The Croatia Edit! 🇭🇷

On Our Bucket List

Croatia has been on my list for years, and nothing prepared me for how much this trip ended up being about slowing down as a family, not speeding through a checklist.

We spent 12 days moving through the country in three totally different ways: a few days in Dubrovnik, six nights on a private boat hopping between islands, and then a slower stretch on Hvar and Split.

Once again we planned this whole thing with @luxvoyage. I keep coming back because they just get how we like to travel as a family. If you're thinking about Croatia, or honestly anywhere, I can't recommend them enough. Tell them Ami sent you! ☺️ 

The Itinerary

A Day in Dubrovnik

We flew LAX → Munich → Dubrovnik (yes, it's a long one, pack snacks and patience). It was straight to the hotel after that long journey. We only had one night here before boarding the boat.

Only one full day in Dubrovnik proper 😢, so we packed it in (this was the one "go go go" day of the whole trip, and honestly it worked):

• A private walk through Old Town: the walls, the marble streets, all of it. Dubrovnik earns the "Pearl of the Adriatic" title… such a gorgeous city.

• Painting workshop: we ended up in this tiny art studio down an alley, painting our own ceramic plates. Genuinely one of my favorite hours of the whole trip!

• Lunch in Old Town: recommended by our guide (this is the move, always ask your guide, they know better than any list I could give you).

• An off-road buggy tour: through the Dubrovnik and up to Mt. Srdj this was the kids' favorite part of the day by far. The views from up there of the city and the islands are unreal. Idk how Kai does it… but he managed to take a nap during that bumpy ride. 🤣 
  
  By 5:30 we were transferring straight to the port to board our home for the next six nights.

The Catamaran Chapter

This was the heart of the trip. I know a private catamaran sounds like a big ask, but the pace it gives a family is unlike anything else. No unpacking every two days, no rushing to a new hotel… just waking up somewhere new every morning with your whole family already together.

We were on the Lagoon 55 with two crew members (captain and stewardess), and having water toys on board, snorkel gear, wakeboards, you name it! The stewardess on the ship would make fresh meals on board for the family and the Captain was amazing with the kids!

Here's how the days broke down:

• Elafiti Islands: our first night, just cruising through this string of thirteen islands, swimming in coves. This day was taken more of as a decompress day and just getting used to the boat.

• Mljet Island: a private biking tour through Mljet National Park, past these still saltwater lakes. Slower pace, gorgeous scenery, and legend has it this is the island from The Odyssey (movie coming out soon). The kids didn't care about that part. They cared about the bikes. 😂 

• Korcula: we swam off charming little Scedro on the way, then did an evening scavenger tour through Korcula Town (Marko Polo's hometown, if you're into that kind of trivia). Dinner that night was at Konoba Maha, very traditional, we pre-ordered their chicken peka which you have to do in advance, don't skip that step or you'll miss it.

• Pakleni Islands: a full "nothing" day. Swimming, sunbathing, letting our skipper pick a little local spot for lunch. Genuinely one of the best days of the whole trip and we didn't do a single activity.

• Vis Island & Bisevo: the Blue Grotto is worth every bit of hype. A short rowboat ride into this cave where the water just glows blue. We had fast-track access which I'd recommend if it's an option, because lines here can get long. Afterward we wandered the fishing village of Komiza and swam at Stiniva Bay, which might be the prettiest beach we saw the entire trip.

• Vis Town + a military tunnel jeep tour: this island was a closed military base until 1989, so it's incredibly preserved, and the kids thought riding Land Rovers through old bunkers and tunnels was the coolest thing we did. Not what you picture for a Croatia trip, but it was a great curveball.

Switching Up The Pace

We ended our boat tour in Hvar disembarked in Stari Grad and checked into Maslina Resort.

Here’s the list of all our Hvar activities:

• A private walking tour of Hvar Town: Venetian palaces, Europe's oldest public theatre (built in 1612!), and a climb up to Hvar Fortress for the views.

• Two full "afternoon at leisure" blocks: and I want to be honest, these were some of my favorite hours of the trip. Just the pool, the beach club, slow lunches. If you're planning your own trip, do not be afraid to leave big blank spaces on the itinerary. They fill themselves.

• An e-biking tour of Hvar Island: past lavender fields and along the coast, easier than it sounds since the bikes are electric, so even less-outdoorsy family members can keep up (raising my hand here).

