1. Croatia 19 th October to 22 nd October

2. Where did we stay and who went? Who went? Clare Mardell Georgina Bunn Jill Todd Kim Williams Which hotels did we visit? Dubrovnik Palace (we stayed here) Grand Villa Argentina Hotel Excelsior Hotel Lapad

3. Dubrovnik Palace Hotel is situated outside of old town of Dubrovnik and it’s a short bus ride away making it a perfect location for relaxation and exploring. The hotel has been recently refurbished and it has a light, modern but homely feel. All rooms at this hotel have sea views. Top tip if you’re worried about getting a local bus, don’t be when staying at this hotel you can’t go wrong as the hotel is the 1 st and last stop on the route!

4. Restarurant Klarisa Restaurant Klarisa is located in the old town of Dubrovnik. The restaurant is located in a former monastery which dated back to the 13 th century. In the summer it is possible to sit outside within the square and soak up the atmosphere. Live music (traditional kind) Mediterranean cuisine What did we eat? Starter: Scallops/ Prawns risotto Main: Rib-eye steak Klarisa We also sampled some local wine and breads with a tuna pate.

5. Grand Villa Argentina Located within walking distance from the old town. Parts of the hotel was built in the 1920s. The decoration of the hotel is in keeping with its traditional design. Not all rooms have sea views however, anything above a classic room does.

6. Hotel Excelsior This hotel is located next door to the Grand Villa Argentina and so again is only a short walk from the excelsior, the design of the hotel is more modern than the Villa Argentina but has a touch of glamour about it. Not all rooms have sea views so it is worth upgrading to ones which do as the views of the sea and Dubrovnik are spectacular. The hotel features a lovely spa area my favourite of all the properties. The hotel has had many famous and high profile guests and they are very proud of this they even have a wall of fame ranging from Game of Thrones stars to the Queen!

7. Konavle Wine Tour Train The bus picks you up and drops you off at your hotel. You drive to the Vineyards of Konavle and after leaving the coach you make your way to the 1 st vineyard where you sample both a red and a white wine. You can also sample a fortified wine alongside some bread, olives and oil. You then hop on a little train which then drives through the village to the old mill, you are greeted by the local people dressed in traditional Croatian village dresses, you are welcomed with a drink of homemade lemonade and or apple juice. They also had traditional snacks of sugar/honey coated almonds and candied peel of lemon and orange. They took you inside the flour mill where you see how they have restored the old mill and how it grinds the flour. You then walk up a pretty wooded area which runs alongside a river a to the water mill. They had a talk about the clothes they made although we could not hear the girl that was doing the talk due to the noise of the river.

8. The next stop was to another vineyard where again you sampled a red and white wine with some crisps, after this time you make your way on the train to another house where you sampled another red and white wine along with a traditional farmers lunch which, consisted of a boiled egg, (raw) smoked bacon, raw onion, peppers, cucumber and tomato 2 different types of bread, 1 of which was a homemade corn bread. The couple that run this vineyard were so sweet and really welcoming. The final stop on the train was to an award winning maker, again you sampled a local white and red but you also got to sample the award winning wine made with the Malvasia grape. This is a sweet dessert wine which was accompanied by a cake. The price of this wine was around £80 per bottle. There was a lot of history surrounding the Malvasia grape as this was nearly lost in the war but they managed to find a few vines and managed to bring back the traditional grape.

9. Dinner at Hotel Kompas This hotel is a new high standard 4* hotel that Sovereign do not feature but is apart of the Adriatic Hotels portfolio. The hotel started off life as a 3* star hotel but after extensive refurbishments has turned itself into a fantastic property. The hotel is located in the Bay of Lapad which is a short drive from the old town. We ate at the Sphere Restaurant which served a Mediterranean cuisine. What we ate. Starter: Lobster Tortelni Main: Sea Bass/ Clare had a seafood medley Dessert: Crème Brule

10. Hotel Lapad Located right by the harbour (Where all the cruise ships come in) the hotel is situated 3kms from the old town. If you fancy a day of relaxation the hotel has a lovely pool area and local shops and restaurants are within walking distance of the hotel. A fantastic 4* property which offers a relaxed comfortable surroundings.

11. Dubrovnik old town With terracotta roofs and cobbled streets the old town allows you to step back in time into a place rich in history and culture. Whether you want to explore the city or sit and people watch in one of the many cafe’s there is something for everyone. We were lucky enough to have a walking tour around the town with a fantastic guide who explained the meaning behind the buildings and the town itself.

12. Restaurant Posat A local fish restaurant located right by the entrance to the old town. We enjoyed a variety of different dishes and even got to try the local black bread, Risotto, squid, prawns and a crème caramel. If fish isn’t your thing then they had a lovely steak option.