I've just come back from this most recent trip, my 3rd JustYou holiday.
The excursions were all very good & I would encourage everyone who isn't sure to sign up for the optional ones as well as going on the included ones. We saw Opatja mainly in the rain & probably didn't appreciate the fine Austro Hungarian architecture of alot of the buildings as a result but we had some excellent chocolate tasting in one of the shops, definitely not to be missed for any chocoholics. Plitvice Lakes is a long day with a fair amount of walking involved but it is a truly magnificent site & definitely worth the journey, the lakes & waterfalls are breathtaking-wear good shoes with a grip & watch your footing though if you turn round to try & take it all in, don't slip & nearly fall in as I did a couple of times. The trip through Istria to Pula with it's well preserved amphitheatre & then on to Rovinj, a pretty town further up the coast gave us a chance to see alot of the Istrian countryside. The island cruise was cancelled due to the weather but I must admit to enjoying some quieter time in & around the hotel. Ljubljana is a very compact, nice city with splendid views both from the castle & their "skyscraper, also a good local guide." Motovun, situated quite high up does have some slopes to climb but, apart from being careful if they're wet, they're not a problem at all & again, some good views across the countryside from the top. The best was definitely saved for last with the truffle tasting. I thought I wasn't going to like the taste but was proved wrong, they enhance so many different foods in a way not expected. This trip is not particularly strenuous so don't be discouraged by the description.
The hotel was nice, staff all very friendly, look out for Lily who runs the bar & Lydia, one of the waitresses, a lovely girl. The rooms are spacious, kept very clean & with plenty of storage space for clothes but watch your head on the cupboard above the fridge, it stuck out a little bit too much for my liking. I had a room over the road which was fine once you were asleep. The food is buffet style & was ok, enough choices to suit everyone. We had 3 tables reserved for us & could sit anywhere on these tables, so giving us a chance to mix & talk to different people.
Last but definitely not least, Vlatka, our tour guide. She is a lovely, warm, friendly person who really obviously cares for her guests right from when she firsts meets them at the airport & makes so much effort to get to know everyone's names even with a big group which is important. She has so much knowledge of Croatia, the history, current affairs & put a few of us to shame with her knowledge of British affairs. Her English is excellent so don't worry if you have any problems, she will know exactly how to help; one of her first priorities is to tell you her phone number & where she can be found in the hotel so is contactable at any time. She sat with us for meals so as to get to know guests in a more relaxed way, probably the best guide I've had.
Although our weather was disappointing alot of the time, I would still definitely recommend this holiday, it was my first time in Croatia & I would love to go back on the basis of my experience.
mrsd
