I'm originally from Burlington, Canada and I have always loved traveling, meeting new people and discovering unique places. Once I graduated university, I decided to take a year off to travel before finding a full time job back home. Little did I know, that year would turn into something much more! I spent 11 months in Croatia the first time around, and then I just kept on coming back to learn more, see more and discover more.
Here I am, 19 years later, living in Croatia, running Royal Croatian Tours with my Croatian husband. Our company is geared towards private, small group travel, where we’re able to create completely personalized, tailor-made trips. Our vision is simple: to show our guests the wonders of Croatia, the culture, the beauty and the people, all while providing exceptional client support. We want you to feel like you have a friend in Croatia, and that you have 100% support from us throughout your trip, for any reason at all!
What places and activities do you specialize in?
"We specialize in luxury travel throughout Croatia, and offer all of our activities privately, so you won’t ever have to join a larger group (unless of course, you want to). Some of the activities we offer include wine tasting, cooking classes, hiking, cycling and sea kayaking adventures, historical walking tours, along with boating excursions around the islands. "
How did you get involved in travel?
"Like I said, I discovered Croatia on one of my trips back in 2007, where I fell in love with the country (and a local - who I ended up marrying, and who is now also my business partner at Royal Croatian Tours).
Since we both love exploring and showing people the beauty of Croatia, opening our own agency just came naturally. We think we make an excellent combo, as Ivan is a local Croatian and knows all of the ins and outs of Croatia, while I’m an expat, and do all of the communication with our guests personally. Coming from Canada, I understand what our guests are looking for when planning their trip, and traveling to a foreign country.
"
Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.
"I once rowed a small wooden boat down the entire length of the Mississippi River (around 2400 miles) with 5 other people. The journey took around 4 months to complete, we camped every night on the riverbank and cooked over an open fire - except when sweet, sweet local people would randomly invite us in for the night and prepare us a delicious home-cooked meal. It was this unexpected hospitality of complete strangers that I’ll never forget. Who in the world would invite 6 people they hadn’t even met (who also hadn’t showered in weeks) into their home and treat them like family? It was getting to know all of these different individuals, hearing their stories, and feeling their love that will always stay with me. I’ll also never forget how cold and wet we were, as it rained for a month straight and our boat had no cover or shelter. "
Sarah's favorite itineraries and travel advice
Top itineraries and travel advice
Family itineraries
Road trip itineraries
Best of Croatia & Slovenia: Zagreb, Ljubljana, Istria, & Dalmatia - 16 Days
A great route to discover Slovenia and Croatia over 16 unforgettable days. Starting in Croatia's dynamic capital, you'll first head into Slovenia to discover charming Ljubljana,...
Croatia Family Vacation: Zagreb, Rovinj, Šibenik, & Dubrovnik - 15 Days
This 15-day family-friendly vacation focuses on a few great locations and kid-friendly hotels to keep everyone entertained from Zagreb to Dubrovnik. Enjoy a day at the beach on...
Best of Croatia: Zagreb, Rovinj, Šibenik, Hvar, & Dubrovnik - 11 Days
From the romantic countryside of Istria to the charming coastal cities along the Dalmatian coast, this complete 11-day journey covering the best of Croatia has it all. The trip...
Recent trip reviews for Sarah
A shout out to Ivan our driver who is a super...
Croatia
|
Sep 19 - Oct 2, 2026
Jeffrey A.
Miami, FL
| Reviewed on Oct 04, 2026
A shout out to Ivan our driver who is a superstar. Tour guides at all stops wonderful. Just a bit could be better at Lake Bled guide.
Local specialist: Sarah Cosic
The trip was awesome! Thank you for an amazi...
Croatia
|
Sep 19 - Oct 2, 2026
Shelley S.
Miami, FL
| Reviewed on Oct 04, 2026
The trip was awesome! Thank you for an amazing time in Croatia.
Local specialist: Sarah Cosic
Overall drivers and guide were great.
Croatia
|
Sep 19 - Oct 2, 2026
Jean D.
Newark, NJ
| Reviewed on Oct 03, 2026
Overall drivers and guide were great.
