Croatia - Top destination for 2005

[White Falcon]

Lonely Planet , biggest American travel guide publisher,
picks every year top travel destinations for the current year,
and this year it's Croatia on the top.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/columns/

It has become a tradition each December to ask Lonely Planet staffers around the globe to name the top travel destinations for the new year, and then to announce the results of this poll in early January. As usual, we conducted the poll in the middle of December last year, but we have delayed announcing the results of the poll this year out of respect for our cherished friends in the Indian Ocean countries affected by the tsunamis. Of course, critical relief efforts continue in those countries and will continue as the regions recover and rebuild; at the same time, we recognize that travel to those areas is part of the rebuilding process - and we also recognize, as the tsunamis have proven once again, how important tourism is to so many countries throughout the world. It is in this spirit of recognizing travel's enduring importance and allure that we now announce the winners of the 2005 Lonely Planet staff poll.
Six countries emerged as clear favorites this year. As intriguing evidence of the rapidly shifting nature of the travel world, only one of these six countries appeared on last year's list of winners. Here are this year's top picks:

1.Croatia
2.China
3.Argentina
4.United States
5.Italy and Costa Rica

Croatia soared to the top of this year's poll after a fourth-place finish last year. Croatia's appeal was its unique combination of culture, history, cuisine, accessibility and affordability. As one staffer wrote, "This is Croatia's year. It appeals to a wide range of travellers with its rich diversity of attractions. And it has not yet been over-touristed, but it has developed an excellent tourism infrastructure -- so that it suits both adventurous travellers and those who need a degree of comfort in their planning." Another staffer wrote, "Croatia's combination of easy accessibility (it's within driving distance of a large chunk of Europe), relative affordability (especially compared to the beach countries like Spain and Italy), and high quality will mean that it will be a 'hot' destination again this year." Other staffers lauded its "stunning beaches and islands," "magnificent food" and "wonderfully preserved towns such as Dubrovnik." Congratulations, Croatia!

[The Croat]

Excellent news. It will help Croatia become more popular and people in the US will become more familar with Croatia. Svaka nam cast!

[Milesian]

I've always fancied going to Croatia.
My uncle used to go every year before the troubles started.

Actually, the travel company had a bit of a time convincing him that he couldn't go after the war broke out. He seemed determined that it wouldn't affect his holiday

[White Falcon]

Originally Posted by Milesian

I've always fancied going to Croatia.
My uncle used to go every year before the troubles started.

Actually, the travel company had a bit of a time convincing him that he couldn't go after the war broke out. He seemed determined that it wouldn't affect his holiday

Maybe he planned to join the volounteers.

[White Falcon]

Interesting photos of Croatia can be found here


www.kroatienfotos.com
www.photocroatia.com

[White Falcon]

Just a few of my favourites:







http://www.vip-urlaub.com/kro/stadt/rovinj/rov01.jpg

http://makarska.aktualne.cz/makarska.jpg

http://www.pointernet.pds.hu/tourist.../croatia-2.jpg

http://www.cariboo.bc.ca/europe/photos/croatia.jpg

http://www.kroatiehrvatska.com/ntz/brela.jpg



http://www.bysoft.com/brela/brela.jpg

http://www.rrnautika.hr/charter/images/rovinj.jpg

http://www.dubrovnik-area.com/slike/velike/korcula.jpg

http://www.photocroatia.com/GALLERY/...BROVNIK_10.jpg

[Heretik]

Originally Posted by Milesian

I've always fancied going to Croatia.
My uncle used to go every year before the troubles started.

Actually, the travel company had a bit of a time convincing him that he couldn't go after the war broke out. He seemed determined that it wouldn't affect his holiday

Tell him it is safe now. Erm, now? For almost ten years...

Ontopic: Great news, I saw some news headlines on Dnevnik but didn't hear it all.

[Milesian]

Originally Posted by Katera

Tell him it is safe now. Erm, now? For almost ten years...

Nah, I don't think it would make any difference.
I think the whole thing broke his spirit. Now he just sits playing dominoes at his local pub all day.

He was in the army most of his life, and he got used to having a regular routine - same time for lunch everyday, same day of the week to get his hair cut, same holiday every year at the same time.

I think the holiday disruption traumatised him badly and sent him over the edge

[Heretik]

Originally Posted by Milesian

Nah, I don't think it would make any difference.
I think the whole thing broke his spirit. Now he just sits playing dominoes at his local pub all day.

He was in the army most of his life, and he got used to having a regular routine - same time for lunch everyday, same day of the week to get his hair cut, same holiday every year at the same time.

I think the holiday disruption traumatised him badly and sent him over the edge

Well, than you have to continue the family tradition.

[Milesian]

I'm crap at dominoes though

[Rusalka]

I want to visit Dubrovnik and Zagreb at least, hopefully in the next three years. Everyone who have been to Croatia can't stop taking about it, especially the Adriatic coast. I'd also like to see Split.

[Heretik]

Originally Posted by Milesian

I'm crap at dominoes though

Was I talking 'bout dominoes?

[Pandur]

Yes!!!

Just like I said we're back in buieness, and it shall gradually grow.

There is one bad detail I noticed in the newspapers.
A great number of Croatians are taking the expensive skiing excursions to Austria and Slovenia, spending what they have earned during the tourist season - instead investing the profit further into the tourist business.
When interviewed at the border check-point one of them said some silly, egoistical punchline like 'you only live once'.

God gave us the opportunity to regain the national respect, and he shall also take it away if we screw up His gift!
We must learn to suppress the prodigious habits and start to think like capitalists if we wish to develop further leaving the Balkans and East Europe far behind and forever. Its not about luxury or pleasures, its about pride! We own to the future generation the privilege to disregard our less-fortunate enemies.

[Heretik]

Croatia - top nationalist resort! I can already see the commercial.

[White Falcon]

True Pandur , indeed , skiing is snobbery , people brag around saying how they went on skiing ...etc.
They are doing it to be accepted in some kind of new "elite" , as if there is some rule you must go to skiing.

There was good parody from Arijana Čulina , about her self and her husband,
who couldnt afford to go skiing , so they bought groceries enough for a week in their home, told everyone they went skiing
and then locked them self in home, closed all windows , and didnt answer calls.
So they endured all week , and later they were able to join elite bragging how they went skiing.

[Rusalka]

Originally Posted by White Falcon

True Pandur , indeed , skiing is snobbery

I didn't know skiing was snobbery by itself. Guess I'd been a snob through and through since a young age. And then of course I talk about the weather too.