Our Istria house

Marin and ariela clearly understand understand hospitality, and provide a number of little touches that make guests feel welcome. When we arrived, we were shown around the property by ariela, who then seated us on the lovely covered terrace and served us mistletoe liqueur while she showed us maps of the local area and made suggestions of places to visit. Inside, a pot of homemade minestrone and a loaf of still-warm bread sat on a long wooden table already set for guests, a welcome sight after a long drive. Also on the table was a smooth stone sporting a hand-painted flower, along with our names and the date of our visit. We were encouraged to call if we had any questions or problems, and indeed phoned ariela at one point for help in arranging a visit to a farm where olive oil is produced. All of these personal touches are helpful but in no way intrusive. The property itself is absolutely wonderful. The massive lawn slopes down to a tree house, a stone barbeque and picnic area, and the house\'s organic garden. Indeed, we picked zucchini, parsnips, carrots and tomatoes while we were there. The owners have done a marvelous job with the landscaping, and fruit trees and flowers abound. The house, with its stonework and exposed beams is at once rustic and extremely well-equipped. Marin and ariela have excellent taste in furnishings and decor, and the interior has many delightful old wooden pieces. One of the upstairs bedrooms is painted with whimsical murals, perfect for our 4 year-old son. In the evenings we would sit out on the covered terrace, listening to the rain pattering on the roof and the crickets creaking in the garden. All in all, the house offers farmhouse luxury and absolute privacy, and the hosts offer wonderful hospitality.

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Aug 26, 2010 We were a little hesitant at leaving the fun of the beautiful Istria coast to go inland - but when we arrived at the country house, there was no doubt we had made the right decision. It was fantastic. The owners are genuine in wanting guests to feel at home. We were greeted with an apple pie and chilled canter of wine. We got a quick tour and learned where and how to access bikes, local hiking trails, good places to eat - and left to enjoy it all. The house is both cozy and spacious all at once. There is a massive lawn with vegetable garden and flowers. It overlooks a series of hills and is very peaceful. There is a lot of land and sites/activities close by. If you still want to go to the beach or visit nearby towns - these are only short drives away. Every detail in place and I cannot think of a single thing that was missing. I only regret we didn\'t stay a little longer.

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This is our second trip to nasa Istra, the only holiday destination we have visited twice abroad. The property is outstanding, and sits in total seclusion at the end of a 1/4 mile forest track, the garden is massive , you are unlikely to see anyone at the house, and noise is non existant, the night sky is full of stars and devoid totally of light pollution, the garden by day is full of buterflies, grasshoppers huge flying green shield bugs and humming bird hawk moths. The hosts go way beyond what would be expected of them. My assesment is not unique as any thumbing through of the comments in the house book reflects exactly our expeirience, from lots of nationalities. In writing this summary I feel guilty as we want to keep the property secret so that we may be able to book it easily again, but marin and ariela deserve the recognition of a unique set up.

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The two weeks that we spent at Nasa Istra have become a very special part of the time that we spent in Croatia. The moment we arrived we knew it was going to be wonderful. The house was so beautiful inside and the views stunning. Waking up to the sound of birds singing was delightful. We so enjoyed the natural surroundings of your lovely holiday home as well as all the wonderful amenities that you so thoughtfully provided. We found Nasa Istra well appointed giving us everything we could possibly need to ensure our comfort. The horse riding experience in the wilderness added to the unique aspects of rural life at Nasa Istra. We thoroughly enjoyed the scenic guided trials with experienced guides that you kindly organized for us. It was simply fantastic. We are very happy to recommend the property to anybody wanting to experience the peace & tranquility away from everyday living. Hopefully we will be back in the future to enjoy the experience all over again. Thank you for sharing your passion and lifestyle with us. All the best.

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My husband and I and our 7month old son spent 3 weeks at nasa istra. It was absolutely marvellous! We wanted a private, get away in the middle of nature and nasa istra delivered all that and more. The house is a beautifully restored stone farmhouse, decorated with very tasteful antique furniture. The overall atmosphere was very romantic. Fully equipped kitchen with large refrigerator, microwave, oven & stove, etc. also a washing machine. The house stayed surprisingly cool. Even in august we never needed to turn on the AC. Oh, the balcony is great! During mid-summer it\'s shaded from the direct sun. It\'s pretty large with ample furniture; great spot to have meals or wine or coffee. The house is completely secluded. You have the feeling that you are the only person on your own private estate. No street or building can be seen or heard from any point on the property; all you have are beautiful views of the surrounding nature. Supermarkets, bakery, gas station etc. are a few minutes drive away. The property has a couple of old large trees that you can spread a blanket under and just relax or picnic. A huge well landscaped lawn with lost of flowers. There is also an outdoor stone grill. We BBQ\'d every other day! There\'s an orchard, and an organic vegetable garden. We particularly enjoyed picking and eating from the garden. Marin and Ariela, the owners, were most appropriate. They don’t live on the property. They were helpful, accommodating, friendly; and very respectful of our privacy. Upon arrival Ariela, who\'s an amazing cook, had already prepared us a delicious local meal. This was very much appreciated after our very long journey. She introduced us to the property and area then left us to enjoy our vacation. We had a small emergency while we were there and they helped us through everything so that we could get back to enjoying our vacation

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A beautifully restored stone farmhouse, tastefully decorated. Very romantic, peaceful and secluded. The large garden is perfect for wild children to run and play and shout and be free, without disturbing even their parents. Beautiful views of the surrounding countryside and lovely for nature lover to see the various wildlife. Although very secluded and "isolated" all necessary shops and restaurants are only a few minutes away. We made good use of the wonderful BBQ and the organic vegetable patch which was kindly free for us to pick from. I highly recommend the tomatoes and courgettes, delicious freshly picked. A wonderful warm welcome by the owners,who don’t live on the property. Upon arrival we were welcomed with local wine, and lovely meal and local aperitif, and not to mention the home-made elderflower cordial. The location is perfect, only 40 minutes or less from the sea, and easy reach for visiting many historic and interesting sites in Istria. Would we go back, oh yes, without a doubt, by far the most relaxing holiday I have ever had.

• Submitted: Jul 07,2011