Try Porec, Croatia

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.

Team Building

Team Building is designed to encourage workers and colleagues to be more dependent and reliant on each other in order to increase performance in the work place.  There are many ways to build up this trust from simple bonding exercises to multi day team building holidays. 

Slovenia is an ideal destination which has already a well developed infrastucture, and natural resources for the perfect team building retreats.

The travel puzzle has years of experience in organising such team building exercises and these can range simply from one or two activities over the period of the annual seminar or conference, to a specially designed week solely for the purpose of increasing confidence and performance in the work place.

The activities involved can be tailored to each companys' needs and can range from the simple adrenalin park and zip lines, to the more demanding sailing weekends which include cycling and hiking. Other activities may include rafting, kayaking, orienteering, underwater diving etc.  The beauty of choosing Slovenia for your team building holiday or events, is that it is easily accessible from the UK and main land Europe, the events can be held at any time of year suitable for you and that the country is stunningly beautiful too.  If the travel puzzle does not offer what you are looking for then one of our many partners certainly will so don't hesitate to contact the travel puzzle for advice.

weather in Slovenia

Well for all of you already in Slovenia you have probably realised that the weather is not what it should be. The good news is that it should be getting better soon.  The plus side of this, as there always has to be a positive, is that the water levels are high in the rivers.  That means for adrenalin junkies, the white water kayakers and rafters,  the conditions are ideal for maximum thrills. The canyoning is at its best and it's still possible to find quieter secions of the river for tubing and canoeing.  The lake sit on top kayaking is an alternative to those who maybe don't have the experience for white water activities. Remember though, book with a reputable company and don't attempt the activities alone.  The travel puzzle have years of experience in this area so ask them for their advice on which agency to use.

The Soca river in Bovec, which recently hosted the world kayaking championships, is in full flow. The activity holidays have started and the hotels and campsites around the Soca Valley are filling up quickly.