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Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Why Shilpa Shetty's career crashed after Big Brother: 18 years on from the Jade Goody racism row, star has 'lost her house in a Bitcoin scam', stood by her husband who was jailed for porn... and now her own mother is on trial
Scroll through Shilpa Shetty's Instagram feed and you'd be forgiven for thinking she's your run-of-the-mill B-list Bollywood actress who - bolstered by social media - has found new success in an influencer niche. The actress - who recently celebrated her 50th birthday at a bash that made headlines for all the wrong reasons - posts a mix of glam shots, sweat-free workout snaps, outtakes from her international holidays, and her 'Sunday Binge' Reels that might trigger those with slower Basal Metabolic Rates. However, the glossy veneer of her public persona conceals a more turbulent personal life - including the ups and downs in her marriage to British-born millionaire Raj Kundra, who was arrested and jailed for 63 days in 2021 on charges of making and distributing porn. Just this week, the Dhadkan actress found herself facing harsh criticism for being an 'entitled' Bollywood star after video footage from her birthday party at a glitzy restaurant in Hvar Islands, Croatia, was posted online. In the now-viral clip, Shilpa can be heard screaming 'Don't talk to us, we don't want to talk to you' at a fellow guest, who reportedly complained her group was being too loud and 'politely requested them to speak softly'. It's a far cry from her restrained and dignified stance in the face of vile racist abuse at the hands of Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd, and Jo O'Meara that made Shilpa a fan-favourite during her time on Celebrity Big Brother - and ultimately saw her walk away as the series winner after the finale was aired in February 2007. Controversy followed Shilpa back home to Mumbai as she found herself accused of 'obscenity' when Pretty Woman star Richard Gere kissed her on the cheek repeatedly at an AIDS awareness event the following month. Photos from the event in New Delhi show how the American actor took the star's hand and kissed it, before embracing her and kissing her multiple times on the cheek. He later said the spontaneous act had been designed to show that kissing was not dangerous and could not spread the virus. But the incident sparked protests among India's religious conservatives, who branded it an outrage and took to the streets in protest. Some of the protests morphed into riots, with effigies of both actors burned in the streets with criminal charges filed against the pair, whose actions were branded an affront to traditional Indian values. While the charges against Mr Gere were quickly dropped, after he apologised, those against Ms Shetty languished in the Indian criminal justice system for nearly 14 years until she was cleared of 'obscenity' for not resisting the kiss in 2022. The widespread public protests weren't the only personal setback Shilpa suffered the same year she won Celebrity Big Brother. In 2007, Shilpa's parents were awaiting trial on extortion charges after it was claimed they hired a mafia don to intimidate a Surat-based businessman into clearing her dues for a commercial she starred in. 'Are you nuts?' she retorted during an interview with the Evening Standard, when asked about the allegations against Sunanda and Surendra - who died in 2016 - Shetty. Referring to the owner of the sari company, she said: 'Yes, that crook owes me around £80,000 and we sent him two legal demands to pay up. 'And yes, there will be a court case [against my parents]. But the allegations are all lies. Extortion! It's not our style.' The Surat-based businessman went to the police after he began receiving threatening calls in 2003, when the Shettys were placed under surveillance and the authorities secretly taped their phone calls. Transcripts of conversations between the owner of the garment firm, Shetty's parents, and the criminals they allegedly hired were made public - and obtained by the Daily Mail - as Sunanda was recorded saying 'Give us the money, the [threatening] telephone calls will stop'. Formal charges were filed against Sunanda and Surendra in 2010 and the criminal trial drags on to this date. After Surendra's death in 2016, new charges were framed against Sunanda, her former secretary Dilip Palsekar, and the underworld don Fazl-ur-Rehman alias Fazlu in 2019. The hits would keep coming, as Shilpa also found herself at the centre of an extra-marital scandal after Big Brother when the wife of prominent Indian director Anubhav Sinha suggested the actress had seduced him In a 2007 interview with a local newspaper, Ratnaa Sinha broke her silence about the alleged affair between Anubhav Sinha and Shilpa on the set of his thriller Dus in Canada in 2005. After he returned to India, Anubhav is said to have walked out of his marriage of 12 years. The headline of Ratnaa's exclusive interview with DNA read: 'Ratna Sinha erupts against her director husband Anubhav and his 'good friend' Shilpa Shetty. Without explicitly naming Shilpa, she said: 'Anubhav and I had the perfect marriage, until a year and a half ago. 'We had no problems whatsoever, but he suddenly left one day. 