The largest state owned hotel chain in Dubrovnik, Maestrali, has been sold to a company from the Czech Republic. The government has accepted a bid from the Czech company J & T IB Capital Markets for 114 million Kuna reports Dubrovacki Vjesnik.

Although the news is still unofficial the Ministry of State Property has reported the news and apparently it is only a matter of formalities and the contract will be signed.

The Czech company has offered 114 million Kuna for almost 60 percent of the shares in the hotel chain in Lapad which includes five hotels on the coastline.

Dubrovnik’s most famous writer of comedy and tragedy, Marin Drzic, is about to go international. One of the most popular books of “Dubrovnik’s Shakespeare” Uncle Maroje (Dundo Maroje) has been translated into English.

The English version of Uncle Maroje will be presented in the Marin Drzic theatre on Saturday the 20th of January. This project was made possible by the Marin Drzic Home, the Dubrovnik Tourist Board and the City of Dubrovnik and the book was translated by Filip Krenus. The book release is part of the event Festa Dubrovnik 2018.

Nikola Matic, the director of the House of Marin Držić, the author of the book's preface Luko Paljetak and Romana Vlašić, the director of the Tourist Board of the City of Dubrovnik, will all participate in the presentation of the book together with the translator and writer Filip Krenus.

“Although this comedy has been translated into Renaissance English language, my goal is not, as I have mentioned, that this is a museum exhibit. Dust is the death of the theatre and I would like the translation to be a springboard for the full performance of this brilliant comedy in English,” commented Krenus.

It has started earlier this year. The travel trend of baring all in various world destinations that started a few years ago is continuing.

And whilst many tourists have re-enacted the famous Walk of Shame scene from the HBO Game of Thrones series not many have one this far to assure total authenticity. Over the past few years Dubrovnik has been bombarded with these nude photos, and at least this latest one hid his behind with a well-placed track.

The online reservation system - Booking.com among 550 thousand accommodation facilities in 218 countries and territories awarded the "Guest Rewiev Award 2017" to almost 25 thousand objects in Croatia! That was enough to place Croatia in the group of ten most award-winning countries – it was reported from the Croatian office of Booking.com.

-Croatia is in second place with the highest scores, just behind Italy, while Split, Zadar, Dubrovnik and Zagreb among the top 20 most awarded cities in the world – it’s said from Booking.com.

The annual awards by Booking.com are based on user experience and guest ratings worldwide that booked accommodation facilities through that platform. There were 140 million guest reviews last year and based on them nearly 500 thousand accommodation facilities received an award.

In addition to being the second highest ranked country, Croatia is ranked sixth in the number of awards this year.

The highest number of awards, for as many as 81.6 thousand objects, went to Italy, while France was second with 33.5 thousand awarded objects and the third USA with 30.5 thousand.

GROWING POPULARITY OF OUR COUNTRY 

In Croatia, 24,395 objects of all kinds received awards with a total average rating of 9, while 243 objects received the highest rating of 10. Among the top 20 cities in the world, Split is ranked second, right after Rome, Zadar and Dubrovnik are at 9th and 10th place, and Zagreb on 19th.

-According to the number of awards received this year, Croatia has climbed from ninth to sixth place, which shows its growing popularity and since the awards are given on the basis of guest reviews and their authentic experiences, we believe that it can also help the owners of accommodation facilities in their business - they say from Booking.com.

They emphasize the fact that awarded facilities must have an average review score of 8 or more based on at least five guest ratings by the end of October. Cleanliness, comfort, location, content, staff and value for money are evaluated, and since reviews are never edited or changed in any way, travelers can be sure to read authentic testimonials about actual user experiences in accommodation facilities.

The Kingfisher Calendar for 2018 published by the United Breweries Group of India recently went out and it shows gorgeous models in swimsuits – filmed in our beautiful Croatia.

This calendar has quite a reputation and it's often described as one of the most prestigious modelling assignments in India. It has been published annualy since 2003 and every calendar, just like 2018 one, has been shot by the famous fashion photographer Atul Kasbekar.

