As we recently started selling holidays to Porec in Croatia, I decided to go down there for a few days to discover a little more about this still relatively unknown destination for the Brits. I have been to Porec many times in the past and every time I find something new and exciting. For this trip I chose to stay in an apartment only 3 kilometres outside of the Plava Laguna area in a village called Mugeba. Our hosts were British/Croatian and couldn't have been more welcoming and pleasant. There are only four apartments in the building, all of a high standard but the icing on the cake was the pool area which we had to ourselves whenever we had time to use it. The hosts also keep bicycles for the use of the guests should they wish to venture into Porec on two wheels, but in effect is also a walkable distance.
The resort of Porec lies in the Istrian peninsula in northern Croatia and is very accessible from either Trieste airport in Italy (1 1/2 hours transfer time) or Pula in Croatia (45 mins). These two airports are directly linked to the UK and Pula can now be reached from Scotland and several other northern airports.
One of the beauties of travelling to Croatia is that you do feel you are in a foreign country. It retains its authenticity and cultures and has not (yet) been anglicised with 'ye olde english pubs' and fish and chip shops or taverna's serving all day English Breakfasts. It is civilised, there are no lager louts, dispite the alcohol being much cheaper than many European resorts, the weather is as it should be in a mediteranean country, the food is healthy and delicious, the people understand English and there is an abundance of sports, sights, trips, museums, art galleries and other entertainments on offer both by day and night.
Croatia became a full member of the EU on 1st July, this year so I don't expect things to stay this way for long, unfortunately, but for now they still have their own currency and it will be a few years yet before they take the euro. However, as with the other EU members have found, they now have to open up to foreign investments and enterprises so it won't be too long before there's a Macdonalds and starbucks on every corner.
My advice is to get there now and enjoy this lovely traditional place before it become the same as any other coastal place in Europe.
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