by Skye Mayring Last updated: 2:00 PM ET, Sat August 9, 2025
Croatia is back in a big way.
With a significant increase in airlift through October, connecting Croatia to some 120 foreign cities, it’s no surprise that tourists are rediscovering “the Land of a Thousand Islands” or finally seeing this bucket-list worthy destination for themselves.
Thanks to a boost in accessibility, advisors have more opportunities than ever before to showcase their value to clients and provide insider knowledge. From bypassing pricey fees to avoiding the crowds at popular tourist spots, these tips can reduce friction and allow clients to fully appreciate Croatia’s stunning coastlines, historic cities and natural wonders.
Reduce Friction Like a Champ at Plitvice Lakes National Park
Plitvice Lakes National Park is Croatia’s largest and oldest national park. With 1.49 million annual visitors representing more than 160 countries, it’s also the most popular one.
A tourist destination of this scale will come with a certain amount of friction points, such as long lines, big crowds and pricey food that’s often lower in quality. However, savvy travel advisors can set their clients up for success in several ways.
Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia. (Photo by Lauren Breedlove)
First, book clients at an independently owned bed and breakfast near the park’s Entrance 1 for two nights so they have time to settle in and prepare for their big day exploring. For example, Villa Sumrak and Plitvice Lakes Etno Garden offer commission to advisors and an opportunity for clients to feel like they are staying in a friend’s country estate.
From the villas, it takes about five minutes to drive to convenient street parking, bypassing the major parking lots that most people encounter on their drive to the park. From there, a 10-minute walk downhill will take clients straight to the P3 ferry, and they can easily catch the first ferry at 8:30 am or subsequent ones that officially happen on the half hour (but seemed to come every 15 minutes when we visited).
While guidebooks and blogs encouraged us to arrive at the park for its 7 a.m. opening, overnighting right by the ferry felt like we had been given a cheat code and an opportunity to enjoy our included breakfast at a leisurely pace.
After hours of hiking and photographing the falls, a hearty lunch is imperative, and the options within the park leave something to be desired. Instead, make a reservation for your group at Lika Kuka, located a short walk away from Entrance 1 (reentry is no issue).
Winner of Tripadvisor’s Best of the Best Award in 2024, Lika Kuka offers variety, local wines and fresh ingredients at reasonable prices. If you really want to flex, suggest your clients pre-order one of their traditional meals, such as spit-roasted lamb, which takes three hours to prepare. It will be hot and ready for their arrival.
Bypass New Car Zoning in Dubrovnik
Effective this summer, the City of Dubrovnik implemented a Traffic Management System within the Old City and surrounding areas. To that end, the city limited vehicle access to this zone during its most popular months, from March to the end of November, with the aim of preserving cultural heritage and promoting sustainability.
Dubrovnik, Croatia. (photo courtesy of Exodus Travels)
Only those with permitted, special approval will be able to drive into this area, and you can make your clients feel like VIPs by snagging it for them.
In-the-know advisors can arrange overnight stays at hotels within the restricted zone and secure garage parking ahead of time. The historic Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik, seaside Villa Dubrovnik and Hotel Excelsior, part of the SLH Collection, are great options for discerning guests.
Advisors should still contact the hotels directly when booking in order to ensure that a parking space is available and that the necessary vehicle information will be properly registered with the authorities. For more details regarding the zone or to ask questions, contact the city authorities via email at zona@dubrovnik.hr.
Save Clients Hundreds on Car Rental Cross-Boarder Fees With Daytrip
While I was thrilled to find budget car rentals for approximately $30 per day, I was less than ecstatic to learn about the one-way fee rental companies tack on when renting in one country and returning in another. For example, we had planned to pick up our car on the Slovenian coast and drop it off in neighboring Croatia.
The cost for doing so would have been more than $530 (a difficult pill to swallow) in addition to all the taxes and associated fees. Luckily, I found a way to circumvent the one-way fee by booking a leg of my trip with Daytrip car service.