'I do not want to comment on their affair, but I am told they are good friends. They are both old and wise enough to make their own decisions. Anubhav knows the repercussions he will face for the choices he is making.' At the time, she said the marriage break-up and the intense media interest in the story had a terrible effect on their young son, Shlok. 'He wakes up at 3am and cries out. He cannot go to school because people ask him where his father is.' Shilpa denied any claims she and Anubhav had an affair, while maintaining they were 'just close friends' in an interview with the Evening Standard. 'It's all been extremely embarrassing. I'm keeping my silence because he's going through a bad marriage. People think my life is so glamorous. 'I am reported to be going out with different men, but the truth is I've had two dates in eight months. I'm always working. It's pretty boring being Shilpa Shetty!' This wouldn't be the last time Shilpa would find herself accused of being a homewrecker as the now-ex-wife of Raj Kundra - Shilpa's husband - said the Dhadkan actress was 'living my life' and blamed her for breaking up her marriage. But when she learned Raj was married, Shilpa admitted she left the meeting 'disheartened'. 'Four months later, Raj [offered to let me stay at his] batch pad, since I was traveling to London frequently,' Shilpa told Indian media outlet Pinkvilla. 'I was surprised to know about his bachelor pad, and later he revealed that he is going through a divorce.' His now-ex-wife, however, went on record at the time and claimed she and Raj were working through a rough patch - before Kavitaa sensationally accused Shilpa of stealing the diamond merchant from her. In a bombshell interview with the Mail on Sunday, Kavita - the daughter of British businesman Bal Krishan - claimed Raj, then 31, began 'pestering me for a divorce' after becoming infatuated with Shilpa as she tried to put their three-year marriage back together. 'She can have any man she wants and there are plenty of single men about. "While I was trying to put our marriage back together, he was talking constantly about Shilpa, as if it didn't matter what happened to us because he had found someone better, cleverer and more famous than me. 'Now he has begun pestering me for a divorce.' While both Raj and Shilpa denied Kavitaa's claims, the former revealed details of Kavitaa's alleged infidelity in 2021 - after he was released from Mumbai's infamous Arthur Road jail while awaiting trial in the pornography case. He claimed Kavitaa began a secret relationship with her sister's now-ex-husband, while accusing her of separating him from their then-40-day-old daughter, in an interview with Pinkvilla. 'Many of my family and even my driver would say, "We sense something fishy between these two," and I would never believe it. I gave my ex wife the benefit of doubt,' he said. When his sister and her ex moved back to India from the UK, Raj discovered Kavitaa was using a secret phone to communicate with his former brother-in-law while his sister was pregnant. 'I recall how heartbroken I was and how I cried and cried thinking about what I had done to deserve this,' he said, before branding the relationship a 'marriage from hell'. Raj said he and Shilpa agreed not to respond to media reports of their alleged affair in order to protect his sister's privacy, adding: 'It was very hard on Shilpa and I know how upset she was but she also understood the predicament I was in. 'She really supported me during this emotional time of my life. She has and always does bring out the best in me. I am grateful to God for such an amazing wife. In December 2024, Raj strongly denied any involvement in the porn racket while suggesting a business rivalry was at the heart of what he believes is an attempt to defame him 'Some good Karma I must have done that I went from [a] marriage from Hell to finding my real soul mate,' he gushed. There have been many trying moments in Shilpa and Raj's 14-year marriage, as the actress broke down during a police raid at their Mumbai in connection with a 'porn racket'. Shilpa reportedly accused her husband of destroying her reputation during a 'showdown' that only ended with police intervened, the Hindustan Times reported. 'We have everything, what was the need to do all this,' she told her husband as he arrived at their home, NDTV reported, as officials investigated allegations that Raj lured women into making explicit content under the guise of booking them for an acting gig. Once the woman agreed to the 'acting job' producers would change the script and force them to perform sex acts, police told the Times. If they refused, they were told they had to pay for the shoot, often held in a rented house on the outskirts of Mumbai. The clips were then sent via WeTransfer to the UK, where they were released on paid mobile apps like HotShots - developed by a firm founded by Kundra. The company was later sold to Kenrin Limited, a UK-based firm owned by Kundra's brother-in-law Pradeep Bakshi. Raj was arrested on 2021 in Mumbai by police who said they have 'sufficient evidence' that he is a 'key conspirator' in the porn production ring. He has denied the allegations. Publishing or transmitting 'obscene' material including porn is illegal in India under a 2015 law and punishable by up to seven years in jail. The case is ongoing. In December 2024, Raj strongly denied any involvement in the porn racket while suggesting a business rivalry was at the heart of what he believes is an attempt to defame him. Recalling his time in police custody in July 2021 - an experience he has turned into a biopic and cast himself in the lead role - he said: 'Someone came to me in the middle of the night and said, "Why did you get into a fight with him?" 