Adriatic > Croatia

An Introduction to our Croatia Holidays

the Meditterranean as it once was

Since 1998, Holiday Options have pioneered the reintroduction of tourism to the beautiful country of Croatia. With this experience of providing Croatia holidays we have developed a programme that is second to none with a range of boutique, luxury and family hotels plus a range of quality apartments and new for 2008 some exquisite luxury villas in Istria, the north of Croatia..

Our Holidays in Croatia feature the popular resorts of Baska Voda , Bol, Brela, Cavtat, Dubrovnik, Hvar, Kolocep, Korcula, Lopud, Makarska, Mlini, Mljet, Orebic, Opatija, Orebis, Postira, Porec, Rabac, Rovinj, Split, Supetar, Tucepi and Vrsar. We also feature city breaks to Dubrovnik, Split and Pula for those looking for a short break.

All of these Holidays in Croatia are accessed by a range of flights that include

London Gatwick to Dubrovnik, Split and Pula

Manchester to Dubrovnik Split & Pula

Birmingham to Dubrovnik and Split

Bristol to Split

Exeter to Dubrovnik

Norwich to Dubrovnik

Simply use the column on the right hand side of this page to view the resorts as well as detail on all the accommodation we have available. At any stage you can book the Croatia holiday of your dreams by using our search and book box.

Holidays in Croatia

Our Croatia holidays washed by the clean, clear waters of the Adriatic have more than a little of the southern Mediterranean character. The vast majority of Croatias population is Roman Catholic, regular churchgoers are the norm, and family values form the fabric of the nation. An afternoon siesta is observed on a croatia holiday and balmy evenings begin with the traditional stroll on the seafront or in the city square. Croatia celebrates a host of national days and religious feasts.

All inclusive Croatia holidays are available along the beautiful coastlines and beaches. We have Croatia hotels, apartments and luxury croatian villas with pools, Cruises and coach tours across Croatia in our various resorts.

Holiday in Croatia and take a water taxis along the scenic route from town to town. Hillsides cloaked in forestry run right to the water’s edge. Summer concerts draw the crowds to ancient amphitheatres, and along a thousand miles of shore a thousand tiny croatian islands are sprinkled in a sapphire sea. In such a setting, relaxation is carried on the breeze in one of our Croatia holiday hotels.

On a Croatia holiday you will find a coastline where sandy bays are few and far between, there’s nothing to cloud the clarity of the surrounding seas, making them perfect for swimming, snorkelling and diving. With rocky beaches, pebble coves and man made bathing platforms, it’s easy to make the most of the water, and for those who would rather be on it than in it, there are island hopping ferries to many of the offshore islets and outcrops. Little fishing ports are liberally scattered along the shoreline ensuring a fresh supply of seafood for delicious local dishes. Away from the coast, glorious rural scenery lines your route to timeless tiny villages. Here in the hills there’s an almost tangible awareness that you’re well off the beaten track of tourism. It’s a rare and refreshing feeling.

Croatia is very new country yet one that has evolved through a long history. An independent democracy since 1991, its national treasures include Roman relics, medieval walled cities, Byzantine basilicas, 13th century ramparts and 16th century palaces. Croatia holidays offer cobbled streets in its character filled towns have chimed to the footsteps of countless generations, and bell towers in Baroque churches have rung the changes of a chequered past. So the keen or curious historian could sightsee for weeks and still leave plenty for next time, were it not for the fact that contemporary Croatia tempts you to a feast of alternative attractions.

With the Danube forming much of its northern boundary, and the Adriatic marking its western reaches, Croatia shares its borders with Slovenia and Hungary to the north, while Bosnia and Herzegovina occupy the centre of Croatia’s crescent shape. Italy’s north eastern coastline faces Croatia from the west.

Croatia holidays include food served with fresh vegetables, cooked in olive oil, coastal Croatias cuisine based on a hugely varied range of seafood dishes. It’s said that 400 species of fish thrive in local waters.

