February 12, 2019 - The Hvar Tourist Board has finally launched a new website. It might have been better if they hadn't. 

Let's start with the good news, as I always try and be positive. The Hvar Tourist Board has issued a tender looking for help from a PR company for 2019. Hopefully, this will finally lead to a proper promotional campaign for the town, which has so much potential to grow as a quality destination, but which has ambled along through accidental tourism for years now. 

Because the Hvar Tourist Board certainly needs help. 

It is more than two years since I left my adopted island after writing over 9,000 articles about Hvar, bringing the New York Times to meet the Mayor of Hvar, The Sunday Times and Travel + Leisure to name but a few. A lot of my energy was invested in tourism on Hvar for the longest time. No longer, as I am working on other projects these days, with more of an international feel based up in northern Croatia. But I still have a soft spot for sunny Hvar and want to see it do well. 

And it can only do well if it can recognise its mistakes and learn from them and improve. My experience after 8 years writing online in Croatia is that the only way to effect any sort of change is to do so publicly. And, with no pleasure on my side, let's take a look at the new website, recently (and presumably expensively) launched by the Hvar Tourist Board. Some comments, which are intended to be helpful. 

1. Remember the purpose of the website - to give information to tourists.

The English text on the site is terrible. What, for example, does this opening sentence about the town even mean? We have dealt with the bizarre notion of branding Hvar as Genuine Hedonism while the tourist board stated that they are not looking to promote its image as a party island. But a mundane, tourist present? And this is the opening sentence. 

How much does it cost to get a native speaker to read through and edit text? Rather than wasting money on private parties in Belgrade, a fraction of the money spent could have resulted in an engaging website in native speaker English. Simple first impressions. It is a real turn off to the people looking to use the service - tourists. 

2. Don't launch a website if you don't have enough material

I fell out with the Hvar Tourist Board a few years ago through sheer frustration with their inactivity when I pointed out that the latest news from Hvar Town on their website was that it had snowed in Jelsa 16 months previously. it seems that this love of news from previous years continues into 2019:

There are just three items in the news section, two which took place in 2018, and one in Spring 2017. 

Similarly with events, just three on the site, and only one still to come. 

As for what others say about the Hvar Tourist Board, perhaps the less said the better. 

3. At least get the information correct

It can't be that hard to get the information correct if you live in the town and have the resources of the tourist board. But apparently so?

How many clubs does Hvar have? According to the new site, there are four - Carpe Diem, Laganini, BB Club and Top Bar. No mention of Pink Champagne, SEVEN or the strip club at the top of the hill, whatever it is called these days. And if Top Bar and Laganini are clubs, where does that leave the likes of Kiva, Nautica, Hula Hula?

And even if the information was correct, how hard is it to get the right pictures? Top Bar was renovated in the winter of 2017. 

4. If you are going to recommend island businesses, don't forget to recommend the best ones

I was surprised to see the tourist board recommending individual businesses over others, and even more surprised at the ones not recommended. For the wineries for instance, the Tomic winery is the most visited by tourists, as well as having wines in over 500 locations all over Croatia. Similarly, Vino Ahearne is run by one of less than 400 Masters of Wine in the world, and the only Master of Wine, who is making wine in Croatia. Jo Ahearne MW is currently on a wine tasting tour of Australia and Japan, where she is exporting her wines from indigenous Hvar varieties. One of her wines was named in the top 10 in all Croatia in 2018. But not good enough to get a hallowed tourist board recommendation. 

5. Are you Hvar Town or Hvar Island?

One of the many crazy things about life in The Beautiful Croatia is that there seems to be a local tourist board for almost every village. I am exaggerating, of course, but the island of Hvar has five separate tourist boards, which means five separate websites which focus almost entirely on those five individual areas. And yet there is some overlap. So here we have a situation where the Hvar Tourist Board is recommending winemakers from Jelsa, Vrboska and Sucuraj, but there is no mention of the towns whatsoever on the site as they are in different districts. The Stari Grad Plain gets a mention as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but not the oldest town on the island next to it. A unified website for the whole island would be a logical (and cheaper) option to help the end user, the tourist, but there are too many politics to make that happen. 

