Hvar is a fun, beautiful island that I am mad for. I go to visit my family every year in Italy I will now be sure to take the short ferry(about 31/2 hours) across to this gem. I'm in love with it:-))

When you travel to Croatia, expect simple, run into complicated, and receive simple on the end. Coast? Must see it. Islands, absolutely. Forget complicated think simple, enjoy what is there, smell the air, look at the water. Sharks? None! Find old 'konoba' drink some local wine and find bliss or maybe find the local nightclub and sweat your worries out. Anyway you will find something if look for it and it will be wonderful.

An absolutely beautiful country, still cheap when compared to other European countries, but prices are on the way up with the possibility of it being a member of the EEU in the near future. Sample the local cuisine wherever you go as Croatians are very food and family orientated. You will find plenty of family run restaurants and very few MacDonalds style chain restaurants. The coastline is definitely worth traveling along and is very picturesque with about 1300 islands along it. I would highly recommend a visit to the fortress city of Dubrovnic in the south and the town of Pula in the north. Inland there are beautiful national parks in its rugged mountains and one i would definitely recommend is Plitvica lakes. You can get around quite cheaply and easily by both train and bus. The only drawback to this wonderful country is that you can often run into petty burecracy and poor customer service, which i hope will change as tourism can definitely be this countries biggest income earner.

When we think of Hvar - we think about the island of heather, sunshine and crickets, the island of lavender, sage and wine and the island of rosemary and secluded coves. Attractive in the summer just as in the winter, with pleasant Mediterranean climate, rich vegetation of palms, aloes, pine trees, laurel, rosemary and lavender and peaceful coves and islets filled with a multitude of pleasant scents. My family has lived on the island of hvar as long as i can remember and as the next generation i have dedicated my life to contain that tradition of my family. stephanie bilicic

Went in and out of here along the Sava River. Interesting place. Would like to visit as a civilian for fun.