US Travel Magazine Recommends Istria as Tourist Destination

In its January issue, US magazine "Travel + Leisure" presents Istria among new tourist destinations recommended for 2007, noting similarities between the Croatian region and France's Provence.

"Having discovered the Dalmatian Coast, travelers to Croatia are now venturing farther north, to Istria, which could easily be mistaken for the Provence. Its sunlit rolling hills, miles of vineyards, and charming medieval towns are much like those of its French rival, and its beaches sparkle as brightly as those of the better-known coast to the south. Gourmets come for the truffles - Istria is home to both the black and white varieties," says one of the highest circulation travel magazines in the United States.

Istria was included in the magazine's Where to Go Next section together with Alexandria in Egypt, Quito in Ecuador and New Orleans in the United States.

The article further says that getting to Istria became easier after British low-budget airline EasyJet introduced flights last summer, and that Ryanair is following suit next month.

"Kempinski is building two luxury resorts, to debut in 2008, but in the meantime Istria has an impressive range of luxury accommodations," the magazine says, recommending the Hotel Villa Angelo d'Oro in Rovinj and the modern marina-side Hotel Nautica in Novigrad.