Enough. There is a lot more which could be written, but hopefully the new PR company hired will be chosen on merit and not other reasons, and will have the experience to put a lot of this right. 

It is a big year for Hvar Town, with the opening of Hotel Palace Elisabeth, the first 5-star hotel on the island, as well as the reopening of the oldest public theatre in Europe and the 13th-century Arsenal. I had a phone call from Hvar last week asking for advice on what to do for the opening of the theatre. The person (not an official) was surprised to hear that I had brought the billionaire Norwegian philanthropist who had invested heavily in the Shakespeare Globe Theatre in London to visit the Hvar theatre. What a tie-up that could be for the reopening of the oldest public theatre in Europe. 

Instead, we will probably be treated to the same lack of visionary celebrations that accompanied the 400th anniversary of the theatre in 2012. Perhaps the new PR company will be able to do something a little more inspirational. 

I certainly hope so. Hvar deserves so much better. 

February 11, 2019 - The island of Hvar is set to welcome its first ever 5-star hotel with the opening of Palace Elisabeth, hvar heritage hotel. So what gives it the authentic historic feel?

2019 is going to be a great year for the heritage of Hvar Town. No less than three of its giants are set to reopen to the public after renovation: the oldest public theatre in Europe, the 13th-century Arsenal one floor below the theatre, and the first 5-star hotel on the island, Hotel Palace Elisabeth, hvar heritage hotel.

All three have played a major part in the history of the town, and all three are set to play an important role in its future. With two outstanding public spaces such as the theatre and the Arsenal reopening, the possibilities for quality cultural events on Hvar are enticing indeed. 

But so too is the opening of the Palace Elisabeth. Part of the Suncani Hvar Hotels group, the hotel has been upgraded from its previous life as 2-star Hotel Palace, to be the first 5-star hotel on the island. According to the Suncani Hvar website:

Palace Elisabeth is the first full-service 5-star heritage hotel situated in the heart of Hvar, directly above the city hall overlooking the main square. It is located in one of the key places in the city and is considered a historic landmark with stunning Venetian and Austrian architectural details. The history of the palace dates back to the 13th century and in 1899 it was rebuilt under the name Spa Hotel Empress Elisabeth; the famous Austrian Empress Sisi who was known for her exceptional travelling lifestyle.

So what gives Palace Elisabeth its historical feel?

Venetian / Austrian architecture

The history of the hotel dates back to the 13th century, with the first building a Duke's palace built during Venetian rule, which included four towers. The eastern tower was converted into a clock tower. Having been burned down, it was rebuilt in the 16th century. The opening of the Hvar Health Society in 1868, the oldest organised tourism in Europe, which celebrated 150 years on Hvar last year, was the next intervention in the building's history, and it was converted into the Spa Hotel Empress Elisabeth, after its main imperial sponsor, whose name returns to the hotel in 2019. A quick look at the astonishing architectural detail shows many historic Venetian and Austrian influences.  

Historic Loggia

At the front of the hotel is the City Loggia, one of Hvar's most iconic and historic buildings. Construction began in the 15th century and was completed in the 16th, before the Ottoman attack devastated much of the town, including the Loggia. It was fully restored, and it has served a variety of functions during its 500-year existence, from Venetian courthouse and public auction house to spa salon, cafe, reading room, dance hall, exhibition hall, and the meeting place for the town council. The level of historical detail is plain to see, and the upgrading of Palace Elisabeth to a luxury heritage hotel will only add to this. The miniature obelisks were created by the Late Renaissance master, Tripun Bokanic, in the 17th century.  

The look of the rooms / suites

 There will be 45 luxury rooms and suites, with unique design and fantastic views out to the main square and waterfront, where the emphasis will be on the historic nature of the building. More details to follow. 

The view (of the historic Arsenal, main square)

The views from Hotel Palace Elisabeth are exceptional. Here is what you can expect at the hotel's restaurant, San Marco. Apart from an excellent view of the exclusive waterfront and Pakleni Islands, included in the view is Europe's oldest public theatre, the 13th century Arsenal and the largest public square in Dalmatia. Not a bad heritage collection, and what better place to have a pre-theatre cocktail before a performance in the 1612 theatre than in the hotel where organised tourism in Europe began?

