I recently had the pleasure of joining a land tour organized by Always Croatia, and it was an unforgettable experience. The highlight of the trip was undoubtedly the visit to Plitvice Lakes National Park in Slovenia, which was nothing short of breathtaking. The cascading lakes and lush greenery created a serene and picturesque environment that was a true marvel of nature. The tour kicked off in Zagreb with a delightful walking tasting tour led by a knowledgeable local guide. We started our day with a perfect cup of coffee, setting the tone for a day filled with culinary delights. Our next stop was a charming cheese and wine shop where we sampled an array of delicious cheeses and local wines. The flavors were rich and exquisite, offering a true taste of Croatian gastronomy. We then indulged in a charcuterie tasting, which was an excellent showcase of the region’s finest meats and accompaniments. The culinary journey didn't end there. We were treated to a traditional holiday dinner featuring succulent roast duck and spaetzle, followed by a delectable dessert. The meal was sumptuous and abundant, leaving everyone more than satisfied. The following day was just as captivating with a visit to Lake Bled. The serene beauty of the lake and the experience of ringing the church bells made for a memorable and serene morning. Our trip concluded with a tour of Ljubljana, where we explored the charming streets and historic sites of Slovenia's capital. The city's vibrant atmosphere and rich history were the perfect end to an amazing tour. Always Croatia provided an impeccably organized tour with a perfect balance of natural beauty, cultural experiences, and culinary delights. I highly recommend this tour to anyone looking to explore the best of Croatia and Slovenia.
I recently had the pleasure of experiencing an Always Croatia cruise, and I can confidently say it exceeded all my expectations. The entire trip was impeccably organized, with seamless transfers that made traveling between ports a breeze. Each port of call was more exciting than the last, offering a perfect blend of history, culture, and breathtaking scenery. The culinary experience onboard was superb. Every meal was a delight, showcasing both local flavors and international cuisine prepared to perfection. The staff's warmth and professionalism truly enhanced the journey. They were attentive, friendly, and always ready to assist with a smile. A standout aspect of the cruise was the exceptional Cruise Director, Stefan Dukanovic. Stefan's extensive knowledge, meticulous organization, and personable nature significantly enriched the experience. His expertise was so remarkable that he was even mentioned in Rick Steves' guide about Croatia, Slovenia, and Montenegro, which is a testament to his skill and reputation. There was never a moment of dissatisfaction throughout the cruise. From start to finish, Always Croatia delivered an outstanding and memorable voyage. I highly recommend this cruise to anyone looking to explore the beauty of Croatia and its surrounding regions.
Everything about this cruise was fantastic!!! The ship, the food, the crew . . .I can't say enough wonderful things. And Stefan, our cruise director, was fun and very knowledgeable. I fell in love with this beautiful country and its people.
The MS Premier ship was very comfortable- only had 40 guests, the staff was extremely helpful with a great personality . We got to experience adventures not offered on other ships.
My experience on Katarina's Aurelia was wonderful. The Aurelia is a beautiful ship and our trip was very comfortable and well managed. Our group of passengers was, for the most part, a cohesive and lively one which was tremendously appreciated, as this might not have been the case. The crew were all just great. Jossep and Robert are lovely guys and took very good care of us. Kudos to Mira for her delivery of daily information about stops, changes to our schedule, local history as well as the strengths of the Croatian people in their efforts to service the tourist population that has been expanding. Croatia is handling this growth very well. Croatia is a gorgeous country, every aspect of it. The people are lovely overall. The food was clean and fresh. We were lucky to have clear skies and warmish seas to swim in. Early October was fine in this respect and I think most of the seasonal crowds had gone. I will say that our "itinerary", as presented by Always Croatia, was not .... how can I say? Consistant? Reliable? Available? It was unclear as we approached our sailing date what our itinerary was, because it had seemed to disappear. It was not on their website anymore. This seemed to affect most those passengers who had booked specifics, like "wine tours". My cruise experience was not affected but some disgruntled energies were felt onboard. My experience overall was affected by some lack of communication in the area of "transfers", before the trip. Fortunately the transfer was accomplished and the cruise experience was lovely.
