Tuesday 30 November 2010

Enjoy Olive Oil While You're at Hvar


Olive on Hvar [Image Source]

Other than the divine lavender, olive oil is another famous product that is made on this beautiful island of sunshine.

Olive trees have been cultivated for over a century on the island. Olive groves bordered by grey stones surround Hvar Island and you can see beautiful olive trees everywhere. Olive trees are known to be symbolic for hope, peace, and rejuvenation. They also reflect on the magnificence which is the Mediterranean.

Olive is an evergreen plant which has been grown for thousands of years for its eatable fruit or the raw plant from which the oil is made out of. The olive tree gives young plants in such a way that it easily rejuvenates the old tree. It was said that a pigeon brought Noah an olive twig after a flood as a sign that the water was beginning to withdraw. An olive twig in the beak of a white pigeon is known today as a symbol of peace.

Olive oil is the healthiest fat and plays a major part in the Mediterranean style diet. It is recognized to have health benefits due to both its high content of monounsaturated fatty acids and its high content of anti-oxidative substances. It is believed to lower the risk of heart disease, control cholesterol, provide protection from certain cancers, and reduce inflammation associated with arthritis. Olive oil’s benefits make it a popular choice among people who are health-conscious.

Olive harvesting season in Hvar is from October to November – and natives on Hvar consider this God's chosen time. Suncani Hvar is home to more than 350 olive trees found on its properties. This year, we had a very successful season, producing almost 500 litres of olive oil. Each year, hotel employees share in picking the olives – the same olives and olive oil that are served to guests in our restaurants.

Suncani Hvar offers the Olive Harvest Picnic where you can enjoy the fresh air, beautiful scenery and a marvellous harvest picnic under the olive trees. You can also choose to go to an olive oil mill, where you can observe and learn more about the art of creating some of the world's finest olive oils. You will experience the legacy of the Hvar culture and love this island of passion.

Together with the Agricultural Association, Eko Hvar has opened a shop specializing in Hvar island products. The shop is a popular place for locals and tourists who appreciate a one-stop shop for nearly everything that is produced on the island –its famous wine, lavender, rosemary, oregana, soaps, honey, dried figs, other indigenous Hvar products, and of course olive oil which is produced in traditional way with high ecological standards. Many tourists purchase olive oil as a useful souvenir.

Do you have a favourite recipe using olive oil? Comment below, share it with us on our Facebook page or better yet, tweet us on Twitter!

Friday 26 November 2010

Dobar dan. Speak the Language here in Hvar


[Photo Source]

Today, it is possible to travel around the world and speak nothing but English the whole time. However, making the effort to speak a few words or simple phrases of a foreign language can make the travel experience that much more authentic, fulfilling, and memorable.
Embrace the foreign language part of your learning experience. You never know when you'll need it: when you're shopping, asking for directions, or ordering in a restaurant. Not sure what to expect? Check out this Youtube Video of some basic Croatian greetings.
Now that you have a sense of what the language is like, take a shot at these key Croatian phrases if you ever travel to Hvar:
Hello
Bok

How are you?
Kako Ste?

Fine Thank you, and you?
Dobro Hvala, a vi?

Good Morning
Dobro Jutro

Good Afternoon
Dobar Dan

Good Evening
Dobra Vecer

Good night
Laku noc

Pleased to meet you
Drago mi je

Thank you
Hvala

You're welcome
Molim

Good, alright, fine
Dobro

Please
Molim

Good Bye
Do Vidjenja

Click on this link to the BBC language page where you can learn more Croatian! You can print the phrases out and download mp3 phrases to read along! Don't be afraid to learn and speak Croatian out loud. The more you repeat it, the more familiar you will be.
Is there a particular phrase you would like to learn? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter!

Monday 15 November 2010

Some people may say Hvar is Sensual…We say it definitely is.


Relax and Feel
Sensuous [adjective]: perceived by or affecting the senses


Not only is Hvar a beautiful island, but when you leave, you’ll have memories of this place that you will never forget. Playing to all your senses, here are some ways that Hvar will impress your nose, eyes, mouth, and ears:

Smell – Grab a bag of “Lavandula Croatica” or a bottle of lavender oil. It’s one of Hvar’s most famous souvenirs and it will continuously remind you of the island. Hvar has fields of lavender and their fragrance is a special experience to visitors. They can be bought in souvenir and perfume shops in the town. It’s recommended for stress-relief and headaches. Just smell it, it’ll make you go “oooohhh.”