'That's when I realised who had plotted this against me.' His interview came less than one month after his properties were raided by India's Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case linked to the alleged 'porn racket', the Hindu reported. Raj criticised the media in an Instagram statement about the raids - including at his home in Mumbai's Juhu neighbourhood - as he said it was 'unacceptable to repeatedly drag my wife's name in unrelated matters'. The agency is also investigating a money laundering case against Raj over a Bitcoin scheme, as Shilpa once again finds herself caught up in a media storm over her husband's alleged dealings. In October 2024, Shilpa and Raj were served an eviction notice ordering them to vacate two of their India homes - including their primary residence in Juhu - in connection with an alleged Bitcoin fraud case against Amit Bhardwaj, who masterminded and promoted the 2017 Gain Bitcoin Ponzi scam. Under the scheme, investors were falsely promised a 10% a month return, but in the form of bitcoin. An investigation into the scam revealed that Kundra received 285 Bitcoins from the mastermind to set up a Bitcoin mining farm in Ukraine back in April. As reported by NDTV, because the deal did not materialise, Kundra is still in possession of 285 Bitcoins which are currently valued at around £13.5 million. Shilpa and Raj were granted interim relief regarding the eviction notices when a bench of High Court judges ruled to extend protection while the couple contest the notices before the Prevention of Money Laundering Act appellate authority. Life on Instagram continues as usual until then, as Shilpa's social media accounts betray no signs of trouble in her paradise. The yoga and wellness influencer took to the social media platform on Wednesday to show off her chiselled body as she posed on the deck of a yacht during a birthday trip to Croatia planned by her husband. In another post, she stands before a sky full of fireworks - once again organised by Raj - as Shilpa marked another year around the sun in a glittering gold ensemble. 'And it was a blast,' she punned. 'Surrounded by unconditional love. Raj Kundra, you are a star. 'Only gratitude in my heart for you, for the surprises and for all the memories,' she captioned her post, featuring several members of the Shetty-Kundra clan who have all gathered in Croatia for the festivities. Back home in India, however, their legal troubles - and Shilpa's entanglement in it all - looms over her relationships.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Big Brother star Shilpa Shetty is filmed shouting at a tourist outside a restaurant in Croatia after row over dinner reservation
Shilpa Shetty was filmed shouting at a tourist while waiting for a dinner reservation in Hvar, Croatia on Monday. The Indian actress, who won Big Brother in 2007, was with her husband Raj Kundra, her sister Shamita Shetty and her family when the spat happened. Shilpa was celebrating her 50th birthday on the island when she was recorded arguing with a guest, who allegedly asked them to keep the noise down while waiting in line. The individual who witnessed the row told fans on Instagram that Raj replied to the guest saying: 'You don't know who we are'. The caption added: 'I could not record that line on the video because it was very sudden.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. A member of her family, which appears to be Shilpa, can be heard saying 'Don't talk to us, we don't want to hear you'. The user who posted the video told fans: 'The foreigner girl just wanted to enjoy her food and politely requested to them to speak softly. 'Please give your comments on this incident. Whether this arrogance from our celebrities on foreign soil is justified or not? Whether these incidents defame Indians and our reputation abroad or not ? 'I feel that Mr. Arnab Goswami should raise this issue of Bollywood arrogance in his news channel and expose these acts.' MailOnline has contacted Shilpa's representatives for comment. Shilpa's businessman husband Raj has since commented on the ordeal and insisted the situation stemmed from a 'double booking' at the restaurant. He told Hindustan Times: 'I'd like to clarify the situation regarding the video circulating online. I had booked this particular restaurant a year in advance to celebrate my wife's birthday. 'Unfortunately, upon arrival, we were informed that our table had been given away to another group due to what they claimed was a 'double booking' error from the same agent. 'As someone who has also run restaurants, I found the handling of the situation deeply frustrating, especially with my elderly parents, mother-in-law and 20 guests left waiting. 'What was meant to be a special evening turned unnecessarily stressful, and when we raised our concerns, we were abruptly told to stay quiet, which only added to our disappointment. 