Read more
Overall drivers and guide were great.
Hotel Reviews
Hotel Neptun Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Time Boutique Hotel
Split
Urban Hotel Ljubljana Center
Ljubljana
Amadria Park Hotel Capital
Zagreb
Activity Reviews
Tour Dubrovnik's Old Town
Croatia
Loved the fort and surroundings
Guides, Drivers and Staff
On time and knowledgeable
Day Trip to Groznjan and Motovun
Croatia
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Day trip to Hvar for a private wine tasting excursion (to and from Hvar by ferry)
Split
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Day Trip to Lake Bled and Castle (end day in Ljubljana)
Zagreb
Would've like it more doing more in the city we only did the castLe
Felt rushed and would've liked to do the island
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Taking the time to show the town
Ljubljana - Privately guided walking tour
Ljubljana
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guided Walking Tour of Split
Split
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Friendly On time Knowledgeable
Privately guided tour of Pula
Croatia
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Knowledgeable and on time
Privately Guided Tour of Rovinj
Croatia
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Zagreb Private Guided Walking Tour
Zagreb
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Very informative and on time
Local specialist: Sarah Cosic
In a word... Magical
Croatia
|
Sep 7 - Sep 15, 2026
Steve Lindsey S.
Ashburn, VA
| Reviewed on Sep 23, 2026
In a word... Magical. Croatia is simply stunning... the landscape, the seascape, the people, the history and the food create a location that is a bucket-list must. We had never been there, so the thought of doing all the research and putting together a trip was daunting. That's where Sarah and Ivan come in. The developed a perfect itinerary, covered all the details and lined us up with guides, drivers and lodging that never missed. When bad weather caused one outing to be cancelled, a...
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In a word... Magical. Croatia is simply stunning... the landscape, the seascape, the people, the history and the food create a location that is a bucket-list must. We had never been there, so the thought of doing all the research and putting together a trip was daunting. That's where Sarah and Ivan come in. The developed a perfect itinerary, covered all the details and lined us up with guides, drivers and lodging that never missed. When bad weather caused one outing to be cancelled, a quick text to them resulted in a new outing within 20 minutes that turned out to be one of the great memories of our trip. Having them tracking with us during the whole time made this a zero-stress trip of a lifetime!
Hotel Review
An intimate setting off of a side alley just steps away form the old city, this was a great stay. The staff were personable and helpful, offering tips about the local area as well as a wonderful breakfast every day. The bed was super-comfortable and the bathroom was spa-like. We loved it
Local specialist: Sarah Cosic
Review of Croatia tour
Croatia
|
Aug 15 - Aug 22, 2026
Matthew L.
Asheville, NC, USA
| Reviewed on Aug 29, 2026
The tour was well organized and the rides were always on time and reliable.
We enjoyed the walking tours with the guides in Dubrovnik, and Split and Zagreb they were friendly and knowledgeable and organized and fun. Our hike in Hvar was really special and we got some extra time in Stari Grad.
Only drawback was the crowds at Plitvice National Park.
We loved snorkeling in Dubrovnik area and swimming and kayaking Hvar. Diocletian palace tour was very special.
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The tour was well organized and the rides were always on time and reliable.
We enjoyed the walking tours with the guides in Dubrovnik, and Split and Zagreb they were friendly and knowledgeable and organized and fun. Our hike in Hvar was really special and we got some extra time in Stari Grad.
Only drawback was the crowds at Plitvice National Park.
We loved snorkeling in Dubrovnik area and swimming and kayaking Hvar. Diocletian palace tour was very special.
Hotel Reviews
Manda Heritage Hotel
Zagreb
Convenient and a large room
Hotel staff were excellent
Room was clean and spacious
Location was perfect
Authenticity & Character
Rooms are spacious
Breakfast very good
Location
Close to Diocletian palace
Staff
They helped us with the key cards
Pharos Hvar Bayhill Hotel
Hvar
Pool was great as was access to beach and Hvar center.
However the rooms are very small.
The hotel was very nice they gave us a free dinner because our room was not totally accessible by the elevator.
