Profile photo for Antonia Ljuština
8236 messages
active 4 hours ago

Antonia Ljuština

Adventure hunter, hot air balloon enthusiast, foodie. After years of working as a tour guide and travel agent all over Europe, I found my true passion right here, at home. We create itineraries that will cater to every individual interest for a truly one-of-a-kind vacation.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"Tailor-made tours: Sightseeing, Hot Air Balloon, Food & Wine, Heritage and Historical, Birdwatching, Game of Thrones, Sailing. There is no greater excitement than working on an itinerary that involves a mix of adventure activities, historical sightseeing and appreciating the best of the region through food, wine, and local stories."

How did you get involved in travel?

"Traveling and exploring was something that defined me from early childhood. After working as an IT consultant right after high school and all through college, I went on to pursue my dream of being a professional traveler. It all eventually lead to the magical story of Croatique."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"The world is a truly unique place and whenever I travel I try to get the most of it as possible. Visiting a local sports team match, going to undiscovered restaurants, visiting farmer's markets, concerts.

There is one event that really sticks with me to this day, and it happened in Croatia, right in my hometown. When I started working as a tour guide in Croatia, I took a couple of travelers from the USA on a tour through the Eastern part of Croatia known as Slavonia. We visited a Buy Local Fair and had an amazing experience of joining a traditional silent "kolo" flashmob at the local square. The kolo was so long they danced right into a local store and the sales team joined them as well. We still talk about it to this day."

Top itineraries and travel advice
Family itineraries
Road trip itineraries

Recent trip reviews for Antonia

All the guides especially Ivana. Guide to vil...
Croatia | Jun 23 - Jun 29, 2024

SUNDARARAJAN
SUNDARARAJAN S.
India | Reviewed on Jul 06, 2024
All the guides especially Ivana. Guide to village tour superb. Antonia in boat tours was very helpful and fantastic. I would have preferred to had a boat with cover. Slightly bigger boat. Becos of sun. Especially as it was a full day tour. Otherwise all went well. Thank u all Read more

All the guides especially Ivana. Guide to village tour superb. Antonia in boat tours was very helpful and fantastic. I would have preferred to had a boat with cover. Slightly bigger boat. Becos of sun. Especially as it was a full day tour. Otherwise all went well. Thank u all

Activity Reviews
Private Walking Tour of Ljubljana
Private Walking Tour of Ljubljana
Croatia

I would recommend this city. Vibrant and historical

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Discover Bled Town and Enjoy Pletna Boat Ride
Discover Bled Town and Enjoy Pletna Boat Ride
Bled

Beautiful and fantastic weather

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private Walking Tour of Plitvice Lakes National Park
Private Walking Tour of Plitvice Lakes National Park
Croatia

Ivana was good and helpful

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Antonia Ljuština

We wanted to take a moment to extend our than...
Slovenia | Jun 11 - Jun 20, 2024

L
lisa s.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Jun 27, 2024
We wanted to take a moment to extend our thanks to the kimkim team and especially to our local trip specialist, Antonia for helping us put together the most incredible adventure! Antonia laid out a road map so that we would see the most beautiful sights within both Slovenia and Croatia. She directed our steps to all things "must see" and we were amazed at what we experienced during the 10 day trip. It's hard to say which part of the trip was the favorite because it all was so... Read more

We wanted to take a moment to extend our thanks to the kimkim team and especially to our local trip specialist, Antonia for helping us put together the most incredible adventure! Antonia laid out a road map so that we would see the most beautiful sights within both Slovenia and Croatia. She directed our steps to all things "must see" and we were amazed at what we experienced during the 10 day trip. It's hard to say which part of the trip was the favorite because it all was so beautiful.
Antonia left nothing unfinished. She arranged for the car rental when we touched down in Slovenia. She had even contacted our first hotel to ensure that we had safely arrived the first day. Every day, Antonia sent a message to ensure that all was well and that we were enjoying ourselves. She made sure to remind us that she was available 24/7 for any questions that might arise.
Our local guides were also fantastic. Alenka H. was extremely knowledgeable and went above and beyond. She made sure that we enjoyed the local favorite dessert and sat down with us over kreme cake and coffee after a tour (and also sent us home with some salted chocolate (one cant go wrong with salted chocolate!) Alenka was quick to respond to questions texted to her after the tour for suggestions on food and souvenirs.