I can’t imagine a more beautiful county than Croatia. We were honored and amazed to be able to have seen such a small part of Croatia and learn their heritage and take in the breathtaking scenery. Choosing to go in early October was perfect, as there were hardly any crowds, the small towns and islands we visited were quiet and SO peaceful, yet all of the restaurants and shops were still open. I can’t WAIT to go back! Christy was AMAZING! She was always available via email or phone and was very timely in responses to any questions. The yacht we were on, Aurelia, was beautiful, very modern with all of the amenities, and the absolute best way to see so much of Croatia in 7 days. If you are looking for an unforgettable trip outside the normal, crowded London, Paris, Rome experiences, Croatia is the PERFECT destination with just as much history, architecture, and culture as anywhere in Europe.
We want to thank Christy Kranjec of Always CROATIA for arranging our magnificent trip of the Croatian Islands on The Mama Marija II our Luxury Yacht Charter Cruise on the Adriatic Sea. It was spectacular, we had the time of our lives. The Mama Marija II crew was beyond accommodating and our tour guide Darko was extremely informative with a great personality. We began our day with a swim in the beautiful waters of the Adriatic Sea then enjoyed our gourmet lunch. Compliments to the Chef he was a fantastic cook. The food on the yacht and also on the islands was absolutely delicious. All the Croatian people were delightful. The planning, arranging of tours, excursions and day trips where all well organized and impressive. The sights were breathtaking. Each island was beautiful and magnificent in its own way with a history that defined it. In Slano we went to an oyster farm, in Korcula there was wine tasting, Krka National Park in Split had beautiful waterfalls and we had a superb dinner in the home of a local prosciutto maker with music and entertainment. It was unforgettable and a truly memorable vacation and would not have been possible without the planning and coordination of Christy Kranjec. Thank you again Christy for the trip of a lifetime!!! Julia & John, NY
I knew from the first time I had contact with Christy Kranjec at AlwaysCroatia.com that this was going to be a dream-come-true trip. She was so attentive, efficient and responsive (example: the detailed 14 page proposal with photos) that we knew the day-to-day activities on our itinerary would be the same. From Ivo, our driver from Cilipi to Montenegro, to Miro, our private guide in Kotor and beyond (a walking history lesson wrapped up in one warm and funny man), our 3 days in Montenegro were so interesting and so beautiful. The last 7 days we were treated like royalty aboard the Croatia-based MV Aurelia (modern luxury small ship of 36 passengers). We connected with everyone and had the friendliest and funniest group, led by our fabulous, knowledgeable cruise director, Mira. The up-close history of Croatia and the choice of attractions were top-notch. The quality, quantity and presentation of the breakfasts and lunches was superb (often local foods were highlighted) and were made even better by the terrific service duo of Josip and Robbie (they could be standup comedians in another life). The entire staff was so polite and could not do enough for us. Everything was planned and executed to a T, and it was difficult to accept on that last day that our brush with royalty had come to an end. We cannot say enough Thank you’s to everyone on board, to our group, to all the auxiliary staff, and to Christy as well. If you are planning a trip to this gorgeous part of the world, do not miss the chance to do it right with AlwaysCroatia!
Wonderful trip to Montenegro and Croatia. Transfers, accommodations and tours were top notch. Booking was easy and communication was great. Looking back on what we paid for the level of the experience, it was an incredible value for the price. Highly recommend
My husband and I traveled to Croatia in September with five of our friends. It was an amazing trip! We enjoyed unique experiences such as truffle hunting and a cooking class with a local family. The arrangements and transportation were excellent. Our charming boutique hotels provided comfortable accommodations and the food was out of this world. I highly recommend Always Croatia! Christy, Ivan and her team of vendors and drivers took good of us. Thank you Always Croatia!
