Radio 1’s Jameela Jamil is wowed by Croatia

• Radio 1 star fulfils long-term dream to go to the Adriatic shores of Croatia
• DJ spends a blissful week in historic Dubrovnik and party-loving Cut up
• She additionally ventured throughout to the island of Brac seeking quiet seashores
  

Printed: 12:45 EDT, 10 September 2014 | Up to date: 12:45 EDT, 10 September 2014

For a minimum of a decade I’ve been bombarded with proclamations from associates and strangers that Croatia is essentially the most lovely place on the planet.

Having travelled a good portion of the planet in my 28 years, I denied that anyplace may match Rome, my favorite metropolis. However finally I made a decision to place it to the check – and located myself sitting at Gatwick Airport, arms tightly folded, marinaded in a light-weight scepticism.

Our time was restricted, so we selected simply three parts of Croatia, beginning in Dubrovnik.

We landed at 9pm and had been taken straight to our lodge, the Valamar President Lodge up within the hills, a ten-minute drive from the favored previous city. From the skin it appears to be like like a golf course. From the within, it appears to be like like someplace Brangelina would keep.

(Cue me instantly trying round for Brangelina. They weren’t there.)

To name this lodge grand can be an enormous understatement. It had the panoramic views of the ocean and the area and luxurious that I’ve not but encountered anyplace earlier than. I skipped all the way in which to my room. My boyfriend was mortified. At £200 an evening (though it could have been far cheaper had I not booked about quarter-hour earlier than we left for the airport…), I hoped for one thing comparatively respectable.

However a beautiful kingsize room, with full patio and breakfast desk, virtually on the personal seashore was not what I used to be anticipating. One very inelegant jump over my balcony and I’d be feet-on-sand.

Morning got here after an exquisite sleep and the view was formally ridiculous.

Miles and miles of completely clear-blue Adriatic Sea, surrounded by untouched islands and peppered with the odd palm tree for impact.

I headed with warning to the breakfast ‘buffet’. I hate the phrase buffet. You are usually greeted by barely chilly, very salty, mass-cooked slop. However not right here.

Right here I walked into the sort of breakfast choice that provides you a panic assault. ‘How the hell can I get all of this into my mouth earlier than 11am?’ Tailored omelettes and pancakes cooked by on-hand cooks. Lovely fruits, cheeses, recent smoothies, sausages, greens and scrumptious Croatian desserts. This was merely not conducive to having to put on a bikini.

As soon as I had consumed sufficient for a small household, and was barely capable of breathe, I rolled on to the personal lodge seashore. Luxurious loungers, fluffy towels, excellent, clear, calm sea… Water sports activities closely accessible, a lot of water toys for infants and really disabled- and family-accessible.

One tip: as Croatia is actually rocky, purchase these hideous aqua sneakers. Do not go within the sea barefoot. In my first hour I stepped on a sea urchin that gifted me with about 40 spines, wedged deep into my foot. I am unable to recall that sort of ache earlier than. The ache led me to say essentially the most unbelievable factor out loud: ‘Oh God, I want I had a pair of Crocs’ (mentioned by no one below 85, ever). However critically, do it.

By 8 o’clock we headed out to the famed Dubrovnik previous city, which is hidden inside huge stone partitions. Every little thing inside is product of marble, so that you stroll into what seems like a grand, pristine movie set, bursting with character and delightful structure.

It’s insane to suppose that little over 20 years in the past the place was brutally bombed within the 1991 siege. It’s subsequently doted upon and cherished by its residents.

The eating places are busy and filled with conventional Italian delicacies (pizza, pasta, fish). And the city is full of younger individuals. The little alleys comprise quaint bars with the steps coated in cushions for passers-by to relaxation and drink.

The ambiance is bustling and alive. It is genuinely one of the beautiful locations I’ve ever seen. It takes hours to research each nook and cranny and each staggering view on the prime of the large flights of marble stairs.