Public hotel spaces

There will be a big emphasis on the heritage of Hvar in the public hotel spaces. I have seen some preliminary sketches, and they look VERY nice indeed. Once I have something more concrete, I will publish them. But it is, I think, what Hvar has been missing. A luxury hotel with an emphasis on the tradition, history and heritage of this lovely town. I for one am very excited and look forward to the opening this summer. You can track progress as Suncani Hvar updates their dedicated page for Palace Elisabeth.  

February 8, 2018 - Whisper it quietly, but the sunshine elite island of Hvar is quietly introducing a new aspect to its tourism offer - active tourism.

One of the things I have been watching over the years in Dalmatia is how destinations are reinventing themselves and expanding their offers. Perhaps the best example of this is Bol on Brac, which 15 years ago was known as probably the biggest party destination on the Adriatic. The tourism chiefs decided that this was not the kind of tourism they wanted, and they diverted Bol's tourism message towards family and adventure tourism. Helped by strong investment in the town's hotels, the results have been spectacular. 

But spare a thought for what is happening a little further south of Brac on the island of Hvar. Famous for its sun, beaches and nightlife, in recent years Hvar has succeeded in adding another exciting section to its tourism offer - active tourism. 

With the strong support of leading island hotel group Suncani Hvar Hotels, Hvar is managing to bring more and more events and bigger sporting names to the island. 

Not that many people know that Hvar has been the home of one of the most demanding swimming races since the early 1970s? The Faros Marathon is a 16km open sea swim from the harbour in Stari Grad to the mouth of the Stari Grad Channel 8 km away, and back. It is a truly international event, attracting talent including Olympic Gold Medal winners in the past. 

And while the Faros Marathon has been on the island calendar for more than 40 years, there have been many new initiatives in recent years which are starting to exploit Hvar's true adventure tourism paradise. A group of young enthusiasts started offering tours for sailing, kayaking, hiking, cycling and climbing. Adventure tourism on Hvar was born. 

(Photo Miro Stec - Are you brave enough for the new Ferrata Via Avalon?)

And from those humble beginnings, the active Hvar offer has mushroomed, so that today, it can truly call itself an activitiy island. The Hvar Half Marathon, surely one of the most beautiful races in Europe along the old road from Stari Grad to Hvar Town, has been an established fixture for more than a decade. New initiatives with Run Croatia have meant that Hvar is rapidly increasing its profile as a running destination. 

Perhaps the most progress has been made in cycling, and the island's roads are becoming increasingly busy in the shoulder and off-season months with cyclists from all over the world. From popular races such as Cycling Through Heritage (through Hvar's UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Stari Grad Plain) to a winter training camp for one of the world's best cycling teams, the island's roads (and off-road) are being discovered by cyclists of all levels of ability. Bahrain Merida returned to Hvar in December to once more bring their 75-strong team together for winter training. There seemed to be delighted with the facilities on offer on Hvar, staying as they did in the island's first bike-friendly hotel, Pharos, bayhill hvar. 

The annual New Year sailing regatta has been taking place for more than 40 years, and it has recently been joined by an Easter regatta. Competitive sailors will note a rice race list throughout the year, with several regattas taking in the island. For less competitive sailors, or for those who just want to enjoy a romantic picnic around the Pakleni Islands, the sailing offers on Hvar have increased considerably in recent years.

Perhaps the most high profile addition to the Hvar activity calendar in recent years has been the OTILLO Swim Run, a gruelling swim and run through the island's beautiful fields and enticing waters. The global event returns for the third time in April. 

How to best sum up all of this healthy activity? Perhaps with the new Suncani Hvar Hotels promo video for Active Hvar - check it out below.  

It all started one day with a little fish restaurant at the end of the riva... 

The Gariful story is taking its latest twist on Hvar. Easily the best-known restaurant on the island, Restaurant Gariful has been serving the rich and famous for many years now, with movie stars, footballers and celebrity businessmen among the regular clientele.  

It was not long before the Gariful team expanded out into other areas of hospitality. Always keen to support local community initiatives, such as Kids Day and the now-defunct Gariful Tennis Open,  Gariful has expanded in a variety of directions in recent years. 