Another guide (I apologize that i dont have her name) provided much information and was quick to offer to take our picture with the best views behind us as we walked through Plitvice Lakes National Parks.

All too soon our vacation came to and end (as vacations always do). However, its never too soon to start planning the next adventure and i would definitely look to kimkim again to help us plan.

We will continue to look back upon this trip through wonderful memories (as well as all of the photos that will soon be hanging on our walls).
I feel as though i have made some wonderful friends on the other side of the globe. We truly are all more alike than different. To Antonia, Alenka and all the others with whom we crossed paths, I wish you well !

Until next time, Hvala!

Hotel Reviews
Old Bled House
Bled

Absolutely LOVED this hotel! Such charm. And the staff were warm and caring. Felt like staying with family.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Spirito Santo Palazzo Storico
Rovinj

Another of our favorites. Wonderful staff. Beautiful

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
all were sooooo personable. And pointed out the bikes that were available for use for a ride out along the coast and the best place for a swim
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Discover Bled Town and Enjoy Pletna Boat Ride
Discover Bled Town and Enjoy Pletna Boat Ride
Bled

Simply beautiful.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Truffle Hunting Experience
Truffle Hunting Experience
Slovenia

Fun experience. And the family was very nice.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private Walking Tour of Plitvice Lakes National Park
Private Walking Tour of Plitvice Lakes National Park
Slovenia

Amazing views.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Antonia Ljuština

Eighteen-day trip to Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Montenegro.
Croatia | May 27 - Jun 13, 2024

Ronald
Ronald M.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on Jun 16, 2024
It is impossible to answer what were our most memorable places, activities or people we interacted with on our trip. Why? Because in 18 days we traveled to three countries (Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro). Ten cities/towns/areas in Croatia, two in Bosnia & Herzegovina and one in Montenegro. Every day, every place, every experience from drivers to tours & guides, to hotels & personnel, to restaurants & staff, and everyone and thing in between was amazing. The people of these... Read more

It is impossible to answer what were our most memorable places, activities or people we interacted with on our trip. Why? Because in 18 days we traveled to three countries (Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro). Ten cities/towns/areas in Croatia, two in Bosnia & Herzegovina and one in Montenegro. Every day, every place, every experience from drivers to tours & guides, to hotels & personnel, to restaurants & staff, and everyone and thing in between was amazing. The people of these places in Eastern Europe are so genuine and real it absolutely warms your heart and makes you want to embrace them in every way you can. Working with Antonia in planning our sojourn to Sara, who watched over us every day, was a perfect experience. This was not just a trip or vacation; it was an enlightened education and life experience.

Local specialist: Antonia Ljuština

What a fabulous trip.
Croatia | Apr 27 - May 8, 2024

alan
alan h.
Charlotte, NC | Reviewed on May 21, 2024
We had never heard of KimKim Travel Agency and were not sure what to expect, and boy were we surprised! They are outstanding! We were assigned Antonia as our travel agent, who worked with us to build an extensive itinerary for our private tour of Croatia. Every single tour guide and driver that Antonia assigned to us were exceptional – Ivana in Dubrovnik gave us our first Croatian history lesson; Mladen drove us to Perast & Kotor, Montenegro and taught us so much along the way, and... Read more

