Compact Guide to Croatia

Advantages: Compact size and waterproof cover
Disadvantages: Disjointed and hard to find information.

...I am the sort of person who enjoys planning for their holiday. I love researching our destination and I devour as much information as I can before I go as I find that if I am knowledgeable about a place I enjoy myself much more. Embarking on a cruise last year was my idea of heaven as it gave me ample opportunity to research lots of different places. One of our ports of call was Dubrovnik and it soon became apparent that this would be a suitable destination for an independent sightseeing tour. I read quite a bit on the internet but decided that taking a guidebook with us was probably a wise move. My local bookshop only had one book covering Croatia so that?s how I came to purchase the Berlitz Pocket Guide at £4.99. Appearance First impressions of this guidebook were very positive. It is, as the name suggest, compact in...

Meggysmum 15.10.2009 · Read review
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Review of Croatia Berlitz Pocket Guide

Pula (croatia)

Advantages: a stupendous sea and an unique reception.
Disadvantages: perhaps the absence of sand-blasts to whom likes!

......

the-crazy-brother 27.07.2004 · Read review
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Review of Pula (Croatia)

Pearl of the Adriatic

Advantages: Attractive, unique city
Disadvantages: Gets very busy in mid-summer.

...Dubrovnik, in Croatia, is sometimes referred to as the Pearl of the Adriatic. The most delightful way so come across this medieval city is by cruise ship across the Adriatic. An early morning vista of white walls and terracotta roofs in the morning sun is a sight that will not be forgotten by any lucky enough to witness it. I was entranced as I gazed out from our balcony as we passed the city to enter the port. Background This peaceful looking gem suffered terribly in the 1990s when an attack by the Yugoslav army laid siege to the city for over 6 months. The occupants were trapped within the medieval walls and bombarded by shelling from the hills overlooking the city. There was no electricity of communication in the city itself. It is difficult to imagine the extent of the damage that was done as there has been a great...

Meggysmum 25.10.2009 · Read review
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Review of Dubrovnik (Croatia)

The ups and downs of Zagreb

Advantages: Elegant architecture, plenty of green spaces, lots of museums, good food
Disadvantages: Not so good for people with mobility problems

...A couple of weeks ago, to celebrate the auspicious occasion of my mother's birthday, we took my parents to Zagreb for the day. Of course, we set out from Slovenia so it wasn't the enormous undertaking that sounds. The Croatian capital is well worth a stay of at least a couple of days, but it also makes an excellent day trip and is a viable destination from the holiday resorts of Croatian Istria, the coastal towns and other places in Slovenia, Venice and Trieste in northern Italy and the Plitvice Lakes in northern Croatia. I wouldn't recommend it as a day trip for people staying further south in Croatia as distances take longer to cover in this part of Europe. The train to Split (as far south as you can travel by train in Croatia) is an overnight one and you may have a few hours to kill before it departs, fortunately the station is...

fizzytom 22.07.2009 · Read review
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Review of Zagreb (Croatia)

Croatia's Jewel

Advantages: Scenery is amazing. Well maintained paths. Good strudel.
Disadvantages: Weather not typical for Croatia. Bus loads of tourists.

...Plitvice Lakes National Park is well worth a visit if you are traveling Croatia or this part of Europe. Said ?Plit-vich? as the Croatian language uses ?c? as ?ch? like Italian. Close to the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, this park can be found at the heart of this odd shaped country ? it?s not in the north region near Zagreb, nor in the south near Dubrovnik, neither in the west near Pula or anywhere near the coast, but in the middle. There are buses here from the north and south on the Zagreb to Split route, but be warned, they are not the most reliable. We had to wave at a couple buses before one would actually stop for us. There are no trains near here but the roads are good. Why go there? The sheer color of the water is a reason to go here. All photos of this place show crystal clear Caribbean blue water, but then all...

jjqburch 04.05.2007 · Read review
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Review of Plitvice Lakes National Park, Plitvice Lakes National Park

Glittering Jewel of the Balkans

Advantages: Beautiful, historic, no "lager louts", reasonable prices
Disadvantages: Very hot, lots of tourists, not easy to get there

...My sister and I arrived in Dubrovnik after a 24 hour long ferry trip in the summer of 2004. It wasn't the best introduction we could have had to the historic town. Cobbled streets, sunburned shoulders and heavy luggage don't mix well. Luckily though, the Croatians we came across while searching for our accommodation were welcoming and helpful. We must have heard the phrase "enjoy your stay in Dubrovnik" a hundred times in our short stay. Unsurprising considering that tourism is now the city's foremost form of income. Following the break up of Yugoslavia and the Balkan conflict, people have been flooding back into Dubrovnik to appreciate all it has to offer. Before the war, Croatia was a popular holiday resort, famed for its beautiful coastline and cheap prices. George Bernard Shaw, Prince Charles, and Margaret Thatcher have...