First came Vintage, a luxury wine bar in the old town, which tapped into the growing interest in Croatian wines and the desire for the older generation to have somewhere quiet and discerning to retreat to after dinner. Backed by the legendary Garfiul wine list, Vintage soon became a hit. 

And then something for the younger crowd, as nightclub SEVEN opened just off the main square, providing some strong competition for Carpe Diem and Pink Champagne.  

Meanwhile, about 1km out of town, a very different Gariful experience - a farm. What started as a small plot of land with a few animals has mushroomed into an impressive tourist attraction and source or organic vegetables for the restaurant. It is a while since I have been, but the range of exotic animals was pretty impressive. Check out the latest at Farma Hvar.

And so it was perhaps only a matter of time before the Gariful brand entered the accommodation market. And where else, but at the top? A stunning new addition to the Hvar accommodation scene will be available to rent from July.  

The Gariful villa is superbly located behind the restaurant in the heart of the old town and just off the fabled Hvar waterfront. And I am sure the owners will be able to give you a good suggestion for lunch... 

Unusually for Hvar, the property can be rented by floor or its entirety. There are four floors connected by lift, two with private jacuzzi, four units in all offering the finest Hvar luxury. If you are looking to rent the whole property, the capacity is 14 people.  

For more information, photos and to book, check out the Gariful blog announcing the new villa.

February 6, 2019 - Fresh from celebrating 150 years of the oldest organised tourism in Europe, Hvar heritage welcomes back three renovated cultural giants this year.

I heard about the island of Hvar for the first time about 24 hours before I bought a house there. I ended up buying a house after pointing to number 6 on a list of 10 interesting places to live in Croatia. 

By the time I signed the pre-contract hours after first trying to pronounce its name, all I knew about my new home was that it was very beautiful and had lots of tourists in August. 

Everything since then has been a true voyage of discovery. I learned that I had landed on the sunniest island in Europe, no mean feat for a boy born in the rain in Manchester. I learned that this was the island where organised tourism in Europe began in 1868. I learned that my new home had more UNESCO heritage than any island in the world. Hvar heritage was so impressive, in fact, that among the heritage NOT included in that impressive UNESCO list was the oldest public theatre in Europe. This island was incredible! And we hadn't even go to the story of its food and wine, including the most expensive olive oil in the world, and one of the oldest olive trees at 2,500 years old. 

Last year was a major celebration from Hvar Town. It celebrated 150 years of organised tourism in Europe, the very first place after the founding of the Hvar Health Society on May 15, 1868. As successful as the anniversary year was, it took place without three functioning giants of the Hvar heritage world - that oldest public theatre, the Arsenal below the theatre, and the historic Hotel Palace across the large square in Dalmatia. 

And, quite by chance, after varying lengths of renovation, all three are set to reopen in 2019, making the 151st year of organised tourism in Europe one of the most exciting yet for the town. 

Probably the most eagerly anticipated reopening is of the much-loved Hvar theatre. Built in 1612, it is a symbol of the high levels of culture that Hvar has always enjoyed. I can't recall it ever being open since my arrival on the island in 2003, and it has been in a permanent phase of reconstruction for over a decade, even missing its 400th anniversary in 2012. But now things are finally finished, and the first play is tentatively planned for May this year. Take a tour of the newly renovated theatre here. 

The theatre is on the first floor of one of the most impressive buildings in all Dalmatia, the Arsenal. This majestic stone structure guards the entrance to Hvar's massive square and has been doing so since its construction was ordered by Venice back in 1292. It started life as a shipyard, was burned by the Turks in 1571 and rebuilt in 1611. Today it is a very impressive multi-functional event location, hosting conferences, concerts, exhibitions and banquets. Renovation of the Arsenal was slowed considerably when yet more Hvar heritage was discovered below its floor a couple of years ago in the shape of Roman artifacts. 

The renovation process will be complete by April 1, toilets will finally be added to the facility (one of its major drawbacks previously), and a new stone floor and large wooden door to return it to its original feel will be added. 

But perhaps the best news for tourists looking for something a little extra is the scheduled opening of the first 5-star hotel on the 5-star island. Hotel Palace Elisabeth is the first boutique Hvar heritage hotel, and it will be adding three stars to the previous Hotel Palace. The new-look hotel will be open for business this summer, with a June opening targeted. Fittingly, it is located on the very spot where the first organised Hvar tourism took place way back in 1868. 

