DESTINATIONS CROATIA & THE BALKANS | SWITCH-SELLING
exper expert ASK THE Robert Dee, director, New Deal Europe
“We have had great feedback from operators and agents on this week’s New Deal Europe marketplace event. The Balkans region not only offers every type of tourist experience, it is also a world leader in sustainable tourism. The diversity of cultures, landscapes,
languages, gastronomy, activities and authentic experiences means that it is now, quite rightly, appearing on many people’s wish lists.”
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Theth National Park, Albania; Kranjska Gora ski resort, Slovenia; Opatija, Croatia
PICTURES: Shutterstock; Balkan Holidays
combining remote villages, shimmering lakes and secluded valleys with a visit to Shkodër, one of the Balkans’ oldest cities. “This is a journey into a long-forgotten Europe,” says Jonny Bealby, founder of Wild Frontiers. “Albania provides a perfect blend of mountain scenery, old-town charm and a bucolic way of life that is fast disappearing. It can deliver a truly rewarding, off-the-beaten-track experience, with excellent cuisine and wine along the way.” Book it: The tour starts at £925 based on two sharing, including accommodation, meals, transport and entrance fees.
wildfrontierstravel.com
THE ROMANTIC RETREAT Where: Croatia From beaches featured in Mamma Mia! to quaint cobbled streets, national parks to yacht-lined harbours, Croatia has plenty to lure – and for couples after an especially romantic escape, it’s hard to beat Opatija, an upscale coastal resort known for its 19th-century villas, beaches and seven-mile promenade. “The town is stylish and sophisticated, fronted by an elegant waterfront and lido beach with delightful gardens,” says Nicky Shafe, marketing manager for Prestige Holidays. She suggests pairing it with a stay in Rovinj – a charming, Italian-style town on the Istrian peninsula home to twisting cobbled streets, eclectic galleries and traditional trattorias – for a culture-meets-beach escape in postcard-pretty surroundings.
36 15 APRIL 2021
Albania provides
a perfect blend of mountain scenery, old-town charm and a bucolic way of life that is fast disappearing
Book it: Prestige Holidays offers three nights at the five-star Amadria Park Milenij Hotel in Opatija and four nights at the Grand Park Hotel Rovinj from £1,295 per person, including breakfast, transfers and flights from Gatwick on September 14.
prestigeholidays.co.uk
THE SKI TRIP Where: Slovenia With Alpine ski trips off the cards this winter, demand for next year is likely to be high – so for clients seeking an escape from the crowds, suggest a Balkan resort instead. Bulgaria, Romania and Macedonia all offer their
fair share of slopes, but for those looking to replicate the Alpine charm of the big-hitters, Balkan Holidays points to Slovenia’s Kranjska Gora, set in the Julian Alps. “It’s home to around 18 miles of runs, especially suited to beginners and intermediates, and you can extend into the evening with floodlit skiing,” says Chris Rand, sales and marketing manager. “The après-ski is also really good, with bars and restaurants available at a fraction of the price of other European ski resorts.” Other activities in the area include cross-country skiing, sledding, snow biking and snowshoeing, while Triglav National Park is close by and offers snow rafting, winter paragliding and more. Book it: A week’s half-board at Hotel Spik costs from £528 per person, including flights from Gatwick on March 13, 2022. A six-day ski pack costs from £344.
balkanholidays.co.uk
TW
travelweekly.co.uk
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