Croatia With its sublime stretch of Adriatic coast, Croatia has long been regarded as one of the most beautiful parts of Europe. Despite the tragedy of war, its charms remain largely intact; most of the tourist areas have been lovingly recreated. This is an area of culture, history and unspoilt beauty, a land of medieval towns, richly decorated palaces, sapphire blue seas and aromatic pine woods. The late Jacques Cousteau, described the Adriatic as one of the cleanest seas on earth. The country’s landscape ranges from small villages in the interior to the dramatic Dalmatian coastline. In the North, the Istria peninsula includes the major coastal resorts of Porec, Pula, Opatija and Rovinj; the Kvarner region has many islands and islets with good beaches. Zagreb, the economic, cultural and administrative heart of the region, sits prominently on the River Sava. Dubrovnik was once considered to be the most beautiful city in Croatia with its medieval walls and palaces. Croatia like many Eastern European countries is currently awaiting membership to the European Union, which is due to happen around 2007. Although this will be beneficial in certain ways, Croatia does depend on this and they have a strong economy compared to countries like Bulgaria who will rely on the membership quite heavily, even for the improvement of their roads. Why choose Croatia? Vodice The town of Vodice is located on the beautiful Dalmatian coastline, an area already increasingly popular with Italians, Austrians, Hungarians and many other European markets.   Pasman The islands of Pasman are a very clean part of the Croatian Adriatic, which is already known for its wonderfully clear water.