The main square in Hvar Town is the biggest in all Dalmatia, and what treasures it beholds. Newly reopened for this season - the oldest public theatre in Europe, the 13th-century Arsenal, and a superb boutique luxury hotel, which oozes charm and hints of the island's rich cultural past. To learn more about Hotel Palace Elisabeth, visit the Suncani Hvar website.  

February 4, 2019 - Adrenaline Hvar enthusiasts have one more challenge to enjoy - meet Ferrata Via Avalon, high above Sveta Nedjelja.  

The island of Hvar has always attracted individuals and characters from afar. People who discover a slice of Paradise, claim it for their own. In many cases, they have a desire to improve their local surroundings, to put something back. Some do it in the form of good works, financial patronage and so on, while others improve the infrastructure and tourist options, which pursuing their own dreams. 

Adrenaline Hvar enthusiasts will have to be grateful once more to Slovakian Miro Stec and the rest of the Cliffbase team for an absolutely outstanding addition to the adventure tourism scene, which has recently been completed after an apparent five years of dedicated work by these local enthusiasts. 

Just looking at pictures of the new metal walkway high above Sveta Nedjelja makes me dizzy, but I am not known for my head for heights. But total respect to Miro and his team for making this particular dream a reality. 

The new Ferrata Via Avalon looks sensational, but in case you thought it was just about that little metal crossing at the top, stay with us, for there was much more involved than that. Check out these hand-built and very narrow stone steps on the way up, for example. 

I am just going to leave this photo out there - Adrenaline Hvar invites you. Are you man enough?

As is sadly often the case, most of the great private initiatives in Croatia come from the private pocket. A sign at the entrance to the bridge has a little more information about the project and its funding. So if you have not bought your ticket from the Cliffbase team prior to your ascent, please don't forget to donate. I have no idea how many hours or kuna it took to make Ferrata Via Avalon a reality, but I doubt the project creators will ever be compensated in full. A good job they do a lot of it for love... Although Via Avalon is only the beginning. Via Mirko close by is also in function and a little more challenging, nad Miro has plans to add several more.

Spending the day at the beach is completely understandable, but making the extra effort really is worth it.  

Very few tourists make it to the top of the island, which is a pity, as the views are breathtaking, but so too is the natural terrain. And those peak season crowds? Nowhere to be seen.  

The rocks at Sveta Nedjelja offer some of the best rock climbing in Dalmatia, and the locally-based Cliffbase team deserve huge credit for the role that they have played in developing this adrenaline Hvar destination.  

This is, of course, prime wine country and the home of the famous Zlatan Otok winery. But some of the famous Plavac Mali grapes have also found their way into the hands of lesser-known winemakers. 

Winemakers like Slovakian Miro Stec, who finds the time when now expanding the Hvar climbing story, to make rather a good Plavac Mali. So good, in fact, that it beat some of his more illustrious wine-making neighbours during blind tastings. The perfect way to relax after an exhilarating visit to Ferrata Via Avalon.  Check out the official trailer below and then learn more about what is on offer at Cliffbase this summer. 

Relive 'Ferrata VIA AVALON A/B, Hvar, official trailer by Cliffbase'

January 3, 2019 - Hvar skiing? Yes really. The hotels allegedly offer a free stay if it snows, and some ski from the peak to the beach.

Having lived on the edge of Siberia in temperatures as low as -32 C, I was already very used to snow. Unlike many residents on Hvar, where the island's famous temperate climate seemed to keep the snow at bay while other islands were covered in white powder. 

But I was shocked (not as much as the locals!) when I woke up this morning seven years ago. The alarm had gone off early, as we were hosting the first Hvar Business Breakfast at Hotel Riva in Hvar Town. This was an attempt to bring the bigger Hvar businesses together for better promotion, and most of the big guys said they would attend, so it was an important event. 

And when I got out of bed, I saw this through the window! I had NEVER seen Jelsa anything close to that. There was just enough time for my wife Miranda to take this great shot and then we all huddled into the Jeep. 

