Croatia

Great bike trip. The self-guided option was planned out perfectly. Andre was excellent and provided excellent care for us. Definitely glad I had an e-bike on this tour. Very very challenging mountains even on an electric bike 😊

I just returned from a VBT cycling trip, and while the cycling routes and views were absolutely stunning, the hotel accommodations were some of the worst I’ve ever experienced on a group trip. The first two hotels were dirty, poorly maintained, and nowhere near the “4-star” standard advertised. Linens were stained, bathrooms smelled of sewage or urine, drains were clogged, and even the pools had visible mold. These properties were closer to budget motels than quality hotels, and the going nightly rates were a fraction of what we paid through VBT. By the time we reached the third hotel, which was finally nice, it felt like an insult that we only got one night there after five nights of subpar conditions. Other travelers in our group felt the same way and were equally disappointed. The cycling itself was fantastic, but the accommodations were a huge letdown and made the trip feel like a poor value. Unless VBT seriously improves the quality of its hotel partners, I would not travel with them again.

Croatia was our favorite of our 12 VBT trips and we decided to go back with friends and tour by boat. The trip was fantastic. Living on the Maritimo allowed us to see the country from the water, and to visit more islands along the way. The Captain and crew were so accommodating and friendly. The Chef was outstanding, preparing different meals every night. The cabins were small but so bright with lots of storage and a large bathroom. Our three group leaders were great. We started our trip in the rain and they worked with the Captain to change the itinerary and still see all the sites. They handled all the logistics of traveling island to island seamlessly. The country is so beautiful with gorgeous water. I highly recommend Croatia by boat.

How can the next trip top this one? Highest quality accommodations, leaders, experiences, scenery. Honestly the best trip we have ever taken, and the e-bikes really make the difference.

VBT Croatia was a fantastic experience. Our trip exceeded our expectations and my adult son said it was a “trip of a lifetime!” It was a perfect blend of guided and self guided. The guides had great personalities and created a great experience! I loved the variation of experiences, loved the food recommendations, loved the scenery and loved all the group interaction. I am ready for the next VBT trip! Amazing trip! Thank you.

Wowsa, what a wonderful adventure. We explored the Dalmatian Islands on beautiful scenic roads... and most importantly from the comfort of e-bikes, which made the "rolling hills" a little easier to ride. Our guides did an outstanding job from day one. Highly recommend this trip!

My first experience on a walking tour was delightful. I was very impressed with the expertise and friendliness of the guides who knew so much about history, geography, and local flora. Their attention to detail, ensuring our safety and comfort, while sharing fascinating aspects of Slovenia and Croatia excelled expectations. The accommodations were outstanding and the weather... perfect!

I can't say enough good things about our recent trip to Slovenia/Croatia. We were Country Walkers "newbies", urged by friends to try it, and thoroughly enjoyed all of it. We were initially attracted to the location, as I have ancestors from the region, but we had no idea about the gorgeous landscape, mountains, and warm and friendly people (most all are English speakers, since it is their second language in grammar school.) Hotels were above expectations, comfortable, and have addicted me to eiderdowns. The food also was better than " tour quality" and even included a private dinner at Tito's mansion on Lake Bled one evening, overlooking the lake. Excursions to a winery and Roman ruins lent educational interest (especially due to excellent guide Nada in Pula), as did the truffle hunt (thoughtcrimes, sadly, our truffle hound was unsuccessful in his hunt the day.) I must give the most credit, however, to our 2 Country Walkers guides-Vida and Irena, both avid hikers and mountaineers (among other sports), friendly, organized, and careful with our wellbeing. All tours should be fortunate enough to have such leaders. All in all, it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

We had a great trip thanks in a large part to our guides and our Croatian hosts! Dani and Dani were a great guiding team, who adapted the itinerary to meet our needs. They were thoughtful, informative and knowledgable. I would highly recommend this trip. You will learn so much about the wonderful and beautiful Dalmatian coast.

This walking tour was awesome. The different venues, hikes and lodging was all terrific . The single factor that made the trip so good, were the two Guides. Dani and Dani were so thoughtful, knowledgeable, and their trips to lunches and meals and wine tasting, at various venues were remarkable. Getting to know some of the locals at these venues, and visiting places off the beaten path, were one of the high points, in my view.