Rick Steves - Rick Steves Croatia & Slovenia

CROATIA & SLOVENIA

Rick Steves & Cameron Hewitt

CROATIA & SLOVENIA

Travel is intensified livingmaximum thrills per minute and one of the last great sources of legal adventure. Travel is freedom. Its recess, and we need it.

I discovered a passion for European travel as a teen and have been sharing it ever sincethrough my tours, public television and radio shows, and travel guidebooks. Over the years, Ive taught thousands of travelers how to best enjoy Europes blockbuster sightsand experience Back Door discoveries that most tourists miss.

Written with my talented co-author, Cameron Hewitt, this book offers you a balanced mix of Croatia and Slovenias lively cities and cozy towns, from mountaintop hikes and Adriatic cruises to thought-provoking museums and sky-high driving tours. And its selectiverather than listing dozens of island getaways, we recommend only the best ones. Our self-guided museum tours and city walks give insight into the regions vibrant history and todays living, breathing culture.

We advocate traveling simply and smartly. Take advantage of our money- and time-saving tips on sightseeing, transportation, and more. Try local, characteristic alternatives to expensive hotels and restaurants. In many ways, spending more money only builds a thicker wall between you and what you traveled so far to see.

We visit Croatia and Slovenia to experience these countriesto become temporary locals. Thoughtful travel engages us with the world, as we learn to appreciate other cultures and new ways to measure quality of life.

Judging from the positive feedback we receive from readers, this book will help you enjoy a fun, affordable, and rewarding vacationwhether its your first trip or your tenth.

Sretan put! Happy travels!

Set sail on the shimmering Adriatic, for a remote island whose name you cant pronounce but whose wonders youll never forget. Corkscrew your way up impossibly twisty mountain roads to panoramic vistas of cut-glass peaks. Lie on a beach in the hot summer sun, listening to the lapping waves as a Venetian-style bell tower clangs out the hour. Ponder the fading scars of the Yugoslav Wars, and admire how skillfully the locals have revitalized their once-troubled region. Dine on a seafood feast and sip a glass of local wine as you watch the sunset dip into the watery horizon. Unfamiliar as they might seem, Croatia and Slovenia have what youve been looking for: some of Europes most spectacular natural wonders, a fascinating recent history, and a spirit of adventuremuch of it still off the beaten path.

Here in the land where the Adriatic meets the Alps, there are countless ways to have fun. Begin your adventure by flipping through this book, which covers Croatias and Slovenias best big-city, small-town, and back-to-nature destinations. Youll get all the specifics and opinions necessary to wring the maximum value out of your limited time and money. If youre planning a trip of a month or less, this book is all you need.

Croatia and Slovenia were once part of the union called Yugoslavia. But today, that feels like ancient history, as each country is proudly independent. Carefree Croatia, with its long and enticing coastline, beckons vacationers with dramatically scenic terrain, romantic old towns, sunshine-bathed pebbly beaches, and an irrepressible seafaring spirit. Perky Slovenia surprises travelers with its tidy quaintness, breathtaking mountainscapes, colorful towns, and exceptionally friendly natives. And for good measure, Ive also included detours into two other parts of the former Yugoslavia, each one offering a striking contrast to Croatia or Slovenia: the craggy coast of Montenegro, and a pair of diverse and fascinating Bosnian citiesbite-sized Mostar and bustling Sarajevo.

Experiencing Europes culture, people, and natural wonders economically and hassle-free has been my goal for much of my life of traveling, tour guiding, and writing. With this book, I pass on to you all the lessons Ive learned, painstakingly updatedin personfor this edition.

Rick Steves Croatia & Slovenia covers the predictable biggies and adds a healthy dose of Back Door intimacy. Along with strolling the walls around Dubrovniks peerless Old Town, youll poke your way into a hidden little tavern clinging like a barnacle over the sea. Ive been selective, including only the top destinations and sights. For example, Croatia has over a thousand islands. But why not focus on the very best? Thats Korula, Hvar, and Mljet.

The best is, of course, only my opinion. But after spending my adult life researching Europe, Ive developed a sixth sense for what travelers enjoy. Just thinking about the places featured in this book makes me want to sing klapa music.

Rick Steves Croatia & Slovenia is a personal tour guide in your pocket. Better yet, its actually two tour guides in your pocket: The co-author of this book is Cameron Hewitt. Cameron writes guidebooks for my travel company, Rick Steves Europe. Inspired by his Slavic roots and by the enduring charm of the Slovenian and Croatian people, Cameron has spent the past 15 years closely tracking the exciting changes in this part of the world. Together, Cameron and I keep this book up-to-date and accurate (though for simplicity weve shed our respective egos to become I in this book).