The memories you make from the moments you spend with those you love the most are priceless. There is no greater return on investment than this.
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OUR MULTIGENERATIONAL TRAVEL PLANNING SERVICES SAVE YOU TIME (and stress) SO YOU CAN FOCUS ON WHAT MATTERS MOST
CROATIA
​Croatia is the only European destination I've returned to simply because I wasn't finished with it.
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The first time I visited Croatia, I came home wanting to know more. When the Croatian National Tourist Board launched its destination specialist program, I enrolled immediately and became one of the first advisors to complete the certification. That wasn't about adding another credential. It was about understanding a country that kept rewarding curiosity.
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Croatia isn't one place. It's a coastline shaped by the Adriatic, hundreds of islands, Roman history, Venetian influence, family-run wineries, and inland regions that many American travelers never consider. The more time I spend there, the more I realize how much there still is to discover.
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If you're looking for the Europe everyone else is talking about, Italy may be the right choice.
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If you're looking for something that still feels distinctly Croatian, let's talk.
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Both Worlds Travel provides customized Croatia trip planning for American travelers, including private itineraries, small ship cruises, Croatia yacht charters, pre- and post-sailing stays, and travel throughout the coast, islands, inland regions, and neighboring Balkan countries.
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Angie Brandt is a Croatia Destination Specialist based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and returns regularly to Croatia to evaluate hotels, yacht routes, regional partners, and travel experiences firsthand.
Why Croatia
Fewer than 800,000 Americans visit Croatia each year, even as interest continues to grow. For decades, Europeans have spent their summers along the Adriatic while many Americans overlooked it in favor of Italy, Greece, or France. That is changing, but Croatia still offers something increasingly difficult to find: places that haven't been redesigned around American tourism.
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You'll hear Croatian conversations echoing through stone corridors that locals have traveled for thousands of years. The ferry docks are brimming with local families heading to the islands, and the markets feed the people who live there.
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Travel is experienced differently when you step into a destination's rhythm instead of expecting it to adapt to yours.
There Isn't Just One Croatia
Most travelers know Dubrovnik and Split, and they are definitely worth seeing. However, along the Dalmatian coast, a yacht opens the door to smaller harbors, quiet swim stops, and towns that simply aren't part of the large cruise ship experience. Head inland and the country changes again; vineyards replace marinas, truffle country gives way to family farms, historic cities like Zagreb tell a different story than the coast, and regions like Slavonia remain largely undiscovered by American travelers. That's the Croatia I'm continuing to explore.
Why I Keep Going Back
Every destination teaches you something. However, for me, Croatia keeps asking better questions. Each visit changes how I recommend it to clients. I come home with a better understanding of pacing, new local relationships, different routes, and a clearer sense of which experiences are worth building a trip around.
How I Help My Clients Experience Croatia
Whether you're dreaming about a week aboard a yacht, planning a custom land itinerary, extending your trip into Slovenia, or trying to decide if Croatia is right for you in the first place, my role is the same: to help you experience the country thoughtfully, not just efficiently. That starts with understanding how you like to travel.
From there, we'll decide whether Croatia belongs on your list, and if it does, what version of Croatia fits you best.
Author: Croatia National Tourist Board Source: CNTB
Angie Brandt is the owner of Both Worlds Travel and a Croatia Destination Specialist based in Raleigh, North Carolina. She was among the first advisors to complete the Croatian National Tourist Board’s specialist training and returns to Croatia to evaluate routes, yacht experiences, regional partners, and opportunities for future hosted sailings.