Croatia

Go Balkan mad and visit Croatia, the EU’s latest member
CITY BREAKERS
The filming of the fourth series of Game Of Thrones, starting in August, is bound to boost numbers visiting picturesque Dubrovnik. The Unesco World Heritage City has an Old Town, a beautiful Franciscan monastery, shops, cafés and restaurants. Learn about its history on a guided tour and taste local wines in a vineyard.

Also, the Summer Festival, 10 July to 25 August, will feature more than 80 theatre, music, dance and film programmes taking place in churches, palaces, fortresses and squares across the city: www.dubrovnik-festival.hr

ACTIVE FAMILIES
Activities Abroad offers a new family holiday in Novigrad, a small fishing village on the Adriatic coast. Spend a week cycling through Krka National Park, kayaking to the best beaches, white-water rafting and hiking. Based in apartments at a beach-front hotel, families have all the flexibility of selfcatering, plus the option of the hotel’s restaurant, too.

  • The seven-night Adriatic Family Adventure costs from £995 per adult or £945 per child (8 to 14), based on four sharing a one-bedroom apartment. Includes flights, transfers, B&B, five meals, activities, equipment, instruction and guides. Departures in July and August 2013: 01670-789991, www.activitiesabroad.com

LEISURELY WALKING
Inntravel offers a self-guided break, Islands & Waterfalls, around some of the prettiest parts of Croatia. It features two national parks – the Kornati archipelago and Krka; and the romantic medieval island town of Trogir and the sunny island of Hvar. The emphasis is on relaxed self-drive discovery, plus leisurely walking with the help of Inntravel’s detailed walking notes and maps.

  • The seven-night trip, including B&B, car hire, one dinner, walking maps and notes, costs from £775 per person: 01653-617001, www.inntravel.co.uk

Travel-Jun28-02-590Historical Dubrovnik

LUXURY VILLA
The Villa Agency has 12 new additions in Croatia. From authentic stone-built houses to luxurious modern designs, the properties are dotted along the Dalmatian coast. For example Barbara, an eco-friendly, solar home sleeping 10, set just 50 metres above Duboka Bay on the island of Brac, costs from £370 per person.

SUN SHINE HOLIDAY
The island of Brac is hugely popular for leisure holidays. Bol is the busiest resort, famous for its V-shaped beach, Zlatni Rat (meaning Golden Cape). The resort has plenty of bars and restaurants, watersports and a tennis complex. Essentially Prestige is offering a seven-night stay at Hotel Kastil on the waterfront in the centre of Bol from £725 per person in July for B&B, return flights from Gatwick to Split, transfers and local representation. Those departing on 10 July also get a 20 per cent discount in the Thalasso Wellness Centre at the Grand Hotel Elaphusa as well as a 10 per cent discount in restaurant Vesuvio.


For more information on Croatia’s different regions and attractions: www.croatia.hr
Contact Wendy at wendy.gomersall@lady.co.uk

Travel News

Play time
Kilworth House, North Kilworth in Leicestershire, has its own outdoor theatre and offers a break including B&B, dinner and tickets to a show (My Fair Lady until 14 July and Anything Goes, 6 August to 1 September), from £135 per person. 0808-163 9093, www.prideofbritainhotels.com

The Grand tour
Discover Egypt has launched the ultimate Grand Tour of Egypt, Israel and Jordan, taking in highlights of the three countries in a 15-day trip, including the temples of Luxor, pyramids of Giza, a seven-night Nile cruise, Jerusalem and Bethlehem and the magical city of Petra. From £2,579 per person, including the flights.
0844-880 0462, www.discoveregypt.co.uk/jordan

Write on
Barsham Barns self-catering accommodation in Norfolk is running residential creative writing courses with acclaimed novelist Raffaella Barker from September to November. The three-day retreat costs from £695 per person with full board. 01328-821744, www.barshambarns.co.uk