We had never heard of KimKim Travel Agency and were not sure what to expect, and boy were we surprised! They are outstanding! We were assigned Antonia as our travel agent, who worked with us to build an extensive itinerary for our private tour of Croatia. Every single tour guide and driver that Antonia assigned to us were exceptional – Ivana in Dubrovnik gave us our first Croatian history lesson; Mladen drove us to Perast & Kotor, Montenegro and taught us so much along the way, and Vasilija gave us wonderful tours there. We had Ivana in Split, who was charming and lovely and spent a lot of time with us at Diocletian’s Palace. Grgo was our tour guide on the island of Hvar and that was a great tour – his Mom cooked us lunch! From Split to Zagreb our driver was Duje and he was awesome – you can tell he loves his country! Duje took us to Krka National Park and Plitvice Lakes as well, and gave us a commentary on everything we passed. At Plitvice Lakes our guide was Petra and she was excellent – she clearly has so much love for her Lakes. Finally, in Zagreb, our guide was Kristina – she took us on a food and culture tour and it was so good! We had some good treats and a lovely walking tour of Upper and Lower Zagreb. We could tell that each guide and driver were so happy to be showing us their country – they were personable and amiable, and just a delight to be around! Antonia was so easy to work with and was extremely responsive to all our questions. She checked on us throughout our trip, and gave us real-time updates and information as our itinerary changed. We would highly highly recommend both KimKim and Antonia for all your Croatia travel needs! 10/10

Local specialist: Antonia Ljuština

Our trip to Croatia was absolutely fantastic ...
Croatia | Oct 2 - Oct 8, 2023

J
Jeanie G.
Montclair, NJ | Reviewed on Oct 24, 2023
Our trip to Croatia was absolutely fantastic thanks to Antonia! It is the first time we used KimKIm but surely will not be the last. Antonia planned our trip down to every last detail. Each person she set us up with, drivers, tour guides, local agri-tourism, boat driver were all top notch. Each person was very knowledgeable in their area, took the time to see what we enjoyed and tailored the tour to our liking. The hotels chosen suited us perfectly and we were fortunate to even get an upgrade... Read more

Our trip to Croatia was absolutely fantastic thanks to Antonia! It is the first time we used KimKIm but surely will not be the last. Antonia planned our trip down to every last detail. Each person she set us up with, drivers, tour guides, local agri-tourism, boat driver were all top notch. Each person was very knowledgeable in their area, took the time to see what we enjoyed and tailored the tour to our liking. The hotels chosen suited us perfectly and we were fortunate to even get an upgrade at one of them! Antonia's restaurant recommendations were spot on and she was always able to get us in. I loved the 7pm updates the night before to remind us of the next day's events. She made herself available any time of day or night in case we had any trouble, but absoutely everything went as planned.
Thank you, Antonia for taking the planning out of my hands and for giving us the trip of a lifetime!!

Local specialist: Antonia Ljuština
Antonia
Antonia Ljuština
Local specialist in Zagreb, Croatia | Replied on Oct 25, 2023
Hi Jeanie,
Thank you for filling out the review! The goal of our tours is to get you familiar with the local way of life while providing a smooth service and the best experiences and I’m happy to hear that our goal was achieved. We believe that being available to our travelers while they are here is crucial for making the trip the best it could be. Working with you was truly a pleasure and I’m very thankful you put your trust in me and Kimkim. Happy to hear you would like to use Kimkim again...
Read more

Hi Jeanie,
Thank you for filling out the review! The goal of our tours is to get you familiar with the local way of life while providing a smooth service and the best experiences and I’m happy to hear that our goal was achieved. We believe that being available to our travelers while they are here is crucial for making the trip the best it could be. Working with you was truly a pleasure and I’m very thankful you put your trust in me and Kimkim. Happy to hear you would like to use Kimkim again as it really is a great way to connect with local specialist and have a unique travel experience! I hope we will get a chance to work together again and wish you nothing but the best,
Antonia

Outstanding Cultural and Scenic Trip
Croatia | Sep 23 - Oct 8, 2023

Rebecca
Rebecca W.
Jackson, WY | Reviewed on Oct 23, 2023
We had independently booked a trekking trip in Slovenia, and were working on our Croatia itinerary when we were unexpectedly invited on a wilderness river trip on a permit cancellation. This meant no internet access, and no time to firm up plans so we could book our international flights. We contacted KimKim, and were connected to Antonia at Croatique. Despite an 8-hour time difference that had her working very early or late office hours, she pulled together a wonderful itinerary that... Read more