• Dinner at Gariful: in Hvar Town, right on the water. Their "drunk lobster" is the move if you're into seafood.

A Birthday on the Cetina River

My favorite day of the entire trip!

We knew Kai's birthday was going to fall in the middle of this trip, and honestly, I went back and forth on how to celebrate it, but we ended up just letting the trip carry the day. And it was his golden birthday (6 on the 6th 🎂), so we wanted it to be a fun day… and all I’ll say his, he had an absolute blast!! 😂 

The morning started with a private boat transfer from Hvar to Split, then a drive inland to the Cetina River for a family white water rafting trip (grade 2), so genuinely manageable for kids, nothing terrifying. Kai was loving every minute of it, 🥹 

After rafting, we were driven to the tiny village of Gata, where a local family welcomed us into their home for a soparnik-making demonstration. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s this paper-thin, chard-filled dish that's basically protected as cultural heritage in Croatia. We sat down to a traditional lunch overlooking the canyon… just an amazing experience.

I keep coming back to this feeling: some of the best birthdays aren't the ones with the most planned around them. They're the ones where you're all just there, together, doing something none of you will ever forget. We got to celebrate Kai’s bday with a cute little cake that we all cut as a family in our hotel room… cherry on top to a perfect day. ❤️ 

We ended the trip with a short walking tour of Split's old town, built right into and around Diocletian's Palace, which is over 1,700 years old, and dinner at Bokeria Kitchen & Wine, a fun, lively spot in the city center.

Croatia At a Glance

If you want to take pieces of this trip and build your own version, here's the shape of it:

• Dubrovnik (1–2 nights): Old Town, a hands-on workshop, a private photographer for an hour, and one adventure activity (buggies, hiking, whatever fits your family).

• A private boat charter (5–7 nights): this is the single best thing we did for family bonding. Islands you'll want to build in: Mljet, Korcula, Pakleni, Vis. Leave at least one full day open.

• Hvar (2–3 nights): slow down here. Pick one walking tour, one active day, and leave the rest blank.

• Split (1 night): a good, easy landing spot before flying home, with history built right into the city center.

Here’s my full Amazon list with all things I packed for this Euro summer trip. If you like anything add it to your cart! Linked here.

A Giveaway For Your Next Trip

You guys know how much I LOVE @flytographer!

Every single time I see the pictures, I’m reminded why we always make time for family photos on vacation. Worth it. Every 👏 single 👏 time 👏.

I'm a huge believer in getting family photos while on vacay. A local photographer who knows the light, knows the city, and just lets your family be a family for an hour while they capture it. These are the photos that end up on the wall. Every family trip deserves this.

Because it means so much to me, I'm giving away a Flytographer shoot to one of you for your next family trip. 🎁

We’re giving one of you the chance to win your own 30-minute Flytographer photoshoot!

To enter:

💛 Follow @flytographer and @amidesai.

💛 Like the post on IG.

💛 Comment where you’d want to have your photoshoot.

*Giveaway ends 7/16

One winner will be randomly selected and will receive a Flytographer gift card for the value of a 30-minute photoshoot in any of their 350+ cities. The gift card is valid for one year. The winner will be notified via Instagram DM.

Aside from the giveaway, I have a discount code for you guys! Use code AMI 50 if you ever want to use their service.

Beauty Faves

Since on vacay, I tried to keep my makeup look super simple + minimal.

Watch my full reel on how I tried Hailey Biebers no makeup look. Watch it here!

Also linking everything that I packed in my makeup bag here!

Vacay Fits

Okay, this dress is giving SO much for how simple it is. I basically lived in it through Dubrovnik, the perfect wear without overheating. I kept my feet in flat sandals the entire trip… heels and cobblestone are not friends 😅. I looped this Prada tote over my shoulder because it fit sunscreen, water, and a snacks for kids without weighing me down. Loved the simplicity of this outfit!

A jumpsuit is basically my travel cheat code. And how cute is this polka dot set from Zara?? I loved that this one has a tie waist because I could loosen it after a big Croatian lunch (very necessary, lol), and the wide leg kept me cool without ever feeling restrictive. I paired it with this little straw bag from Amazon to match with the polka dots!

This is what I wore for our Flytographer shoot, and I wanted something that would photograph beautifully but that I could still move freely in. Jluxlabel has so many dresses I’ve been loving lately! Comfort first, always, even on camera days.

All my other outfits from the trip, you can find here!