join us
Join us for this musical and cultural residence in Croatia - the land of 1,000 islands. Explore the ancient UNESCO cities of Split and Dubrovnik, spend time on the islands of Korcula, Hvar, and Mljet - all with plenty of opportunities to swim in the cystal clear waters of the Adriatic Sea.
Choir members and their families will partake in folkloric music events and discover the joy of traditional Dalmatian music and food.
Not only will the children get opportunities to perform and learn songs from other kids who live in Croatia, but there will also be plenty of time to enjoy outings and fun activities as a family - and with each other - building shared memories and experiences together. Part of the magic and joy of these trips is that they are family-oriented gatherings where appreciation for singing, music, nature, and exploration in a different culture combine to create lots of FUN that’s full of learning!!
What will You be Doing each day?
This trip is designed specifically for VOENA choir members and their families. Because we will be a small enough group, we have allowed some flexibility to our program so that the “magic of the moment” is allowed to influence some of our activity choices. However, here are some of the activities that will definitely be part of this Croatia adventure:
Performance and Singing Opportunities
Choir members will participate in the Jelsa Klappa festival performing alongside local Klappa groups of all ages. They will perform as part of an evening of song under the stars on an ancient stone bridge in the picturesque village of Vroboska and perform as part of the Summer Music Series inside the walls of the ancient walled city of Korcula. And of course there will be plenty of times when the choir led by Annabelle Marie will break out in song. Even family members might want to join in the fun!
Island Hopping
We will be taking a ferry to 3 different islands - Mljet, Hvar, and Korcula. Almost half of Mljet is a national park, Korcula has a walled old city and claims a connection to Marco Polo, and Hvar has a rich tradition of klappa singing and folkloric traditions.
Walking Tours
One of the best ways to explore an historic city is to start with your feet on the ground - so we will plan a few guided walking tours. A definite will be a walking tour on the walls of the old city of Dubrovnik.
Swimming and Biking
It is not summertime, if you don’t play in the water and ride a bike on paths away from traffic. Luckily there will be a lot of time to enjoy the Adriatic waters and explore the areas by bike (E-bikes will also be available for us to use in Mljet). It will be a blast for ALL!!
Culinary Delights
We will eat at local establishments and make sure to try many Dalmatian favorites, including Peka - a traditional slow cooked wonder made under a heavy iron-cast bell simmered for hours on top of a mix of flames and coals.
“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.”
pricing and plans
EACH PARTICIPANT
$3985*
Includes
14 Nights accommodation (dbl or triple room as needed)
Most Breakfasts and either lunch or dinner each day
Land Transportation for All Scheduled Activities
Ferry tickets to Mljet, Hvar, Korcula, and Split
Performance Opportunities for Choir members and Folkloric Music Workshops
All tickets/fees for cultural activities and performances
TRIP STARTS IN DUBROVNIK AND ENDS IN SPLIT
Three-Payment Plan available - Nov. 15th, Feb. 15th, May 15th
*Price based on no more than a $1.09 to euro conversion or a surcharge could be added.
OPTIONAL ADD-ON
$345
PREFER TO FLY IN/OUT OF SPLIT?
ARRIVE IN SPLIT ON JULY 5
Free time to explore Split on your own
Lodging near Diocletian's Palace inside the old town
July 6th - Full Day Excursion (Mostar and Kravica Falls)
Transportation to hotel in Dubrovnik
Payment due by March 15th
$350
Due by November 1, 2023
TRIP DEPOSIT
Non-Refundable
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. DOES THE TRIP COST INCLUDE AIRFARE? ♫
No. You must purchase your own airfare. The sweet spot for purchasing airfare tends to be 3-4 months in advance of travel, unless you are using miles. However, keep checking airline companies because you never know when a flash sale will occur. Websites to check are "google flights" and "skyscanner". You might also consider flying to Europe on one airlines and then taking a lower-cost hopper flight to Croatia. We can share ideas for getting flights at our group information meetings.
Q. CAN I PAY BY CREDIT CARD OR MUST I SEND A CHECK?♫
Absolutely, we accept credit card payments but you will incur the fees from our third-party provider Stripe. After the $350 non-refundable deposit (per participant), there will be $3,635 remaining for each person attending. By check that will come to 3-payments of $1,212.00 each. By credit card each of the 3-payments will be $1,250.00. If you pay online, you will notice that you can increase the number of people that you are paying for (whether that be for the deposit, payment plan, or add-on).
Once you make a payment, please send us an email with the number of people in your party, everyone's name, ages of all children, and choir level for choir members.
Q. IF I WANT TO PAY BY CHECK WHERE DO I SEND THE PAYMENTS ♫
Please make checks payable to: Music World Retreats and mail your payments to: Music World Retreats, c/o Donna Wapner, 228 E. E. Street, Benicia, CA. 94510.
Once you make a payment, please send us an email with the number of people in your party, everyone's name, ages of all children, and choir level for choir members.
Q. WHAT ARE THE RULES ABOUT CANCELLATION AND REFUNDS?♫
A $350 deposit is due by November 1, 2023 and it is not refundable. Any other payment you make is refundable until March 15, 2024 minus any non-refundable expenses incurred by us at the time of your cancellation. After that date, any payments made will not be refunded. Please consider getting travel insurance to cover your fees in case you have to cancel due to unforseen circumstances.
We will follow ALL CDC and COVID-related rules, and modify the trip (if necessary). If we have to cancel the trip due to any unforseen event that forces us to not be able to travel in Croatia (which we think is highly unlikely), we will refund as much as we can based on what fees are returned to us from outside vendors that we paid in advance.
Q. WHO CAN I CONTACT IF I HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE RETREAT? ♫
Please contact us.
Q. CAN YOU ACCOMMODATE THOSE WITH DIETARY ISSUES? ♫
We will do our best to cater to people with diet issues. Vegetarian, vegans and basic diet requirements are included in the price – just contact us.
Q. IS THIS TRIP SUITABLE FOR THOSE WITH MOBILITY ISSUES?♫
We are not able to accommodate anyone with severe mobility problems. Please contact us to discuss your particular needs
Q. WILL THERE BE AN INFORMATIONAL MEETING ♫
Yes. There will be multiple meetings before we leave for Croatia. Those who missed the initial info meeting can go to the following link and watch a recording of the October 23rd Info Meeting.
VOENA will send out a reminder and zoom link for any other scheduled meetings. We will also post reminders, updates, and copies of all necessary forms that you may need to fill out in advance of the trip at the VOENA support page designed specifically for those going on this choir trip. For those who like to get an idea of the kinds of things that may happen next summer take a look at all the happy faces from our first experience in Croatia in 2019. Quite a lot of different things are planned this year - as well as favorites from last trip: https://youtu.be/yVTXBnZi-3s?si=g6EEv6WZ381_s3z3
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all of one’s lifetime.”
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Funky Fingerstyle Guitar with Adam Rafferty
Jazz Guitar with Martin Taylor
Ukulele Hideaway with James Hill
Hosts Peppino D’Agostino and Donna Wapner
MUSIC WORLD RETREATS are hosted by Peppino D’Agostino and Donna Wapner. Our goal is to partner with some of our favorite musicians and creative friends - and together develop intimate, supportive, learning experiences. We pick locations that will encourage and inspire one’s creativity. When participants walk away having learned something new, had fun, made new friends, and can’t wait to join us again - we know we have done our job well!!