We had independently booked a trekking trip in Slovenia, and were working on our Croatia itinerary when we were unexpectedly invited on a wilderness river trip on a permit cancellation. This meant no internet access, and no time to firm up plans so we could book our international flights. We contacted KimKim, and were connected to Antonia at Croatique. Despite an 8-hour time difference that had her working very early or late office hours, she pulled together a wonderful itinerary that reflected our requests and interests in a short period of time. Her additional recommendations were among our favorite activities of the trip, which went off without a hitch. She was responsive to a few requested in-country changes, and we felt that had anything gone sideways, it would be quickly addressed. We would recommend her services to anyone who does not want to execute their own travel logistics. Perhaps the highest compliment we can leave is that we hope to return, and we only rarely revisit a country!

Hotel Reviews
Urban Hotel Ljubljana Center
Ljubljana

Good breakfast, great location, spacious room and friendly staff. It hit all the checkmarks!

Location
Close to numerous restaurants and the historic area.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Villa Nora Hvar
Hvar

Historic, family-run property not far from the main square.. Lots of charm. Good restaurant.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
16 Lakes Hotel
Rakovica
Authenticity & Character
Again, not terrible, but this hotel could have been anywhere. There was nothing about it that said "you are in Croatia."
Location
Not terrible, but would have preferred accommodations just outside of the park.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Art Hotel Kalelarga
Zadar

Great location, good breakfast, and attentive, courteous staff.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Korsal
Korčula

Wonderful location and large, comfortable room. Very good restaurant.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Just average. It appeared the front desk receptionist was dealing with "end of season fatigue"--not overly friendly, and a bit short when we asked a question about our dinner reservation.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Art Hotel Ljubljana
Ljubljana

Just average. The rooms were on the small side. However, it had a nice breakfast, and helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Great in terms of accessing the pedestrian only area, but a potential drop-off problem for people with heavy luggage, as you have to walk to the hotel from a drop-off point.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Antonia Ljuština
Antonia
Antonia Ljuština
Local specialist in Zagreb, Croatia | Replied on Oct 25, 2023

Hi Rebecca,
It makes me very happy to hear that you would like to visit Croatia again! There truly in no higher praise than knowing your travelers had such a great time that they would love to come back. I feel honored that I was the one able to introduce you to my country! Working with you and Rich on this trip was great and I hope you brought only the best memories home with you. Thank you for taking the time to give us your feedback and for your kind words. I wish you and Rich all the best and hope you will get a chance to visit again,
Antonia

Buck list family heritage trip
Croatia | Sep 12 - Sep 22, 2023

Andrea
Andrea V.
Bellingham, WA | Reviewed on Oct 13, 2023
This trip was a bucket list item for me and Antonia and her colleagues (Nikola) did not disappoint! The biggest struggle I have is finding the time to research the must do's/must stay's/must see's and Antonia took my feedback and planned a much better trip than I ever could have imagined. Every guide she connected us with was great and even exceeded expectations (Dora in Vis was AMAZING!). Using the Trip Plans and Whats App apps made communication super easy while we were in Croatia. 11/10... Read more

This trip was a bucket list item for me and Antonia and her colleagues (Nikola) did not disappoint! The biggest struggle I have is finding the time to research the must do's/must stay's/must see's and Antonia took my feedback and planned a much better trip than I ever could have imagined. Every guide she connected us with was great and even exceeded expectations (Dora in Vis was AMAZING!). Using the Trip Plans and Whats App apps made communication super easy while we were in Croatia. 11/10 Would Recommend!