Hear - Other than the beautiful Croatian language, there are many young musical talents that you'll hear in Hvar. Check out this page of music videos of singers from Hvar – the video near the bottom are young performers singing traditional Dalmatian songs with no instruments, they’re so good!

See – The beautiful crystal blue sea and pebble beaches are there for your eyes to see. Visit various attractions on Hvar such as the Hvar’s Cathedral and Fortica Fortress to take in some architectural history. Visit the Main Square and visit the local souvenir shops for some fantastic colourful jewellery that you can take home to your family and friends. Don’t forget to also come see our Adriana Hotel, our modern and sensual designs will take your breath away!

Taste – You will never forget Dalmatian cuisine. Consists mainly of seafood, they are often cooked with spices, olive oil, garlic, and lemon. One of our must-try dishes is the black risotto which is made with squid ink sauce. Of course, don’t forget to pair your meal with a local wine from Hvar. We recently held our wine festival where we introduced the world to our local wines!

Feel – Get on a yacht and feel the crisp clean air and the warmth from the sun. Feel energized after hiking or a bicycle trip around the town. Most importantly, feel the relaxation that you rarely experience, whether it’s from lying on the beach, windsurfing on the waters, or from that massage that you greatly deserve.

What do you look forward to the most when you travel: tasting something new, seeing some historical sights, or just the feeling of relaxation?
Tell us on Facebook and Twitter!

Friday 12 November 2010

The Top Bar – spectacular view and best clubbing on Hvar island!



The night life in Hvar is abundant and colorful. It is becoming the town that never sleeps, also known as the party town that is gaining more and more attention! So put on your best outfit and come visit one of the premiere nightlife venues: The Top Bar.

The Top Bar has a wrap-around view of Hvar, the yacht harbour, bay, and the Paklinski islands. Located on the Adriana hotel's rooftop, the Bar has multilevel garden terraces and amazing designs that combine luxury and relaxation.

Sip on our cocktails and visit the Upper Deck VIP Lounge, sink into a modern sofa, or dance the night away with other jet-setters. Drink and relax, and let your tensions melt away.

The Top Bar is also a member of the Discover Hvar! Club, which is a special program designed by Suncani Hvar Hotels allowing you to enjoy a 10% discount at selected establishments when you charge food, beverages, or services to your room with your club card.

Here are some of our favourite cocktails and bites from The Top Bar:

DRINKS
Bartender's Choice – Adriana: Prosek, Walnut, Prosecco, Lime

Long Drink – Caipirinha: Cachaca/Vodka, Fresh Lime, Brown Sugar

Non-alcoholic – Top Smoothie: Melon, Papaja Syrup, Orange Juice, Grenadina

FOOD
Appetizer – Lobster Carpaccio: Beef Carpaccio filled with Adriatic Lobster Meat

Sandwich – Caprese Panini: Ciabatta bread, Mozzarella, Tomato, and Pesto Genovese

From the Sea – Black Risotto with Seafood: Age-Old Recipe of Risotto Painted with Squid Ink

Click here to visit The Top Bar page and view the menus!

Do you have a favourite cocktail that you think we should add to our list? We love some creativity! Tell us on Facebook or tweet us on Twitter!

Tuesday 9 November 2010

Our Top Ten Travel Resources (We love their tweets!)


Read a travel magazine while traveling... why not? [Source of photo]

We all have our favourite travel publications that we like to turn to for the latest travel tips, great deals, and inspiring stories. Whether you're planning a trip, on the computer and needing some travel inspiration, or you want to escape with a good read and a cup of hot chocolate, here are top 10 travel resources that we think are amazing (we also included their Twitter name and bio!):

1. Travel+ Leisure Magazine @TravelandLeisure
Travel + Leisure explores the places, ideas and trends that define modern global culture.

2. Condé Nast Traveler @CNTraveler
Truth in Travel is their guiding principle: Condé Nast Traveler always pays its own way, and, as much as possible, its correspondents travel anonymously.

3. National Geographic Traveler @NatGeoTraveler
Traveler championed sustainable travel before it was cool and, eight times annually, celebrates journeys that are about place, experience, culture and authenticity.