This year's calendar gathered supermodels Priyanka Moodley, Priyanka Karunakaran, Ishika Sharma and Mitali Rannorey and has been shot in Rovinj, Pula, Opatija and on the Brijuni islands.

                                        Screenshot from the official Kingfisher Calendar website

It has already drawn a great attention from the Indian press and it makes a great promotion for Croatia. For example, Indian Express writes:
-The photo shoot was done in both touristy and offbeat locations spread across the central European nation. From the unusual archipelago like Brijuni islands to popular destinations such as Rovinj, Kasbekar scouted for picturesque places to capture the essence of Croatia and clicked the ladies in what can be touted as one of this year’s hottest swimsuit shoots.
The photos also collected a great number of likes and interest at the official Instagram profile of Atul Kasbekar.

Take a look at a whole calendar here.

                                        Photos by Atul Kasbekar official Instagram profile

Telegraph has recently published a list of 16 most romantic European city breaks for 2018.

As they say, they bring an insider's guide to the most romantic hotels in Europe, including the best for cosy fires, rooftop restaurants, dramatic views, intimate bars, elegant bedrooms and vintage design, in locations including Rome, Venice, Paris, Barcelona, Dubrovnik, Florence and Madrid.

With the Valentine's Day coming up, this could be an useful list for all those that are planning a romantic getaway with their lovers.

-Dubrovnik's Old Town takes you back centuries, along cobble-d streets lined by noble Baroque stone buildings. Outside the medieval city walls, bathe in the deep blue Adriatic at trendy Banje beach, or catch a taxi-boat to Lokrum islet, with its botanical garden and peacocks. Tour the wineries of Pelješac peninsular to taste velvety red Dingač and eat fresh oysters at Ston. After dark, dine by candlelight at Proto in Dubrovnik's Old Town or at Orsan overlooking the yachting marina- Telegraph writes about Dubrovnik and offers you a perfect romantic plan. Here you can see the other cities that made the list.

We might be a little bias, but just as Telegraph, we find Dubrovnik one of the most romantic city breaks too. Discover top five reasons to spend Valentine's Day in Dubrovnik.

The head of Konavle municipality Bozo Lasic and the president of Society of Friends of Dubrovnik Antiques (DPDS), Niko Kapetanic signed a contract to hand over the fortress management at Prevlaka to the hands of Society.

DPDS will manage the fortress for 20 years as they agreed to put in order the fortress, open the aquarium and museum of Austro-Hungarian maritime memorabilia.

Previously Konavle municipality signed a contract with the state property ministry, whereby the Prevlaka fortress was returned to Konavle municipality.

The Office of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County in Brussels in cooperation with Matica Hrvatska in Brussels, the Croatian Tourist Board Representation and the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in the Kingdom of Belgium are organizing the celebration of Saint Blaise, Dubrovnik patron saint, for the fifth time in Brussels.

This year's celebration will start on January 28th by reading the proclamation of the Festival in front of the cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula, with the releasing of doves as a symbol of freedom and peace. Festanjuli are Ivica Srsen and Bozo Butigan. After the opening of the Festival, traditional Kandelora Dinner will be held at the Vinograd restaurant with the vocal group Kase.

On the following day, January 29th at the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in the Kingdom of Belgium, a lecture will be given by the director of the Dubrovnik Museums Pavica Vilac on the topic "St. Blaise and Dubrovnik ", as well as the opening of the Dubrovnik Wine week with the vocal group Kase in the wine bar Bois Tranquille. Presentation of the "Enology of Dubrovnik-Neretva County" to journalists and travel agencies from Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg will be held by Franica Milos of the Regional Development Agency DUNEA and Sommelier Ivo Ivanis with a taste of golden wines and winners of last year's Festiwine.

Partners of the St. Blaise celebration in Brussels are the Office of the Representative in the European Parliament Mrs. Dubravka Suica, Representation of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce in Brussels, Tourist Board of the City of Dubrovnik and Tourist Board of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County.