Hotel Reviews
Villa Desideria
Split

A little off the main drag so it wasn't super busy or loud, but close enough that you can be in the hustle and bustle within about 5 minutes walk. Perfect to have a nice restaurant on site too!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
I would give the staff 11 out of 5 stars if I could. SO FRIENDLY and helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Apartments & Rooms As
Vis

Clean, quiet, comfortable.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
A bit small and cramped, but the LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION and Monika made it wonderful!
Boutique Room Kaliopi
Hvar

SUPER CUTE. Clean, comfy rooms. Within about 5-7 minutes walking distance of everything. If you don't do stairs well, this may not be the place for you, though!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Lapad
Dubrovnik

Don't stay here until the road construction is done. It was a PIA to get there and you're listening to diesel road construction equipment while you're sitting by the pool. Lots of potential though!

Authenticity & Character
Lots of history in the building
Location
Staff
Everyone was super friendly, but the restaurant service was terribly slow.
Cleanliness & Comfort
We stayed in the new building and it seemed haphazardly slapped together. The beds were horribly uncomfortable. A slat under my mattress kept falling out so the foot end of my mattress kept falling into the bed. A/C could not keep up. The room would never get below 23C/74F.
Local specialist: Antonia Ljuština
Antonia
Antonia Ljuština
Local specialist in Zagreb, Croatia | Replied on Oct 19, 2023

Hi Andrea,

Thank you for your feedback! I’m happy to hear you had a great time in Croatia. Having good communication with our travelers, especially when they are here, is key for making the trip go as smoothly as possible and ensure you have the best experience! I will be sure to pass on your words of praise to Dora and our other guides. I’m hoping you will visit Vis and Croatia again to further explore your heritage! Wishing you all the best,

Antonia

Great time in Croatia.
Croatia | Sep 18 - Oct 1, 2023

STEVE
STEVE S.
Mequon, WI | Reviewed on Oct 05, 2023
All the town & city tours were excellent especially Josipa from Purgerica. She spent 30 minutes more time to show me Zagreb as my wife was back in the room feeling ill from pneumonia we didn't know at the time(she's finally doing very well after getting antibiotics). I mentioned to Josipa that we're very involved with fungi and she took me to the very excellent mushroom museum in Zagreb. Her tour of Zagreb was the best tour. Our long distance driver Viktor Ropac, while driving us to the... Read more

All the town & city tours were excellent especially Josipa from Purgerica. She spent 30 minutes more time to show me Zagreb as my wife was back in the room feeling ill from pneumonia we didn't know at the time(she's finally doing very well after getting antibiotics). I mentioned to Josipa that we're very involved with fungi and she took me to the very excellent mushroom museum in Zagreb. Her tour of Zagreb was the best tour.

Our long distance driver Viktor Ropac, while driving us to the next destination, showed us many areas of the countryside and small towns we wouldn't normally visit. From a fish farm to roadside stands selling honey & cheese to his village, he gave us a sense of the heartbeat of the land he loves.

The man (his name escapes me) in Ston did a great oyster/mussel informational/cooking demo

Miro Tartufi and his wife demonstrated how their dogs find buried truffles. The luncheon, scrambled eggs with truffles and dessert with truffles was five star quality and presentation.

Our tour through the Hvar countryside was great. Excellent views and our driver stopped a few times so we could enjoy wild figs.

Beekeeper and gin maker Vlaho Komparak from OPG Komparak was a nice visit. We tasted some honey and talked about beekeeping.

Plitvice Lakes was excellent tour even though the weather was cold and wet.

The pasta class was very great, we learned so much about making different kinds of pasta and gnocchi. Everything was delicious.

We especially enjoyed the relaxed lifestyle of Rovinji and Zagreb.

Antonia really put together a great introductory tour of Croatia for us. Our trip was jam packed with activities and tours. She was very helpful, even when a couple issues arose. Antonia is extremely professional in her job and truly cares about taking care of her clients.