It was a good job that we were in a Jeep with its four-wheel drive, for there was no chance that a regular car could pass the main road from Jelsa to Hvar. We were slipping everywhere until we went into four-wheel-drive. The three of us were incredulous as we drove slowly - never had we seen Hvar like this. The sunniest island in the world. Didn't the hotels offer a free stay if it snowed? 

I always thought this was a neat marketing gimmick. Snow is only likely in January or February, when there are almost no tourists. I did check with the hotel PR department later, and they informed me that yes indeed guests do get a free night, but only if it has been snowing during the previous seven of their stay... not quite the same thing. 

And then, just when I thought it could not get any crazier, we watched open-mouthed as a snow plow came the other way, clearing the snow from the road. A snow plough on Hvar! We are all too amazed to take a photo, and the moment was gone. It was only later that I learned that Hvar has a permanent snow plough on the island, owned by Croatian Roads, and the driver makes the pizzas in Vrbanj. Being a snow plough driver on the sunniest island in Europe must be akin to the workload of Santa Claus.

But the big story of the day was taking place far above us... 

Freak conditions bring out different reactions in different people, and such a snow bonanza on an island totally unused to snow could mean only one thing - Hvar skiing. 

Photographed by Miro Stec, Jovito and Berti Vrankovic fetched their skis and headed to the Kolumbic ranch close to the Sveti Nikola peak of Hvar. To go skiing on Hvar would be pretty cool indeed, but to do what these guys planned was infinitely cooler. 

For the Vrankovic boys skied all the way from the peak, right down to the beach at one of Dalmatia's favourite beaches, Dubovica. 

Miro took these snaps of them on their unique 5 km journey. 

It was not long before they were picked up first by the national, and then by the international media. Visit the Cliffbase site for the original post. Hvar skiing was a hit!

The Hvar skiing of 2012 was not a one-off, however. The winter of 2005 also provided another great skiing opportunity. Here is the first free ski ride Gospa od Zdravlja ( close to Sveti Nikola) - Sveta Nedjelja church, made by Miroslav Stec.

Spectacular pictures on a normal trademark sunny day, but the sight of the famous Sveta Nedjelja vineyards under snow adds a little extra. 

Skiing is of course not the main sport on Hvar, and Sveta Nedjelja is one of the top destinations on the island for rock climbing. Miro and his Cliffbase team have been busy creating a sensational addition to the rock-climbing scene, and we will present Ferrata Via Avalon later this week. 

January 23, 2019 - Suncani Hvar Hotels announces the opening of luxury 5-star Palace Elisabeth for Summer 2019. 

The good news keeps on coming from the island of Hvar. 

Last month, the Sunshine Island completed its 150th birthday year, celebrating the oldest organised tourism in Europe. It is just one of a few rather unusual facts about Croatia's premier island, which is famed for its lavender, beaches, nightlife, culture, and the island with the most sun in Europe and the most UNESCO heritage in the world.

Just as one might not perhaps expect organised tourism in Europe to have started on the 'Austrian Madeira' with the founding of the Hvar Health Society back in 1868, another spectacular claim to fame for Hvar is the fact that Europe's oldest public theatre opened on the main square, back in 1612.

The historic theatre, which is housed on the top floor of the historic Arsenal building which guards the entrance to the square, has been closed for renovation for many years. It was announced recently that the theatre will reopen this year, with the first performance planned for May. The theatre has already been opened up to the public to see the results of the renovations. 

The theatre is not the only piece of Hvar heritage around the main square which is undergoing a new lease of life in 2019. 

Meet Suncani Hvar Hotels' Palace Elisabeth, the first 5-star hotel on Croatia's premier island. The hotel group confirmed Palace Elisabeth's opening this summer earlier today on social media. 

Palace Elisabeth will be the first 5-star hotel on the elite island, finally bringing luxury hotel standards to the level of its high-spending guests. And, just like its famous theatre across the square, Palace Elisabeth has quite a history of its own, its real estate dating back to the 13th century. 

(Photo credit Secret Hvar)

Indeed, the new luxury boutique hotel is on the same location as the original structures used by the Hvar Health Society, which opened its doors on May 15, 1868, as a place of rest and recuperation on a fair Dalmatian island with a very agreeable climate. The sich and infirm of the Austro-Hungarian aristocracy came to stay and left much healthier. Hvar as a tourist destination became widely known. And the rest, as they say, is history. 

