resolution (do not book apartment with 3-4 low resolution photo, this is risky) and you should see minimum 20 photos. Beside the photo of each room in the apartment or villa, there should be photo of the house, building, and exterior.

2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Pay attention on the description! The most important facts about the apartment or villa should be stated. Therefore, look for the size of the apartment or villa (interior square meters + exterior square meters), number of bedrooms, kitchen equipment, living room and dining room amenities. Depending on your preferences, if you want a nice, big terrace to enjoy morning coffee, afternoon relax or evening sunset, you can exclude the apartments without terrace or balcony immediately. Also, if you are to cook each day and you are coming to holiday with your family, children, you should pay attention on the kitchen equipment. Most of the apartments or villas in Croatia have basic kitchen utensils such as cutlery, refrigerator, stove, but if you are looking for more equipped kitchen this would not be enough for you.

3. MAP

Each apartment should be located on the Google Map and you should check carefully location. Keep in mind that Google was creating map for Croatia in 2010, so some things have changed, but the main features (as distance to the beach), remained the same.

Also, sometimes you will not be able to find the exact street address, if it is some side street even in the bigger Croatian towns (unfortunately, not every street is on Google map).

When locating apartment or villa in Croatia, use the advantage of Google where you can position yourself in front of the apartment or villa and search around. You should always, “walk the street” to the nearest beach, shop, restaurant and compare it with the description on the advert. If you are noticing big difference between the facts advertised and what you see on the map, you should not spend your time on those unprofessional presentations.

4. PRICES AND AVAILABILITY

On each advert, prices of the apartment or villa should be stated. Check if the price is stated as price per night, per apartment or price per night, per person! Usually, you will see daily and weekly price. Pay attention on the minimal stay per season, arrival/departure days and if any discount for long term vacation is offered. Be aware that most of the apartments charge extra 10, 20, 30% if the stay is less than 4 nights.  The calendar of the availability should be updated daily and most of the advertising sites show you when the calendar was updated. However, the availability can change in few minutes, especially if you are a last-minute traveller, so you have to get the confirmation from the apartment owner, agency. The best is to start your search as early as possible; apartments are booked the whole year round; from January the booking seriously progresses. Book on time your perfect apartment or villa in Croatia.

5. REVIEWS

Checking apartment’s reviews, other people experiences and impressions, must be part of your perfect holiday apartment hunting! The apartment that you are considering should have at least 2 good reviews! Sometimes you may find some negative comments from other guests, but think about how everybody has different opinion and expectation.

Also check if the owner answered on the negative review (this is very easy to do, shows good will and politeness) with the explanation and/or apology-this also speaks much of the owner and what you can expect.

These 5 things should be on everybody’s mind when searching perfect holiday apartment or villa in Croatia. Therefore, organize yourself before your travel, list your wishes and expectations, your budget, it will help you not to waist too much time on numerous apartments.

Use these advices and enjoy the hunting of your perfect apartment or villa in Croatia!

The post 5 things when booking apartment in Croatia appeared first on Online Croatia.

WIN SEVEN NIGHTS on beautiful island of Čiovo…

This is what you should do:

• Like our Facebook page Agencija Croatica (and invite your friends and family to like us to!)  https://www.facebook.com/OnlineCroatia
• Post photos from your holidays in Croatia to our Facebook profile
• Wait to see how many likes your photo will get

Simple as that!

The photo with largest number of Likes wins 7 day accommodation for two persons at our cozy studio Oasis in the heart of Dalmatian coast. No additional expenses for accommodation are to be charged. Prize covers only accommodation expenses.  Winner can book his prize in period between January 1^st and June 30^th 2015, or in period between September 1^st and December 31^st 2015.

We reserve the right to remove all photographs with inappropriate content.

Here is little bit more about studio Oasis and Trogir coast:

Studio Oasis is situated in Okrug Gornji on Ciovo Island, only 3 km away from ancient Unesco protected town Trogir in middle Dalmatian coast.

Ciovo is one small beautiful island connected by drawbridge with Trogir on mainland all the time with excellent traffic connections by car, bus or boat.

Split, second largest town in Croatia is situated just 28 km far from Ciovo. Split you can also reach by car, or by boat.

Studio Oasis is situated on quiet and very lovely place away from traffic hustle, settled on the ground floor. Amazing 100 m2 large garden lays in front of the studio. Garden is covered with green grass, flowers and lavender, filled with typical Mediterranean herbs and plants scent was awarded as the prettiest garden in the area.

In a shade of grapevine, apples, oranges and lemon trees, deck chairs and hammock will wait for you to enjoy and relax. And also there is a barbecue in one part of the garden for use.

As there is no traffic this spacious area is very suitable for the children to play. So if you have small baby we can provide baby bed so all of you can enjoy in our beautiful summer Oasis.

Studio is fully equipped and it consists of:

Double bed, bathroom with shower (and there is also outside shower with hot water you can use when you are back from the beach). Large new outdoor covered kitchen equipped with everything you might need for cooking.