Hotel Review
Heritage Villa Nobile
Dubrovnik
Authenticity & Character
Clean, Great location great breakfast
Location
Staff
Very attentive. We dealt with the owner herself
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very comfortable and clean
Local specialist: Antonia Ljuština
Antonia
Antonia Ljuština
Local specialist in Zagreb, Croatia | Replied on Oct 06, 2023
Hi Steve,
Thank you so much for your review! I’m glad to hear your wife is feeling better. The feedback from our travelers is most important to us as it allows for growth and improvement and ensures we offer only the best services to our guests. I’m happy to hear you got to experience the true local way of life through our guides and tours! I will be more than happy to pass on your kind words to all of them. I feel very privileged to be able to introduce you to some of Croatia’s natural...
Read more

Hi Steve,
Thank you so much for your review! I’m glad to hear your wife is feeling better. The feedback from our travelers is most important to us as it allows for growth and improvement and ensures we offer only the best services to our guests. I’m happy to hear you got to experience the true local way of life through our guides and tours! I will be more than happy to pass on your kind words to all of them. I feel very privileged to be able to introduce you to some of Croatia’s natural beauty and its people. Hosting you and MJ was an honor and helping you plan this itinerary was great fun! I hope we’ll get a chance to work together again and that you will visit Croatia next year! Wishing you both all the best,
Antonia

In Split, Salvadore was a great guide through...
Croatia | Sep 12 - Sep 22, 2023

J
Janet V.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Sep 29, 2023
In Split, Salvadore was a great guide through the Roman Palace and introduced us to local jeweler. Dora was amazing in Vis and we will be keeping in touch with her. Read more

In Split, Salvadore was a great guide through the Roman Palace and introduced us to local jeweler. Dora was amazing in Vis and we will be keeping in touch with her.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Lapad
Dubrovnik

Unfortunately there was construction in front of hotel and was not great for taxis to get in and out.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Villa Desideria
Split

Amazing and close to beach and waterfront, all staff was fantastic

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Apartments & Rooms As
Vis

Close to everything

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Boutique Room Kaliopi
Hvar

Perfect but like the area, lots of steps

Authenticity & Character
Location
Loved the waterfront action
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Loved the breakfast in the morning
Activity Reviews
Small Group Speedboat Tour: Blue Cave, Vis Island, & Pakleni Islands
Small Group Speedboat Tour: Blue Cave, Vis Island, & Pakleni Islands
Hvar

Absolutely fantastic day, overall great day, I didn’t care for our waiter at restaurant I thought he was very rude.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Walking Tour of Dubrovnik
Private Walking Tour of Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Quality of Experience
Private Half-Day Island of Vis Tour
Private Half-Day Island of Vis Tour
Vis Island

Dora was amazing, we are definitely keeping in touch with her as far as family history, driver and Dora were very informative, had the best day ever

Quality of Experience
A
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Walking Tour of Split
Private Walking Tour of Split
Split

Salvadore was very good

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Drivers, transport were great, took the worry out of moving luggage. All were very friendly
Local specialist: Antonia Ljuština
Antonia
Antonia Ljuština
Local specialist in Zagreb, Croatia | Replied on Oct 03, 2023

Hi Janet,
Thank you for taking the time to fill out the review! I’m happy to hear you will be staying in touch with Dora and that you had a great time in Split and on the Blue Cave tour. It was a privilege planning this trip with you and Andrea and I hope you will visit Croatia again. Thank you for your trust and I wish you both all the best,
Antonia

Croatia
Croatia | Sep 1 - Sep 9, 2023

R
Ron C.
Atlanta, GA | Reviewed on Sep 10, 2023

Antonia and Nikola were incredible and extremely responsive before and during the trip. All the hotels we stayed at were top notch. The excursions were incredible as well. I will definitely be using KimKin for my next vacation

Local specialist: Antonia Ljuština
Antonia
Antonia Ljuština
Local specialist in Zagreb, Croatia | Replied on Sep 17, 2023

Hi Ron,
Thank you for your feedback! I’m so happy to hear your group had a great time! It was a pleasure working with you both before and during your stay in our beautiful country. Hoping we’ll get to work on another adventure together and wishing you all the best,
Antonia