Authenticity & Character
Amazing breakfasts
Location
Taking the bus to Old Town is interesting but the hotel was close to boating excursions
Activity Reviews
Zagreb Private Guided Walking Tour
Zagreb
Our guide made Zagreb come alive
We loved the short funicular
Guided Walking Tour of Split
Split
Our guide was the best
She organized the tour to maximize our learning
Hike to Lost Villages of Hvar
Hvar
Loved the views and the hike and learning about the area and surprise trip to Stari Hrad
Guides, Drivers and Staff
I loved talking to our guides about basketball
Tour Dubrovnik's Old Town
Croatia
Our guide was friendly and knowledgeable
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Sarah Cosic
Two beautiful weeks in Croatia wife and I...
Croatia
|
May 21 - Jun 3, 2026
Gene G.
Newark, NJ
| Reviewed on Jun 16, 2026
Two beautiful weeks in Croatia
My wife and I spent two amazing weeks in Croatia. Thank you Sarah and Ivan for the meticulous planning of the trip. Our hotels were just what we were looking for, and all of the trips - wine and olive oil tastings, city tours and the truffle hunt were informative and well presented. All of the drivers - Zoran, Ivan, Mato and Marija (I’m sure I’m forgetting a few others) were friendly, professional and very informative. We’ve learned so much about Croatian...
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Two beautiful weeks in Croatia
My wife and I spent two amazing weeks in Croatia. Thank you Sarah and Ivan for the meticulous planning of the trip. Our hotels were just what we were looking for, and all of the trips - wine and olive oil tastings, city tours and the truffle hunt were informative and well presented. All of the drivers - Zoran, Ivan, Mato and Marija (I’m sure I’m forgetting a few others) were friendly, professional and very informative. We’ve learned so much about Croatian history and culture that I can’t really pick any one place that I like more than another, although Plitvice lakes was probably the prettiest place we’ve ever visited. Our particular thanks to all the folks in Dubrovnik who made our five nights stay there unforgettable.
Hotel Reviews
Amadria Park Hotel Capital
Zagreb
Beautiful hotel in the middle of Zagreb
Great location inside the city. The rooms are somewhat small
Tesla's Gastro House
Prijeboj
Lovely B and B with wonderful hosts
Location
Five minutes drive from the park in a beautiful country setting
Wonderful location and service
Location
Steps from Diocletian’s Palace and the port
Staff
The staff at this hotel was simply amazing
Great location, very good breakfast and a large comfortable room
Location
It’s five minutes away from the old town by bus, and the bus stop is right next to the hotel. Perfect location for both the exploration of the old city and having a driver pick up for day trips
Activity Reviews
Guided Walking Tour of Split
Split
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Truffle Hunting + Exploring Motovun
Croatia
One of the highlights of our trip. Great truffle hunting, and a wonderful lunch to follow.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Day trip to Hvar for a private wine tasting excursion (to and from Hvar by ferry)
Split
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Privately Guided Tour of Rovinj
Croatia
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Olive Oil Tasting + visit Porec
Rovinj
This was a great olive oil tasing. Bembo is a wonderful small olive oil producer, and both owners were friendly and generous with their knowledge of details of every aspect of the olive oil production.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Visit Kastela for olive oil tasting + seeing the beautiful old olive tree
Split
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Oyster Tasting & Farming Experience in Ston Bay + Wine Tasting (Peljesac Peninsula) - Day trip from Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Great selection of wineries and a nice tour of the oyster harbor
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private Day Trip to Cavtat & Sokol Grad
Dubrovnik
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Game of Thrones Tour
Dubrovnik
Ivona was very knowledgeable and passionate about the city and the filming process for Game of Thrones
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private Boating Excursion to the Elaphiti Islands
Dubrovnik
Great day on the boat with Simon
Quality of Experience
The three islands we visited were all beautiful, each in their own way.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Sarah Cosic
Sarah was awesome to work with.
Croatia
|
May 26 - Jun 3, 2026
Phebe C.