To enjoy your tasty summer meals of Mediterranean cuisine, on your private 10m2 large terrace you will find table, chairs and the deck chairs confronted to the Adriatic Sea.

All premises are covered with air condition and internet access free of charge (wi fi ADSL – fast internet). At your disposal is also large parking area in shade and washing machine for use free of charge.

To spend there your perfect holiday next year free of charge, you just need to enjoy the one booked with us this summer and share your memories with us… :).

The post Win FREE seven night apartment for 2 persons in the heart of Croatian adriatic coast! appeared first on Online Croatia.

Croatia offers you different types of holidays. If you are planning to go for your holiday during the summer, you should definitely spend the most of your holiday time in Dalmatia. Dalmatia is a costal part of the Adriatic Sea and it is rich in historical towns, National parks, beautiful islands with untouched nature and secluded beaches. Trogir, Split and Dubrovnik area are the most attractive tourist destinations.

 SPLIT AND TROGIR AREA

This area of Middle Dalmatia has great geographical location. It is located near Split airport which offers lots of cheap flights to Croatia from various world known destinations. You can also reach Middle Dalmatia by highway Zagreb-Split or by ferry from Italy. Split port has very frequent ferry and speedboat connection with Dalmatian Islands Hvar, Brač, Šolta, Korčula.

If you are on a short 3, 4 day holiday, you should choose apartments or rooms in the town of Split where you can explore the city itself, its historical monuments and sights, beautiful beaches and exciting night life. Split is the second largest town of Croatia and the centre of Middle Dalmatia. You can choose apartment in the city centre- Old Town, near popular beaches (Bačvice beach, Meje beach) or in its neighbourhoods (Veli Varoš for example). Since Split offers a lot of vocational homes and apartments you will be able to find luxurious to low budget ones. After making the sightseeing and enjoying the crystal sea, take your time to visit Solin, Omiš, Trogir and islands Hvar,Brač or Šolta. These destinations are very close to Split so you can choose one as your daily trip!

Town of Trogir is also a beautiful place for holiday relaxation! Trogir is located only 24km from Split and 8km from Split airport and it offers you numerous options for finding the perfect holiday apartment or villa in Croatia. Trogir is famous for its historical sights and the city centre is under UNESCO’s protection and listed as world heritage. Trogir offers you beautiful beaches, restaurants with traditional Mediterranean dishes and friendly and warm hosts. Trogir and its surrounding places are destination for long stay holiday, therefore some renters take reservations for minimum 7 night stay and they prefer reservations with arrivals and departures on Saturdays. Pay attention on the conditions of booking under the apartment listing! Apartments are rented mostly from May to October, the high season is considered as July and August. Booking starts from January, even though the peak reservation time is around April and May. Consider this when deciding when to book and if you find the apartment that you like it is better to book immediately so you do not lose it.

Perfect apartment or villa in Croatia- Trogir

Perfect apartment or villa in Croatia – how to find it ?

Do not expect first minute offer deals for high season period; renters will not lower the price because they know they will definitely sell this period. Since the high season is only 2 months, you will notice the big difference between June and July, most of the renters put much lower prices for the offseason. If you are booking late, in July and August, ask for the last minute deals!

Apartments or villas in Trogir can be found near the city centre or in nearby villages on the Island Ciovo. Island Ciovo and Trogir are connected with small bridge which is opened 24/7. All parts of Ciovo Island are 2-12km far from Trogir. If you decide to book apartment in Trogir, you can go for daily beach day on Ciovo Island and discover small, charming villages by the sea.

Apartments or villas on Ciovo Island vary from low cost apartments to astonishing modern beachfront villas with pools. If you are traveling for relaxation, Ciovo Island is perfect holiday destination.

If you are traveling with your family and children, check first the beaches and the distance from the apartment. Even though, these villages are small and you will be able to walk to beach, you have to check if there is some hilly route, stairs and most important whether the beach is suitable for children. Most of the beaches on Ciovo are pebble and stone beaches suitable for children; unfortunately, there are no sandy beaches here. If you are looking for animation for your children, choose apartment near playgrounds and sports centres. Okrug Gornji (the biggest village on Ciovo) can definitely be the perfect holiday location for your family since it offers lots of summer activities especially for the young ones. This area also offers you lots of restaurants, shops, 3km long Copacabana beach and lots of small hidden bays. There is a boat on a daily basis for Trogir.

While staying here you should definitely visit nearby islands Drvenik Mali and Drvenik Veli and discover the unspoiled nature and beautiful sandy beaches.

Other places on Ciovo Island where you can find nice apartments are: Mastrinka, Arbanija, Okrug Donji and Slatine.

So, whether you are looking for relaxing or active holiday, Trogir and Split area will fulfil your wishes!

Find perfect  apartment or villa for your vacation in Croatia and enjoy your new holiday home!

The post Perfect apartment or villa in Croatia appeared first on Online Croatia.