Some which appear on mouth watering menus could include bream, cuttlefish and fresh sardines, swordfish style dentex and orhan, prstaci shellfish, langoustines like mini lobsters, and squid often deliciously prepared with rice in its own blue-black ink. Try the brodet a mixed fish stew with rice.

The Italian influence on a Croatia holiday extends to its inexpensive specialities with pizza and pasta dishes in many eateries.

Local meat is usually produced from free-roaming outdoor reared animals. Specialities include prsut a Parma ham equivalent, served as a starter with local cheese in oil, cevapcici little rissoles of beef, onion and herbs, and raznjici pork kebabs. Manistra od bobica a dish from the inland area, is a vegetarian soup of beans and maize. Local wines include some from organic vineyards.

Some of the best bottled wines are (Reds) Dingac, Postup and Kastellet, (Whites) Posip and Grk from Korcula island and Bogdanusa and Zlatan Otuk from Hvar.

If you opt for carafe wines you’ll find the reds are more reliably good than the whites.

Lace, leather goods, embroidered table linens, wood carvings and colourful ceramics all contribute to the variety of locally hand crafted giftware. On a Croatia holiday all the towns and even small villages have somewhere selling local crafts, from market stalls to curiosity shops. Brilliant browsing grounds include Dubrovnik’s medieval streets and marble paved squares, Cavtat’s old town, the atmospheric centre of ancient Rovinj, and among the cobbled streets of Porec.

Croatia holidays are not renowned for sandy beaches the majority of them are fine shingle including the well known Zlatni Rat (Golden Horn) on the island of Brac which points a 300 metre finger into the Adriatic. The island has a smaller sandy cove near Postira, along with several pebble bays.

A gently shelving sandy beach attracts families to little Lopud island, offshore from Dubrovnik, while this region’s ‘riviera’ is a series of picturesque pebble bays and water’s edge promenades. White pebble beaches form a gleaming ribbon along the Makarska Riviera, and the ragged and indented coastline of the Istrian Riviera creates a medley of sheltered coves and rocky outcrops.

Korcula Island is hemmed by 195 beaches and coves that make excellent snorkelling grounds.

With such famous sons as Goran Ivanisevic and Mario Ancic, it’s no surprise that Croatians are keen on tennis. Wherever you are, there’s sure to be a court nearby along with a basketball court and or football pitch, two other favourite sports. Sailing is a super way to enjoy the coastal seas, and boats and berths can be hired in many little ports. Waterskiing, windsurfing, and fun rides on ‘donuts’ and banana boats are widely available in high season months, and Croatia has several recognised dive schools for scuba enthusiasts.

Croatia holidays consist of a variety of bars and nightclubs in direct proportion to the size of the town and, though some stay open late into the night, it’s fair to say that Croatia’s nightlife is generally low key. Many of the larger hotels offer evening entertainment and the summer calendar includes a host of village festivals, carnivals and concerts covering everything from folklore to classical and jazz. Atmospheric venues include churches and palaces, and al fresco events on Dubrovnik’s ramparts and in Pula’s Roman arena.

Croatia holidays offer superbly scenic coastal roads running from Dubrovnik north to Zadar, turning inland before returning to the sea to encircle the Istrian peninsula. A hire car would be a real bonus for discovery here. Holidays in Croatia have good regular ferry services linking the mainland ports to their outlying islands.

Time Difference:

BST + 1GMT + 2  (GMT + 1 in winter)

Local costs:

A 3 course dinner around £20 and a glass of wine around £3 The above prices are approximate and for guidance only.

Electricity:

220v

None are compulsory.

Language:

Croatian, although English is widely spoken in hotels and restaurants.

Visas:

None required by holders of British or other EU passports, USA, Canadian, Australian or New Zealand passports.

Flight time:

Flights 2hrs 15mins – 2hrs 55mins

Money:

The currency of Croatia is denominated in Kuna. There are approximately 10 Kuna to the British Pound although this will depend on the exchange rate at the time. Sterling, whether cash or travellers’ cheques, is readily accepted and easily changed. Larger restaurants and many shops accept international credit cards. ATM cashpoints are available in most resorts.