Centennial, CO, USA
| Reviewed on Jun 11, 2026
Sarah was awesome to work with. She was very responsive to all my inquires and listened to my interest requests providing us with an amazing itinerary. Everything went flawlessly and if there was any concern about anything while on our trip Sarah made sure she was available to reach out to. From the moment we arrived, everyone we encountered was so welcoming and prepared to greet us. This made our experience in visiting a new country even more enjoyable. It was a fabulous trip. I cannot...
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Sarah was awesome to work with. She was very responsive to all my inquires and listened to my interest requests providing us with an amazing itinerary. Everything went flawlessly and if there was any concern about anything while on our trip Sarah made sure she was available to reach out to. From the moment we arrived, everyone we encountered was so welcoming and prepared to greet us. This made our experience in visiting a new country even more enjoyable. It was a fabulous trip. I cannot say enough about Sarah and Royal Croatian Tours in providing us such an amazing itinerary and helping us develop such amazing memories of Croatia. Thank you.
Hotel Reviews
A little farther from the Castle than we would like since we did spend most of our time in that area, but easy access to the local bus stop.
Location
Near the bus stop, though it took a bit too learn the schedule
The host was very welcoming and responsive to any questions. The location was perfect. Just outside of the palace and easy walking to everywhere.
Activity Reviews
Dubrovnik Kayaking Adventure
Dubrovnik
There were many kayaking companies in the area. We were glad we were with what seemed like a smaller outfit. We were in a group with 4 other couples and our guide, where some other companies had 10 or more couples. We loved paddling around the outside of the castle, across the sea to way what were told was a secluded cove to swim. Unfortunately, when we got there, there were several motor boats in the area. We pulled ashore and as we got out of our kayaks several other kayak companies arrived. It was a small cove and it was packed with kayakers and swimmers. Not quite the secluded/private area that we were expecting. We left a little earlier than planned to get away from the chaos and paddled over to Lokrum island before heading back.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private transfer from Split to Dubrovnik (stop for oysters and wine on the way)
Split
A 2 hour + drive to our first stop at a local winery/vineyard, Marlais. The vineyard sits next to a road built by Napoleon. We tasted 3 wines and some olive oil. From there we wend to an oyster farm near Ston. It is the only area in Croatia that they are allowed to grow oysters. Our guide took us to there family owned farm and shared with us some myrtle berry grappa and a little wine as he talked about his families history and their oyster business. He explained the process then shucked some fresh oysters at the end of his boat. We did a short walk around the small town of Ston which has a wall that is noted to be the 2nd longest in the world and was built to protect the salt works
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Day trip to Krka National Park
Croatia
Close to Split with the same appeal at Plitvice, but smaller. The waterfalls were beautiful and the water so clear. We also enjoyed a short hike to the river. It was so peaceful. A road less traveled from all the tourists. On our way back to town our driver took us along the coast. We stopped at an overlook on Gaj Hill home to the Black Madonna lighthouse tower with beautiful views of the sea and the city of Primosten. We enjoyed talking with our driver about the history of Croatia and his family. It was a wonderful day.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private boating excursion to Brac & Hvar Island by motor boat
Split
This was one of our most favorite experiences. Our boat driver, was very communicative and greeted us upon arrival ready for a days adventure. We spent some time in Hvar walking around looking at the shops and hiked up to the fortress. We grabbed a quick sandwich and beer before heading back to the boat. From there we went towards the Pakleni Islands and found an area to drop an anchor to go for a swim and enjoy the beautiful water of the Adriatic. We continued a trip to the island of Brac. We visited a village called Milna where we enjoyed a delicious meal at Kantun. After lunch we went a a Konoba and meet a lovely family that has made wine and olive oil since 1776. We did a little wine tasting and of course left with a bottle to enjoy later. It was a fabulous day on the water and exploring the local islands.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Croatian Cooking Class
Split
So much fun! We loved walking through the green market and then going to the fish market to pick up the local fish for our meal. Our chefs were very friendly and even gave us a little more history of the city as we walked to the cooking school to prepare our meal. They had prepared some welcome appetizers in advance for our arrival and greeted us with special local cocktail as they prepared the kitchen for our lesson. We prepared many dishes, including cleaning the fish for our meal. All the food was delicious and we enjoyed the company of another family in our group with of course some wine. The cooking school provided us with certificates, recipes and pictures of our experience.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Sarah Cosic
A wonderful experience
Croatia
|
May 25 - Jun 2, 2026
Carol M.
