A sunset ritual in Split transformed the way Jessica thinks about travel, revealing why slowing down matters more than ticking boxes.
I spent a month in Croatia during a year I took off to travel in 2023, and it completely changed how I see travel, both for myself and for my clients. I planned everything myself, traveled with my then-fiancé (now husband), and based myself in Split while exploring the country in depth. We visited Dubrovnik, Hvar, Zadar, Makarska, Plitvice National Park, and Bol. It was a different kind of trip than a typical two-week holiday, and that extended time allowed me to settle into the rhythm of daily life in a way I never had before.
What drew me to Croatia was the chance to slowly explore a destination that feels European but has its own distinct personality. I had traveled before, but always in a go-go-go nature, packing in excursions and activities and checking things off a list. I wanted something different this time. I wanted to understand what it felt like to actually live somewhere, even if just for a month.
The Sunset Culture That Changed Everything
The moment that still stays with me is the sunset culture I discovered in Split. Around sunset, it felt like everybody in town made their way to the Riva, somewhere along the water. People would have a coffee or a glass of wine, chat with friends, read a book, or just sit and watch the light fade over the Adriatic. It was a third space, something I had never experienced before and didn't know even existed. There was no agenda, no tour to catch, no landmark to photograph. Just presence.
That experience completely changed my mindset, not just as a traveler but in how I carry on my life now. I realized that travel can be incredibly rewarding when you do something so simple with the locals instead of always having an excursion booked. The most memorable part of my month in Croatia wasn't a tour or a famous site. It was just being present with the rhythm of local life.
Insider Knowledge You Won't Find in a Guidebook
Spending a month there also gave me practical knowledge I now share with every client considering Croatia. Being a European country, you really expect it to follow similar lines as Italy or Portugal in terms of rail travel. But rail travel is not the same level in Croatia. If you want to travel from place to place, the best way to do it is by car. I know that renting a car abroad makes some travelers nervous, but I can honestly say the roads are safe, the drive itself is beautiful, and it's worth it. The drive is an experience of its own, and having done it many times, I can offer that reassurance from firsthand knowledge.
In Split specifically, I always recommend skipping Bacvice Beach and going to the one beside it instead. There is a fabulous cafe a staircase or two above that beach, overlooking the water. It's known as the locals' beach. You can have a coffee or a beer and enjoy a much more intimate and less touristy experience, right next to the famous beach everyone crowds into. That's the kind of recommendation that makes clients feel like they had an insider experience, not a tourist one.
Who This Trip Is For
Now when I plan trips for my clients, I ask different questions. I still ask about what they want to do, when and where and why. But I also focus on who they are as people. Are they beach people? Do they want to sit around and feel like a local? Or are they looking for an activity every morning and night? Because the answers change not just the activities I recommend, but the areas and destinations entirely. Someone who wants that slow sunset culture I experienced will end up in a completely different place than someone who wants a packed schedule.
Croatia is perfect for couples looking for romance without the crowds, travelers who want to feel connected to local life, and anyone willing to rent a car and explore at their own pace. It's ideal for those who want the beauty of the Adriatic without the intensity of more heavily touristed European coastlines. If you're the kind of person who would love sitting above a quiet beach with a coffee, watching the light change over the water, this is your destination. And now, having lived it myself, I know exactly how to curate that experience for you.
