Hvar named in Lonely Planet's Top 10 Holiday Regions of 2012

Croatia cruise holidays have been given the stamp of approval by top travel guides Lonely Planet, after Hvar was named in the top ten tourist destinations of 2012.

Hvar, which is a popular destination for Adriatic cruise holidays, was ranked as the fifth best summer vacation of 2012.

Lonely Planet writer Anja Mutic singled out the Croatia holiday destination for special attention, following a summer that saw record temperatures in the region.

"Fabulous suntanned bodies flock to this drop-dead gorgeous spot for round-the-clock fun," she said.

"Think après-beach parties as the sun dips below the Adriatic horizon, full-moon shindigs and designer cocktails sipped seaside to fresh DJ-spun tunes."

Lonely Planet were keen to highlight the mix of dance parties and opportunities to sail Croatia that Hvar and other destinations like Dubrovnik and Split offer each summer.

With temperatures still near 30 degrees centigrade, the opportunity for a short break to Hvar to sample the famous beaches and nightlife could still be on the cards too.

As The Lonely Planet's Ms Antic notes: "There’s no cooler place in Croatia to get your groove on than Hvar."