MissDirect 03.10.2004 (30.10.2007) · Read review
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Review of Dubrovnik (Croatia)

ZAGREB - little VIENNA

Advantages: pretty E. European city
Disadvantages: pretty similar to others on Balkan

...Zagreb is a capital of Croatia, an independent state of ex Yugoslavia, since 1991. Since that time, many things are different more-less because of the political system that aims joining Croatia to European Community, rather then staying in the community of a little Balkan ex Yugoslavian countries. Some ex Zagreb or ex Yugoslavian population are rather sarcastic while talking about Zagreb today, referring to Zagreb population as a "poor little Vienna's provincials". However, many ex Yugoslavs know perfectly well that Zagreb population has its own flair ever since early days of ex Yugoslavia, no matter of the recent Balkan civil war. As someone who considers herself as ex Yugoslavian, I do remember this Zagreb flair in 80s. For example, in 70s and 80s Zagreb Town publisher have been publishing the best comic book ever, (called Alan Ford...

barefoot777 13.02.2006 · Read review
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Review of Zagreb (Croatia)

Bog off to Zagreb

Advantages: great galleries, relatively undiscovered
Disadvantages: accommodation is pricy

...The title might sound less than complimentary, but there is a reason for this, namely that “Bog!” is an everyday Croatian term meaning “Hello!”. If you are worried that a lack of Croatian might be something that will deter you from visiting Zagreb, then a vague knowledge of German will stand you in very good stead. Speaking German I found that I was at least able to talk to people, even if only to exchange pleasantries. Zagreb, Croatia’s capital is a hidden gem, in fact much of Croatia is, with a lot of the tourists having been deterred from visiting the country since the war with Serbia. I first visited Croatia in February 1998, when Bosnia was still a no-go zone, and many people had wondered whether the war might spill over into Croatia again. People probably have visions of Zagreb being a ruined city...

Morgenhund 27.04.2001 · Read review
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Review of Zagreb (Croatia)

  The capital of the Istrian peninsula

Advantages: lots to do, culturally interesting place to visit
Disadvantages: didn't spend enough time there!

...On my sailing trip this year, Pula was our last port of call. A beautiful city with much to do, the visit was much appreciated by everyone who went with me. Pula, the largest city in the Istrian peninsula, has been in existence for almost three thousand years. As well as making it one of the oldest cities in Croatia, its long life is the main reason why the city boasts such a rich and diverse range of historical and cultural attractions. The Roman authority in Pula which was established around 177 BC gave Pula special importance and boosted the growth of the city. The influence of the Romans was probably the most important influence in the city's history, and this can be seen in its wide range of attractions. The major attraction of the city is its amphitheatre. Situated right outside Pula's harbour, it is one of the six largest...

emmorticia 17.12.2003 (18.12.2003) · Read review
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Review of Pula (Croatia)

Croatia for Euro 2008

Advantages: Consistent and good under pressure
Disadvantages: No Eduardo da Silva

...Who will win? The teams - Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and Spain. The final squads, 23 players per team (inc. three goalkeepers), were submitted on 28th May and the competition begins on 7th June. There are some great teams in there. Italy - the World Cup winners of 2006. However, they haven't been convincing under there new coach Roberto Donadoni. Greece - the Euro 2004 Champions. They qualified comfortably this year. Spain - strong in defence, mainly due to Iker Casillas their Real Madrid goalkeeper. I could go on, but I wont! It will sound too much an exercise in giving facts and figures. My own personal opinion is that Croatia will win it even though their leading striker Eduardo da Silva broke his leg...

bryspy 01.06.2008 (04.06.2008) · Read review
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Review of Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland: Which country do you think will win and why.