Montenegro Tours & Vacations

I am writing this review with fond memories of my trip with Zicasso's travel company. From my first contact with Eva, I was impressed with her responsiveness and follow-up. This was not an easy trip to plan, as I traveled to many different cities and had unique requests. There was not one time when Eva did not respond promptly through email or WhatsApp.

When on the trip, I was provided with names and contact information of drivers and/or guides. There were instances that come to mind where the travel company and Eva really stepped up:

1) In Sarajevo, I wasn't able to see the famed Haggadah, but the guide was great with explanations and I did see a replica and met with her parents.

2) Prior to my drive to Mostar, I was to see the Tunnel of Hope close to the Sarajevo airport. There was an issue in that the local tour company cancelled the reservation and forgot to rebook it. After nearly an hour with back-and-forth phone calls and texts, I finally was able to enter with my driver. That being said, we were late to arrive for the tour of Tito's Bunker as they have only three tours a day and I was unable to enter the bunker. My driver was on the phone with Eva, who was on the phone with her contact at the tour company and, ultimately, it was determined we would drive to Mostar. Because of traffic and border control, I would arrive later than anticipated. Additionally, my travel specialist was informed that my scheduled trip to Blagaj the next day would not be possible as there was an annual spiritual festival I would not be able to attend. My travel specialist was able to work with the local company to switch around the itinerary so I was able to go to Blagaj, and I was fortunate to have been able to see this town, which was so interesting. Because of the inconvenience, it was arranged that my guide in Mostar would, of course, provide the tour of Blagaj and Mostar, but also take me to a very nice restaurant for dinner. It was very nice to experience how the locals eat.

*I do want to add that the destination company for Bosnia and Herzegovina has a very good reputation, but this was an isolated incident. And my point is... Eva took complete control of the situation and, truth be told, was very upset about this turn of events as she is indeed a perfectionist. All worked out as best it could.

3) Leaving Dubrovnik to go to Split required a ferry ride. Because of rain, the 8:00 a.m. ferry was cancelled. My travel specialist received notification at 8:41 a.m. and I had been at the dock since 7:40 a.m. My travel specialist was very disappointed that my driver just left me there. There was no place to shelter and it was pouring rain. Additionally, there was no guarantee that the 3:00 p.m. ferry would go. So I would be at the dock with my baggage and no place to go. I sent a text to my specialist via WhatsApp and was ready to walk across the street for shelter. However, within 10 minutes a driver was dispatched to pick me up. As luck would have it, this was the same driver I had for a couple of side trips in Dubrovnik. The good news was that I got to Split about three hours before I would have with the ferry, was able to check into the hotel, and binged on Netflix until the rain ended and I went to dinner. Again, thank you to my travel specialist for her quick response and follow-up.

My travel specialist was very attentive to my unique requests. Jewish heritage is important to me and she arranged visits to the different museums and synagogues. I appreciated the special arrangements made to personally meet with members of the community. I had a traditional Bosnian meal in Sarajevo with two very interesting people from the community.

In Trieste, Italy, my guide and I made a traditional Sephardic dinner and spent a pleasant few hours speaking to this wonderful husband and wife. Overall, I think I developed a strong connection with my guides and, through social media, I now have new friends, and someday, I will return, or if anyone comes to Chicago, I will be the tour guide.

The accommodations were very good as well. A couple of months before departure I needed to switch my hotel selection in Dubrovnik because of stairs. My travel specialist found me a very nice hotel in a good location that was not too crowded or noisy, just steps away from the Jesuit Stair ("Game of Thrones" site). The irony of this was that the steps in the hotel would have been the least of my challenges as I climbed many steps in these cities and up to castles. The staff at these hotels were so helpful and nice. The restaurant recommendations and them personally contacting the restaurants for me was much appreciated. As a solo traveler, I really appreciated this special attention, both from hotel staff as well as the restaurants.

The drivers and guides were courteous, friendly, informative, and on time. They really know the area. We were fortunate to not have long waits at border control between the countries. I do intend to write individual reviews for my guides and the transportation companies. A benefit of private tours is flexibility and getting to know the drivers and guides. I was able to enjoy Bosnian coffee and double espressos. I was able to go to restaurants that real people go to and not just the tourists.

When in Zagreb, I was finally able to meet my travel specialist. After almost a year of emails, texts, and conversations, it was nice to see the face behind the screen. We had lunch after my tour and it was a perfect way to end my visit in Zagreb.

This trip was not inexpensive and overall more expensive because of the value of the U.S. dollar to the euro. However, knowing that this was pretty much a trip of a lifetime (almost a month), I would expect the cost to be what it was, as it was not the height of the tourist season.

I would definitely arrange travel with this company again and recommend them highly.

Thank you for a wonderful trip.

We loved our trip through these four beautiful countries. We enjoyed the cities on the trip and the day hikes. There was a blend of history, outdoors, and great food that made the trip special.

Our trip to Kotor, Montenegro, and Dubrovnik, Croatia, was absolutely incredible, and we have our Zicasso travel specialist to thank for making it completely seamless from start to finish.

Every detail was thoughtfully planned, from beautiful accommodations and smooth transfers to world-class tour guides and activity and restaurant recommendations that let us experience these destinations like locals. Kotor's breathtaking bay, charming Old Town, and mountain views were unforgettable, while Dubrovnik exceeded every expectation with its rich history, gorgeous waters, and incredible food.

What impressed us most was how effortless everything felt. We never had to worry about logistics, which allowed us to truly relax and enjoy every moment. The itinerary struck the perfect balance between sightseeing, exploring on our own, and simply soaking in the beauty of the Adriatic.

Our trip with Zicasso's travel company exceeded all possible expectations! Our travel specialist paid great attention to our specific travel wish list and activity limitations due to traveling with a young child. She created an unforgettable experience. I can't recommend this travel company enough. This was one of the best trips we've ever taken and we can't wait to plan our next adventure with them!

Our hotel in Dubrovnik was great and the views were absolutely fantastic. Our guide in Old Town Dubrovnik was terrific and felt like a member of the family by the end of the tour. The kayaking adventure was okay. The yacht was wonderful and the crew worked hard to accommodate us. It was great to find a four-day sailing trip, which was the right fit for our family. I wish we had more dialogue with the skipper earlier than the first day of the sail to help us prepare for the destination changes.

The dinner at a local restaurant was difficult because we weren't prepared for a three-hour dinner and it conflicted with our children's schedule. More transparency on the itinerary would have been helpful to manage our expectations.

I appreciate the travel company's help with our canceled and delayed flight. We were able to make the most of our very short time in Rome.

Zicasso's travel specialist was fantastic in her communication with us, from the initial idea of the trip through the last day of the vacation, as well as her support with the travel insurance claim. I am happy to discuss any of the above comments further if it is helpful. Thanks for a great trip.

The trip was designed and executed exactly as we wanted. Zicasso’s travel company was very responsive and flexible throughout the process, and kept in frequent touch during our trip.

It was a wonderful vacation! Zicasso’s travel company was very responsive and extremely organized. The agency made planning very easy and enjoyable, and they listened to our requests. Communication was clear and all transfers and tours were amazing. Great experience!