4. The Guardian @GuardianTraveler
The latest travel news, insider guides, emerging destinations, new hotels and travel trends from The Guardian UK.

5. Business Travel News @BTNonline
Business Travel News is the premier source for corporate travel news, research, analysis and intelligence, and has been for more than 25 years.

6. Frommer's Travel Guides @FrommersTravel
Frommer's Travel: The best trips start here!

7. Lonely Planet @lonelyplanet
Tweeting (& retweeting) the best in travel. 1. Follow us. 2. Tag your tweets with #lp 3. We read your posts 4. We re-tweet the best of them

8. Outpost Magazine @outpostmagazine
Outpost Magazine Online is a virtual meeting place for you and everybody else out there hungry for a travel magazine that is as adventurous as you are.

9. Luxury Travel Magazine @luxurytravelmag
World's best hotels, destinations and travel experiences.

10. Los Angeles Times Travel @latimestravel
The LA Times Travel crew curate tips + deals for a restless Tweetosphere.

Because we only had room for top 10 and we wanted a variety – who else do you think should definitely be on our list? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter and all the other social media tools we use!

Wednesday 3 November 2010

Top 8 Travel Tips For the New and Experienced Travelers



Some extra planning won’t hurt. [Source of photo]

Whether you’re a seasoned traveller or someone who is just embarking on a new journey, you will continue to learn new ideas on how to enhance your experience. We’ve put together our top 8 travel tips to you and hope you get to use them when you travel and visit one of our hotels:

Plan ahead: If you have an idea when you will take a vacation next year, plan now. Pick a location and book your flight ticket, you’ll be surprised how much of a difference the price is a few months before the trip and a year before. Familiarize yourself with the trip destination so you can save for your travel budget. Transportation and food will be the bulk of expenses.

It’s better to travel light: Lay out everything you want to bring on your bed so you have a visual idea of how much you’re bringing instead of just stuffing them in your suitcase. Check what the weather’s like at your destination, review your travel itinerary and only bring things that you think are necessary with a few extra options. Don’t forget, you can always buy a new shirt or skirt there if you like. How do you know you’ve packed too much? Make sure to leave a little bit of room in your suitcase just in case you need to bring back some souvenirs or you might just want to buy something for yourself!

Pack an emergency carry-on: Let’s cross fingers that this wouldn’t happen but with long distance flights, there are transfers and waits; what if you miss your flight or they lose your luggage? To save yourself some money and hassle, pack some emergency clothing and toiletries in your carry-on: contact solutions, make-up remover, toothbrush, extra underwear, etc. You’ll thank yourself later if you are ever stranded at a foreign airport.

Make sure you have your important documents: Passport, identification cards, flight ticket, cash, credit card, and information of your hotel. If they have the hotel information in the destination’s language, print it out as well. Some taxi drivers in foreign countries might not speak English and it’s best to show them the name and address of the hotel than you hoping they understood what you said.
Also make a few photocopies of your passport and keep it separated of your other documents. In case of lost/stolen belongings and in case the hotel reception needs the data you don’t have to leave your passport.

Bring some light entertainment and nourishments: Bring a book to read that you don’t mind giving away later if you are on a long distance flight. Carry your mp3 player with you to practice speaking the foreign language and some light tunes while you’re waiting for your next flight. Pack a granola bar just in case you really can’t stomach the airplane meals. It’s okay to bring some personal items with you on a trip; we all need something from home we like to hold on to!

Reach Out: Arrange for your airlines to email, text message or to call you with flight changes. Many travel companies and airlines are actually on Twitter now as well, so you can have the latest updates not only on last minute changes, but also everyday deals for future references.

Keep an Open Mind: You’re in a foreign country and who knows when you’ll be back? Try their local cuisines, attempt to speak the language, and experience things that you have never tried before. If you have never sailed before, take a shot at it! You will later appreciate what you have tried and go home with some great stories.

Relax and Have Fun:
Traveling can be stressful but you might as well have fun. You are traveling in a foreign country where you are having a whole new learning experience. Have fun and enjoy yourself and make it a goal to make your trip as pleasurable for you as possible.

What else would you add on our travel list? We’d love to hear some more and compile more travel tip posts! Find us on Facebook and Twitter to see our daily updates of the latest travel articles and Suncani Hvar updates.