Through Daytrip, pickup from our hotel in Portorož, Slovenia, and drop off at Croatia’s Rijeka International Airport, was less than $200. From there, we picked up a rental car and drove it along the Croatian Coast for a few days—one-way, fee-free.
Offering 5 percent commissions and custom voucher generation, Daytrip not only enables travel advisors to book private transfers with English-speaking drivers but also add sightseeing stops at popular attractions along the route.
For example, clients who want to travel between Split and Dubrovnik can break up the drive with an hour-long walk around Klis Fortress or they can simply opt to sip wine with a killer view at family-owned Rizman Winery.
Add Value in Zadar While Staying at Croatia’s First Hyatt
Clients can be among the first to stay at the brand-new Hyatt Regency Zadar, which is also the Hyatt Hotel Corporation’s first-ever property in Croatia. The 133-room, 5-star property has a prime location along the Adriatic Sea and overlooking Old Town.
Hyatt Regency Zadar. (Photo Credit: Hyatt)
We loved the views from the pool, which hosts a Veuve Clicquot-themed party, complete with a DJ and complimentary champagne on Thursdays through the summer season. Tell your clients not to miss the included breakfast at the beautifully designed Palm House.
I truly can’t believe that the tastiest breakfast dish I had on our trip came from a hotel restaurant. However, Palm House’s made-to-order avocado toast—with crushed San Marzano tomatoes, perfectly poached eggs and finished with coarse sea salt and a drizzle of olive oil—will go down as one of the best breakfasts I’ve had in a while.
Thanks to the hotel’s proximity to Old Town, we enjoyed a low-cost evening with a huge ROI. At check-in, the receptionist at Hyatt Regency Zadar suggested we walk to the end of their dock to catch the “ferry” to Old Town. The so-called ferry was a charming rowboat, helmed by a single oarsman, who charged about $2 per person to cross the choppy sea.
The wobbly boat ride was an event in itself and a highlight for city slickers like us. We headed straight for the promenade for what both Hemingway and Hitchcock allegedly dubbed the most beautiful sunset in the world (the attribution is still under debate, but I can personally attest to its beauty). Adding to the lure of Old Town is Nikola Bašić’s architectural feat known as the Sea Organ.
Through a series of hidden pipes underneath its marble steps, the Sea Organ turns the waves and wind into haunting music. Folks take a seat on the steps of the Sea Organ or grassy areas nearby to feel the sound roll over them, much like in a sound bath setting.
Steps away, find the quirky Greeting to the Sun, a circular monument that visitors can walk on. It’s 300 solar panels absorb light during the day and emit multicolored light and shapes as the sun goes down.
Show Clients They Can Have the Beach to Themselves on Hvar Island
Hvar, Croatia (photo courtesy ALG Vacations)
It’s no secret that Hvar Island is one of Croatia’s most popular summer destinations. According to statistics released by the Hvar Tourist Board, the destination saw a 5.6 percent uptick in arrivals in June, compared to the same time last year.
And which country happens to be the number one market in terms of both arrivals and overnight stays? You guessed it — the U.S. With that in mind, your clients will likely want to incorporate a visit to this gem on the Dalmatian Coast.
To add to overall satisfaction with their stay on Hvar, suggest clients find some peace from the hustle and bustle on a private day tour with Leman Boats. The independently owned tour operator offers up to 20 percent commission to travel advisors and comes recommended by the Hvar Tourist Board.
All private tours are completely customizable, catering to individual interests, whether that’s fishing for white sea brim or lobster, snorkeling in empty bays around the Pakleni Islands or trying upscale, traditional cuisine at beachside restaurants that only the locals know about.
On my private tour with my six-year-old child last month, we snorkeled and swam in crystal clear waters on a quiet side of Hvar Island. We had the entire beach to ourselves for hours before going Pakleni Island hopping like the rich and famous. It was surreal.
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