Atlanta, GA
| Reviewed on Jun 03, 2026
Our trip to Croatia was an amazing experience in no small measure due to the work of Sarah and Ivan. From the time we arrived in Zagreb to our departure from Dubrovnik, our trip was flawless. We were met at the airports and ferry ports, and our transfers from hotels to said ports were perfectly timed. Our driver to Plitvice and Split, Zoran, was particularly wonderful and went above and beyond for us.❤️ The hotels were well-situated and each one possessed unique qualities that made our stay...
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Our trip to Croatia was an amazing experience in no small measure due to the work of Sarah and Ivan. From the time we arrived in Zagreb to our departure from Dubrovnik, our trip was flawless. We were met at the airports and ferry ports, and our transfers from hotels to said ports were perfectly timed. Our driver to Plitvice and Split, Zoran, was particularly wonderful and went above and beyond for us.❤️ The hotels were well-situated and each one possessed unique qualities that made our stay fun/interesting. The activities on our itinerary were a perfect mix of adventures and yet left us with adequate time for relaxation and shopping. Communication with Sarah and Ivan was easy, and any questions we had were promptly answered. I think we are now spoiled (in the very best way) by having had Sarah plan/execute our trip for us. We highly highly recommend!
Local specialist: Sarah Cosic
Great trip to Croatia
Croatia
|
May 17 - May 24, 2026
Scott S.
Kansas City, MO
| Reviewed on May 27, 2026
All tours were excellent! Hotels were top notch!
Sarah was attentive and quick to respond to my questions or concerns during the trip!
I felt that she really wanted to make our trip the best it could be!
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All tours were excellent! Hotels were top notch!
Sarah was attentive and quick to respond to my questions or concerns during the trip!
I felt that she really wanted to make our trip the best it could be!
Hotel Reviews
Hotel Neptun Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Great location; nice rooms ; great pools and proximity to beach
Modern; clean; great views
Amadria Park Hotel Capital
Zagreb
Nice room; great location!
Location
Walking distance to old city
Activity Reviews
Guided Hike to Mt. Srd
Dubrovnik
Great views; not paved path and lots of rocks
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
We walked from meeting point to mount srd
Tour Dubrovnik's Old Town
Croatia
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Day Trip to the Caves & Beaches of Vis Island by boat
Hvar
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Hvar Wine Tasting Excursion
Hvar
Fun experience; great tour of Hvar
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guided Walking Tour of Split
Split
Beautiful park; plenty of time; self led
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Sarah Cosic
Great experiences! Attentive service! Super...
Croatia
|
May 7 - May 17, 2026
Richard P.
Ashburn, VA
| Reviewed on May 19, 2026
Great experiences! Attentive service! Superior customer service. Planned great venues around our interests.
Perfect introduction to Croatian Adriatic coast
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Great experiences! Attentive service! Superior customer service. Planned great venues around our interests.
Perfect introduction to Croatian Adriatic coast
Hotel Reviews
Riva Marina Hvar Hotel
Hvar
Great staff. Comfortable but limited luggage space
Convenient to bus for old city. Spacious. Great breakfast
Authenticity & Character
New hotel so not focused on authenticity/character
Activity Reviews
Day trip to Salona, Trogir and Klis
Split
Guide was fantastic. Gave history and insights. Very accommodating. Superb lunch recommendation
Guides, Drivers and Staff
F
Guided Walking Tour of Split
Split
Knowledgeable guide. Perfect length of time. Informative
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Cooking class in the countryside
Hvar
Wow. Phenomenal setting. Wonderful food. Hosts like family
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Lumbarda wine tasting tour with local snacks
Croatia
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Dubrovnik Food Tour
Dubrovnik
Very knowledgeable guide. Good variety of food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Sarah Cosic