We went again three nights in a row, every time sampling completely different alleyway eating places and bars.

All of them have just about the identical meals, similar worth, similar menu, similar normal, so I will not inform you the place to go. Simply keep away from the primary courtyard because the touristic nature diminishes the usual of meals. And the pizza appears to be like per week previous. Eurgh.

After solely three days investigating Dubrovnik and falling head over heels in love with the sights, I had shamelessly changed Rome with this as my favorite metropolis.

Already. Unthinkable.

Subsequent, on to Cut up, a three-hour scenic bus journey up the coast.

As we drove into city, I used to be reasonably involved that it seemed like a lads’ vacation vacation spot. The phrase ‘kebab’ was written in all places. However as we bought nearer to the centre, the place our lodge was, the structure and peace made a powerful comeback.

We had booked into the Cornaro Lodge. To get in, you stroll via an enthralling pink courtyard, the place you might be met by workers so pleasant and useful you virtually really feel suspicious. We Brits are savages as compared with the service you get in Croatia.

We had been taken as much as our room via a cute lodge with the decor of an opulent luxurious yacht on the within and into our pretty deluxe room. Every little thing was new and fashionable however nonetheless very elegant. The mattress was snug and the room very quiet, regardless of being within the coronary heart of the motion.

Breakfast was OK. Get there on the early aspect as the new meals was barely tepid at 10am. However the pastries had been recent and attractive, and I’ve by no means seen such a multicultural breakfast in my life. English fry-up, croissants, German cake, and a really informal tray of crayfish sushi.

Cut up is filled with life. However I warn you – it’s totally younger life. The common age is between 18 and 24. You want vitality. Loud, pumping open-air bars and golf equipment line the streets. When you get into the previous city, issues quieten down and you may have some pretty grilled fish within the courtyards.

The lodge workers advisable a restaurant referred to as NoStress, so we went. Horrible title. Mediocre starter and completely glorious fundamental course. The sort of rooster and fish that makes you barely emotional. I extremely advocate it.

After that we sauntered alongside the fantastically preserved palace partitions, apparently haunted by ghosts, none of which I used to be greeted by, thank God.

Retailers are open until late and you might be merely 5 minutes from the port, which is dwelling to a number of the most unimaginable yachts I’ve ever seen. (I seemed round for Brangelina once more. Not right here both.)

The following day I made a decision Cut up was slightly too stressed for me. So I hopped on a really low-cost ferry (they depart each hour and a half till midnight) to the closest island, Brac. It was 45 painless minutes, and so price it. Such an enthralling place – by far essentially the most family-friendly I’ve ever visited. Plentiful water actions for kids, clear seashores and the prettiest port in Croatia to this point.

Brac is understood for its V-shaped seashore, Bol. I did not hassle. It is an costly cab journey back and forth, there is no such thing as a shade, and it’s rammed with vacationers. As a substitute, stroll from the ferry and discover your personal fairly little coves, visited solely by locals and with the sort of views which might be utterly overwhelming.

The sort of views that may make you overlook that you’ve got cellulite, and even what your title is.

For dinner we ventured to a quaint little restaurant referred to as Vila Dora, in a nook by the port. Lovely, easy, recent meals – it was one of the best meal in Croatia to this point. Bravo.

We hopped on the ferry again and had our final sleep in Croatia. It was depressing to be leaving. The ultimate day was spent wandering round Cut up’s pretty previous city, full to the brim with individuals sporting historic Roman clothes appearing out historic scenes within the streets to the delight of the crowds, largely the ladies. The troopers put on little or no skirts. And Croatian males are HOT. (Put on sun shades if with associate to assist you to ogle in peace.) Usually I give what I noticed of Croatia 5 stars.

What an attractive nation, what pretty individuals. What a relaxed and welcoming place that has over-come staggering adversity to turn out to be one of the fascinating spots on the planet.

I used to be horrified to be leaving and I booked my subsequent journey there the minute I completed this evaluation.

Sorry Rome.