It was an amazing experience from the beginning to the end. Many thanks to Christy and all the professional staff for the exceptional service, authentic experience and warm hospitality. I already recommended Always Croatia to many of my friends.
My husband and I had a lovely time on our Croatian cruise which was booked through Always Croatia. Christy helped us book the cruise and Ivan gave us detailed instructions how to find the cruise line office once we were in Split , Croatia. We had a cabin with a balcony and we were able to enjoy wonderful days at sea and beautiful island stops along the way. The food was good. The cruise director was very informative about the Croatian wines and history of the country. The other passengers were delightful. The daily swim stops were relaxing We saw breathtakingly beautiful scenery . All in all we enjoyed our cruise and would go again.
Beautiful country and a very well run private tour. Perfect balance of scheduled activities and free time.
Our family had an amazing experience with Always Croatia, which had us traveling on land from Venice to Opatija to Plitvice Lakes, then getting on a cruise from Split to Dubrovnik for 7 days. The best trip we've all had so far. Christy put together a wonderful itinerary that both the adults and our older children loved. Her attention to detail in picking out great hotels at each location was appreciated, along with restaurant recommendations. Any questions we had before and during the trip were answered promptly by Christy or Ivan...and it makes us want to vacation with them again! I highly recommend booking through Always Croatia for an amazing vacation!!!
Hiring Always Croatia was the best decision! Thanks to Christy and the people she hires our trip was flawless. We never had to worry about a thing. The drivers were always professional and on time to pick us up and take us to our next adventure. The hotels, food, and tours were all excellent. I would totally hire Christy again.
Always Croatia was great to work with in the pre-planning phase and helped us understand our options and what we getting. Provided valuable recommendations and info we needed. During the trip, they continued to provide quick/responsive support to our questions. Lastly, every element of the trip exceeded our expectations! We have no hesitancy recommending the trip and Always Croatia to our friends.
I wanted to find a memorable and unique trip for me and my friends. I looked at many cruise companies and itineraries in Croatia. Then I found Always Croatia. Christy offered yacht cruises that included more excursions, better ships, top notch tour directors, at a reasonable price. She under promised and over delivered. Every day was filled with fabulous food, fun things to do, valuable and interesting information from the tour director, a beautiful comfortable boat, all surrounded by the beauty of Croatia. Would I recommend Always Croatia? ABSOLUTELY.
I can’t remember having a more perfect vacation from Pickup at my hotel to arrival at the most beautifully outfitted yacht Mama Marija II, my luggage delivered to my amazing stateroom with lush linens on a comfy queen size bed, to the happy and helpful faces of an amazing English speaking crew, gourmet meals prepared by star worthy chefs, and most notably the AMAZING Nina, our cruise director. There was never a moment where she didn’t have a smile on her adorable face. Miss you Nina. I don’t use the word “perfect”very often, but taking a week long sailing aboard the Mama Marija along the exquisite coast of Croatia was about as close to perfect as you can get.
We had a great trip with Always Croatia. The Nina and the crew were so helpful. The other travelers were very friendly which added to the incredible scenery.
Carla Jensen
Jun 12,2024This was our first trip to Croatia and it certainly will not be our last. Everything went smoothly from the time we booked the trip until our departure. Christy, Sarah, and Ivan made the entire process effortless. The itinerary for the week was ideal. We thoroughly enjoyed the leisurely mornings on the boat and the refreshing swim stops. Each port offered various activities, along with ample leisure time for exploration. Docking the boat at night provided us with sufficient time to immerse ourselves in the culture and cuisine of this magnificent country. Every aspect of the Ms Premiere was impeccable. The crew was exceptional. Stefan, our cruise director, is a true master of his craft, and we were fortunate to have him on this journey. Andre and Jenna ensured that all our needs were met promptly. The food was simply exquisite.