| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 03/07/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 34 |
| Copyright: Other |
City update by Matthew Hampton
Dubrovnik offers 101 reasons to visit Dalmatian coastline
Operators aim to introduce a new jewel in the crown
Star struck: ER heart-throb Goran Visnijc – alias Dr Luka Kovac – will be playing Hamlet in Dubrovnik’s Summer FestivalCASH rich? Time poor? Stressed out?Well – Imay only be able to answer yes to two of the above but the decision to take a short break is always an easy one. Deciding where to go is a bit harder.
With the summer months upon us, Europe’s cities seem a bit too hot and bothersome for those after a short break away from the daily grind.
In Paris I feel bad if I don’t take in at least six museums and 60 shops a day; in Barcelona, the nights are a wash out if you don’t end up salsa dancing on the tables; and in Amsterdam, well, it’s probably best not to go into details of weekend hi-jinks in the Dutch capital.
Escaping one big city for another then, might not be the best plan. Escaping to one of the world’s most beautiful stretches of coastline, with Europe’s cleanest, clearest waters, sounds much better.
With this in mind, later this summer I will be revisiting Dubrovnik.
The jewel in the crown of the Adriatic, paradise on earth – fortunately, all of the old clichés about this United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation heritage city are true, although it doesn’t really have a city feel to it, rather a small-town ambience.
And looking at it from the vantage point on the approach road from the airport, it’s easy to see why – it is actually a very small place, the old centre contained within some of the best-preserved medieval walls in the world.
If you want the picture of Dubrovnik that launched a thousand brochure covers, it is worth stopping at this vantage point to take some photographs – you won’t find better views of the city’s riot of red-tiled roofs elsewhere.
Once inside the walls, the best thing to do is take it easy. In the best tradition of Riviera-style towns, the number one-activity is people watching and the number two is being watched.
Not that the sights aren’t worth seeing – it would be a crime to come here and not at least walk around the walls – but Dubrovnik is a small place and the main must-sees can be done in a day.
The other major activity this summer will be people watching on a higher level.
In a major coup for Croatian tourism, this month visitors will be able to watch ER heart-throb Goran Visnijc – alias Dr Luka Kovac – play Hamlet in the Summer Festival.
So if you want to leave the day-to-day grind behind, then you should plan nothing more stressful than sitting in sidewalk cafés and taking the occasional dip in crystal clear seas.
The beaches here are of the rocky variety, which is what helps keep the water so clear – there is no sand to stir up and muddy the water.
At present, short breaks to the Dalmatian coast are mainly a tailor-made affair, though operators are working on changing this.
Holiday Options chairman Jonathan Oakes said: “We are planning our 2001 brochure at the moment, which will include short breaks to Dubrovnik.”
So too is Transun, which hopes to have a Dubrovnik short-break product for next year. With a flight of only 2hrs 30mins, there is also the possibility of a day-trip itinerary, though nothing has been finalised yet.
Retail sales manager Mark Riddle said:”We would like to offer Dubrovnik as a short break or a day trip, but there is a lot to do first – we have to dot the i’s and cross the t’s.”
However, until flight rotations are increased, tailor-made packages are the only short- break option available.
Both Transun and Holiday Options are able to organise four nights’ half-board in a three-star hotel for less than £300.
factfile
DUBROVNIK
Cost of living: on a par with Spain, a three-course meal costing no more than £15.
Sample product: Holiday Options has a seven-night, half-board lead-in price of £379, coinciding with ER star Goran Visnijc’s performance in Hamlet at the Summer Festival. Tickets for the festival are available locally from £4-£30.