Our Croatian Family Holiday

Guest Blog by One of Our Customers - Julie Pease

Why We Chose Croatia for Our Summer Holiday

Before this trip, I would probably have assumed that scenery like this meant travelling much further away. But Croatia really surprised us. You get incredible coastline, beautiful historic cities and warm Mediterranean weather – and it’s only a relatively short flight from the UK.

If you’re looking for somewhere that feels special without doing a long-haul journey, it’s a brilliant option.



Discovering Mlini: A Beautiful Village Near Dubrovnik

One of the things I loved most about Mlini was that it didn’t feel overly touristy. Yes, there are hotels and visitors, but the village still feels like a place where the locals live their lives.

In the evenings, we’d walk along the waterfront and see people meeting friends, eating in restaurants and enjoying drinks by the sea. Elderly residents would sit in cafes along the street playing cards and chatting. Grandparents would watch their grandchildren playing in the sea.

Some nights, there were even informal water polo games happening in the sea.

It felt relaxed and authentic – not like somewhere that exists purely for tourists.

I love people-watching, so as a visitor, it was really enjoyable just sitting and watching local life happening around us.

Sunrise at Srebreno Beach: My Favourite Part of the Trip

My personal highlight of the entire holiday was Srebreno Beach.

Out in the sea, there’s a swing anchored in the water.

I’m an early riser, so every morning before the rest of my family woke up, I would walk down to the beach and go out to the swing. I’d sit there in the warm morning air, dangle my feet in the water, watch the locals come out for their early morning swim, and watch the sun come up over the mountains.

The light would slowly spread across the landscape, and everything would be bathed in a beautiful, ethereal golden glow. The sea was calm, the air was warm, and it was completely peaceful.

By midday, the heat was intense, but early in the morning, it was just perfect. I ended up going there every day.

A Boat Trip to Dubrovnik

One day we took the boat from Mlini to Dubrovnik. I love a boat trip on a holiday, and this one was great.

It only takes about 20 minutes to sail to Dubrovnik, and the views of the coastline are stunning.

Dubrovnik is an incredible place. The old town is surrounded by huge stone walls, and walking through the streets feels like stepping back in time.

Where We Stayed: Hotel Astrea in Mlini

We stayed at Hotel Astarea, which sits right by the sea.

It worked really well as a base for the holiday. The beach is just steps away, there are restaurants nearby, and everything in Mlini is within walking distance.

The location was perfect because we could relax in the village most of the time, but still easily take the boat to Dubrovnik whenever we wanted.

The hotel had everything we could’ve wanted – restaurants, swimming pools, sun loungers, a coffee shop, and a gym. Admittedly, the bedrooms did feel quite small, but the whole hotel had recently had a refit, so everything felt fresh, clean and modern.

Why We Booked Through Tailormade Escapes

What made the whole trip particularly easy was having Tailormade Escapes organise everything.

Instead of spending hours researching destinations, comparing hotels and organising transfers, James handled it all for us.

He suggested Croatia, found the hotel, arranged the transfers and even sorted the flight check-ins.

All we had to do was pack and turn up.



Planning Your Own Croatia Holiday

If this blog has inspired you to visit Croatia, Tailormade Escapes can take care of everything – just as they did for our trip.

From researching the destination and recommending the right hotel, to organising transfers and handling travel logistics, James makes the whole experience easy.



If you're thinking about a similar trip, you can plan your Tailormade Escapes holiday and get expert help organising every detail.