So confident are Hidden Croatia in Croatia’s potential for British tourism in 2010 that they have added over 100 new hotels, apartments and villas, with 77 new properties in Croatia, 15 in Slovenia and 10 new properties in Montenegro. The additions represent around 50% of the properties in the new 2010 `Hidden Croatia’ brochure, available online via www.hiddencroatia.com and from travel agents.

Product director Alan Brown says “Croatia offers the best value, high quality non-Eurozone in Europe this year. We’ve seen tourism rise spectacularly in recent years. The big difference now is the number of repeat visitors from Britain who have been pleasantly surprised at the high standards of accommodation and service and are returning again and again.

He continues “While traditional destinations like Spain and France are suffering from a downturn in incoming British tourism Croatia’s islands, cities, countries and seaside resorts are welcoming more and more British guests. The islands in particularly offer a magnificent holiday setting, for example the Elafiti islands are wonderful for hiking with their unspoilt natural countryside, Vis island is known as the `new Capri’ and Hvar is the new, chic, `in’ place to be seen, rivalling St. Tropez or Mykonos for its sea-front glamour and style.

The fact that Croatia is a non-Euro zone ensures it’s good value and the country genuinely does offer high standards at competitive prices. For example, a week’s stay in one of the country’s top hotels, the 5* Grand Villa Argentina in a seafront location in Dubrovnik, costs from £675 per person (child £499) this Easter, including flights from Gatwick to Dubrovnik and airport transfers”.

Hidden Croatia is one of the leading UK tour operators specialising in Croatia and the Balkan region. Around 80% of the properties in the 2010 programme are hotels, 16% to apartments and villas, with a niche collection of family activity holidays and sailing charters.

New hotels:-
Hidden Croatia’s new hotels include the newly opened Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, a 5* family resort hotel in a beachfront location which opened in July 2009 offering world-class standards, luxurious accommodation and extensive sports and leisure facilities, 14kms from Dubrovnik. (7 nights b&b, with flights and transfers from £709).

The 5* Hotel Monte Mulini in Rovinj on the Istrian Riviera also opened in July 2009 and is already acclaimed as the best hotel on the Adriatic coast with its fine dining restaurant, water’s edge location, elegantly designed with exceptional standards of service and costs from £1239 for a 7 night b&b stay, with return flights and transfers.

The Hotel Villa Andrea, also new to the Hidden Croatia programme for 2010, is an extremely good value 3* hotel in a seafront location with an excellent terrace restaurant, an unpretentious, family-run, boutique hotel, priced from £499 for 7 nights b&b, including flights and transfers.

On Croatia’s islands, the 4* Hotel Riva Hvar Yacht Harbour is an excellent example of a high quality hotel in a location that rivals the glamorous settings and ambience of the Cote d’Azur or an upmarket Greek island. A week’s stay costs from £675 with return flights, transfers and b&b accommodation in this striking waterfront setting on the island of Hvar.

New self-catering properties:-

Self-catering in Croatia also offers exceptionally good value, as do the supermarkets, restaurants and cafes on Croatia’s coast and islands. The air-conditioned 3* Lina Apartments on the island of Korcula each have a seaside terrace or balcony and shared pool, water-ports, dive centre, restaurant and are close to a 200m stretch of golden sand. A week’s stay, with flights and transfers, costs from £299 through Hidden Croatia, based on 4 sharing.

A 90 minute drive from Dubrovnik, in the wine growing region of Peljesac, is Villa Silencia, a villa right on the waterfront with a private swimming pool and accommodation for up to 6 guests, available for a week’s stay from £445 per person, with flights and transfers.

Guided tours & cruising :-
Included within the Hidden Croatia 2010 programme are island hopping holidays on board the 32m long M/S Eden, a 5* cabin cruiser accommodating offering 7 nights cruising around Croatia’s islands, priced from £835, including breakfast, lunch and dinner, and escorted touring.

Hidden Croatia’s `Grand Tour’ of Croatia and the Balkans includes a week’s tour of Croatia’s historic cities, national parks, lakes, waterfalls, churches and monuments, also taking in Mostar and Sarajevo. The tour costs from £799 per person, including half board accommodation in 3* hotels, air-conditioned touring with an English speaking tour guide, return flights and transfers.

Sailing and activity holidays:-

Croatia has some of the most stunning scenery, clearest waters and most interesting sailing possibilities anywhere in Europe and Hidden Croatia offer crewed or unscrewed charters on board traditional `gulets’ (wooden sailing vessels), motor cruisers and sailing yachts, giving the freedom to explore freely, or to follow an expertly prepared itinerary.

Croatian Adventure:-

For families, friends and couples looking for more action from their holiday, Hidden Croatia has expanded its choice of activity and adventure holidays for 2010, with sea-kayaking weeks and multi-adventure holidays that include hiking, biking, canoeing and rafting. Prices start from £675 for a week’s holiday, with half board accommodation, 5 days organised activities with a tour leader and guides, equipment, return flights, transfers and 7 nights’ accommodation.

• New York Times Best-Selling Author Joins The Great Adventure People As The Surprise Celebrity Judge For Create Your Own Adventure Contest
• Aquarias At Whatley Manor Introduces ‘Mother & Bride-To-Be’ Day Spa And Overnight Spa Experiences
• Warsaw Welcomes Beethoven For Easter Festival
• Search For Sammy’s Cones This Easter!
• 200 Years Of Chopin: Be One Of The First To Visit Poland's New Museum With Regent Holidays