Construction of the first health hotel began in 1881 after the previous decaying palace was destroyed. It took 17 years to complete and finally opened in 1899. The Spa Hotel Empress Elisabeth was named after the Austrian Empress Elisabeth 'Sisi'. Sisi was a generous sponsor who financed the hotel construction. And so it is perhaps fitting that the memory of the generous empress lives on more than 100 years, as Palace Elisabeth once more takes her name.

The luxury boutique hotel is a significant upgrade on the previous version, the 2-star Hotel Palace. it also represents the latest significant investment from the Suncani Hvar Hotel group. After a major overhaul of its main hotels back in 2006, Suncani Hvar has invested heavily in the last couple of years to upgrade its flagship hotels Adriana and Amfora. Added to the chic Hotel Riva on Hvar's fabled waterfront, Hotel Palace Elisabeth will form a quality quarter of hotels in the town, to give its guest a wide range of choice. 

The boutique heritage hotel will boast 45 luxury rooms and suites, as well as an indoor pool, terraces and spa. In terms of location, there are few places better than the San Marco Terrace, which overlooks the elite waterfront and faces the historic theatre. A new addition which will be a popular place to escape the crowds will surely be the new Cigar Lounge Bar.

Full details of the renovation, as well as the exact opening date, have still to be released, but keep an eye on the Suncani Hvar page for Palace Elisabeth for the latest news. 

And watch out for those theatre performance dates. Imagine being able to stay in a luxury boutique 5-star hotel where organised tourism in Europe began, before strolling across the square to enjoy a play in Europe's oldest public theatre. You don't get THAT on many islands in the world... 

To learn more about Hvar, check out our new sister website, Total Croatia, which brings you everything about the island in one place - meet Hvar in a Page.

For the latest from Total Hvar, visit our dedicated island portal.

January 24, 2019 - The sunshine island of Hvar is expanding its tourism credentials beyond nightlife and the beach, as Suncani Hvar introduces more cycling initiatives.

Famed for its sun, beaches, lavender and vibrant nightlife, the island of Hvar is slowly adding another high-quality tourism offer to its already impressive repertoire - active tourism. 

There have been a number of high profile sporting events held on Hvar in recent years, such as the Otillo Swim Run, which have added to the sporting calendar already populated by long-standing international events such as the 40-year-old 16km open sea swimming race, the Faros Marathon. 

But one sport in particular has really taken off on Hvar in recent years, thanks largely to some very energetic efforts of enthusiastic locals - cycling.  

Cyclists seem to be coming more plentiful on the island's roads (and off-road) in the shoulder months, replacing the rental scooters which are so fashionable with peak season tourists. The founding of adventure tourism agency, Hvar Adventure, back in 2005, first put adventure tourism on the map, but in recent years, things have gotten a lot more organised, particularly on the cycling front. 

More agencies are now offering active tours on Dalmatia's islands, and better organisation has allowed cycling and island-hopping to become a reality. The islands of Brac, Hvar and Korcula, in particular, are popular destinations. 

Hvar Life, an agency which is related to the original Hvar Adventure, has breathed life into the island's cycling story, and a number of initiatives with leading hotel group, Suncani Hvar, has led to the profile of cycling on Hvar going international. 

The best example of this was in December 2017, when Bahrain Merida, one of the world's top cycling teams, descended on Hvar for 10 days for their winter training. The complete Bahrain Merida team, some 75 strong - stayed at the Suncani Hvar Pharos, hvar bayhill hotel, the first cycling hotel on the island.

Included in the team was World Champion Vincenzo Nibali, who was very complimentary about the riding conditions and challenges on Hvar.

The Bahrain Merida visit was a great success all round, and the team returned to Hvar last month for a repeat. A great promotion for the Hvar cycling story. 

