Is Croatia The Next Big Thing in Luxury Travel?

Image: PHOTO: Hvar Harbor, Croatia. (photo courtesy of xbrchx/iStock/Getty Images Plus) (xbrchx / iStock / Getty Images Plus)
Image: PHOTO: Hvar Harbor, Croatia. (photo courtesy of xbrchx/iStock/Getty Images Plus) (xbrchx / iStock / Getty Images Plus)
Janeen Christoff
by Janeen Christoff
Last updated: 3:45 PM ET, Thu May 31, 2018

Croatia is moving up the ranks of luxury destinations.

As confirmed by the 2018 Virtuoso Luxe report, Croatia now sits near the top of the list of high-end vacation hot spots.

The report details what makes a destination an ideal spot for luxury travelers, and it's not hard to see why Croatia is surging to the top.

Factors that can make or break a high-end hot spot include opportunities for multigenerational family travel; access to active or adventure trips; river cruises; food and wine experiences; luxury cruises; cultural immersion; beach resort stays and honeymoon locales; and more.

Croatia has something to offer those seeking any and all of these experiences. The country may be small,but it is diverse, and its size works to its advantage, making it easy to explore and simple to navigate.

Croatia capitalizes on many travel trends, allowing guests to combine food and wine with history, culture and nature. The country has a rich heritage steeped in tradition and is home to 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, eight national parks and a coastline that stretches more than 3,000 miles with more than 1,000 islands.

Not only is it a blockbuster destination in its own right, but it's also made a name for itself playing a starring role in blockbuster films and television shows. Fans of "Game of Thrones" have been making their way to Dubrovnik to see King's Landing, and followers of "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" and "Robin Hood: Origins" also have their eyes on the country. This summer brings the release of "Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!" which will also serve to inspire more travelers to Croatia.

While seaside locales, national parks and historical attractions serve to inspire luxury travelers, Virtuoso pinpointed a destination's need for unique, in-depth experiences that give visitors a sense of local culture and adventure as another driver within the high-end market, and Croatia delivers on this aspect as well.

Travelers can head to Istria for truffle-hunting, island hop off the coast of Split, paraglide across the Plitvice Lakes, explore the hidden passages of Zagreb, delve into the nightlife culture at Zrce beach in Novalja and the list goes on.

With all it has to offer, it's no wonder those looking for a luxe vacation are seeking out Croatia.


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