Meanwhile, as part of the 150-year celebrations of the oldest organised tourism in Europe, a special cycle ride was organised, which started in Greece. A group of island riding enthusiasts cycled from the island of Paros all the way to the Stari Grad Plain, the UNESCO World Heritage Site that was first cultivated by the Greeks from Paros some 2,400 years ago. The fields of this fertile plain are today filled with vineyards and olive groves and cultivated much the same way as they were all those years ago. It is a very popular cycling route, connecting Stari Grad with Jelsa and Vrboska, and there is even a cycling race - Cycling Through Heritage - held every year. 

The good news is that you don't have to be a world champion to cycle on Hvar, but if you do want to get into training and improve, Suncani Hvar Hotels have teamed up with both Hvar Life and Meridien Ten, two great cycling agencies, to bring 4 cycling training camps to Hvar, which will be run by nutritional adviser and top cycling and triathlete, Miro Bebic, above.

Mijo was born in Split in 1978. In his childhood he was active in rowing and was actually in the rowing champion team of Croatia couple of times. He graduated from Maritime High School in Split and began his maritime nautical studies at Maritime University to become a nautical officer, but although he truly likes and enjoys the sea, he never went to work on the big ships, because his interests and dedication to sport led him to some different shores. And so his ”cruises” continued, still keeping him constantly on the move – swimming, biking, running – and dedicating himself to triathlon, firstly just on a recreational basis which later led to competing in national and international races. He is also a licensed spinning instructor, personal trainer, group trainings leader and nutrition adviser. When not training or working, Mijo really enjoys playing Picigin – a traditional game played exclusively on sandy Bačvice beach in Split (The goal of this game is to impress the watchers by keeping the ball dry while doing crazy stunts in shallow water. The Picigin World Championship takes part each year in June, so if you are lucky to be here, you might see him at his best).Mijo’s philosophy is - Give everything you have, take just what you need!

The cycling camps will be held in the shoulder months, when the temeperatures are cooler and the roads less busy. Suncani Hvar will be hosting Hvar Life groups at Hotel Amfora and Meridien Ten at Hotel Adriana on the following dates:

31/03-05/04 – Meridien Ten

21/04 - 28/04 – Hvar Life

20/10-25/10 – Meridien Ten

27/10 - 03/11 – Hvar Life

You can get a flavour of what the bike camp will be like here. 

Looking to learn more about Hvar or cycling? Visit the new Total Croatia website for an introduction to cycling in Croatia and Hvar in a Page.

As we reported recently, an attractive position being offered for the last six months in Sućuraj on the island of Hvar went unanswered by any Croatian doctor, but while tumbleweed appeared to roll by the ageing job advertisement in Croatian terms, one applicant, the only applicant, did get the job.

As Morski writes on the 23rd of January, 2019, the Sućuraj clinic on the island of Hvar has finally managed to obtain a permanent doctor. The physician from Macedonia had to pass a few exams to make sure her foreign diploma could be recognised in Croatia and started working at clinic in Sućuraj on Monday. Sućuraj's brand new doctor is 36-year-old Divna Vojnovska.

The arrival of a doctor from Macedonia was officially confirmed by Dalmacija Danas after having been informed by the director of the health centre of Split-Dalmatia County, Dragomir Petric.

''I'm surprised by the media hysteria about this case. Recently, doctors are mentioned by the media only in bad cases, and they bypass the good ones among us,'' the director stated.

''It isn't news here that there's now a doctor from Macedonia, but the real news is that it is the first local self-government in our county that has provided all of her conditions, which means an apartment and a 50,000 kuna annual bonus. In my view, it's secondary news that the person who came here isn't from Split but from Macedonia or some other country,'' added Petric.

Dr. Vojnovska: I love Dalmatia!

Dr. Divna Vojnovska revealed that she's not afraid of the winter blues and boredom on the sunniest Croatian island and that she is already very much in love with the sea.

''Yesterday was my first day in Sućuraj. I'm satisfied. The first day there were a few more people, I guess they wanted to meet me. Today there have been less. Otherwise, there are about 400 patients in Sućuraj,'' Dr. Vojnovska said.

''The accommodation is good, I got a big apartment. I haven't met a lot of people yet, but since I signed a contract for one year, which is how long my work permit lasts, I believe that I'll gain friendships on the island. Of course, there's always the possibility of extending my contract. Generally, I'm satisfied with everything offered,'' concluded Sućuraj's new doctor.

Click here for the original article by Dalmacija Danas