'After a year of planning, the lack of accountability or even basic courtesy from the restaurant management was extremely disheartening. 'I hope this puts the situation into perspective.' Fans have since reacted to the clip of Shilpa's behaviour in the comments, with some writing: 'It doesn't matter whether you are on foreign soil or Indian... you have to maintain some decorum', 'Yet another example of money doesn't buy class', 'Being a star doesn't give you the right to talk loudly in public. This is bad etiquette.' Shilpa has been a household name in India since the 1990s, and shot to fame in Britain in 2007 after appearing on Celebrity Big Brother. Her time on the Channel 4 reality TV show notoriously saw her become the victim of racist abuse at the hands of Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd and Jo O'Meara. Ofcom received a record 44,500 complaints after Shetty was referred to as 'Shilpa Poppadom,' and was told by Lloyd that she should 'f*** off home'. Despite the vitriol she frequently endured, Shilpa - who was the first Indian on Celebrity Big Brother - became the nation's underdog and went on to win the series. Shilpa, who starred in the first Bollywood film shown in Leicester Square, was later offered a spot on EastEnders but turned it down due to other commitments. She went on the record forgiving Goody and her fellow housemates, even appearing alongside Goody a year later on Bigg Boss, the Indian version of Big Brother, where Goody was diagnosed with advanced stage cervical cancer. After Jade's death in 2009, Shilpa wrote: 'She put up a brave fight, lost her battle with cancer but won many a heart with her courage and how she dealt with it. 'My heart sunk on hearing the news, but in hindsight was glad she wasn't in pain anymore and passed away peacefully in her sleep.' 'All I can say is she truly was a special person and even in her last moment all she could think of was securing her family's future, she didn't care how, but her goal was just that. She died a hero's death. My heartfelt condolences and hope her soul rests in peace at last.' Last year, Shilpa and Raj were reportedly served an eviction notice ordering them to vacate two of their India homes in connection with a Bitcoin fraud case. It appeared the couple, who were instructed to leave their residences in Mumbai and Pune, have challenged the Bombay High Court order. The notices, which the couple received in October 2024, gave them a ten-day deadline to leave their premises. Shetty and Raj's lawyer has sought to quash the order, deeming it unnecessary, according to Times of India. The eviction notices are in connection to an alleged Bitcoin fraud case against Amit Bhardwaj, who masterminded and promoted the 2017 Gain Bitcoin Ponzi scam. Under the scheme, investors were falsely promised a 10% a month return, but in the form of bitcoin. An investigation into the scam revealed that Kundra received 285 Bitcoins from the mastermind to set up a Bitcoin mining farm in Ukraine back in April. As reported by NDTV, because the deal did not materialise, Raj is still in possession of 285 Bitcoins which are currently valued at around £13.5million. The couple has argued that their residences have no connection to the fraud case, and have argued that Raj has no involvement. They have also said they are confident of being cleared after the probe. In April 2024, the couple had received a previous notice which provisionally attached their assets under India's Prevention of Money Laundering Act, which included a residential flat in Juhu, Mumbai, and a bungalow in Pune.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
United Has a New Nonstop Daily That Makes It Easier to Visit the 'Sunniest Island' in Croatia
United Airlines has expanded its nonstop route between Newark Liberty International Airport and Croatia. The daily red-eye flight lands in Dubrovnik, and the sunny isle of Hvar is just a three-hour ferry ride away. Hvar is known for its Adriatic coastline and UNESCO-recognized are places where time seems to stretch out like a sun-drenched afternoon, where the clamor of modern life softens to the murmur of waves and the clink of glasses under vine-shaded pergolas. Hvar, a slender Croatian island adrift in the Adriatic, is one such place. Long favored by yachters and sunseekers, Hvar is known for being Croatia's sunniest island, particularly during the summer months of June, July, and August. The island—and the whole of Croatia—just got twice as easy to visit thanks to new daily flights that connect Newark, New Jersey (EWR) and Dubrovnik (DBV). The expanded route, operated by United Airlines, builds off of a seasonal service that previously ran between the two cities four times weekly. Now, Americans can travel directly to Croatia daily on a nine-hour nonstop red-eye flight that arrives in Dubrovnik the next morning. The expanded nonstop service started in early May 2025 and ends in late August 2025, reflecting 'a more than doubling of available seats,' for the summer, according to a November 2024 press release shared by Dubrovnik Airport. The Newark to Dubrovnik flight is currently the only nonstop flight connecting the U.S. and Croatia. The overnight flight lands in Dubrovnik just after 10 a.m. local time, allowing U.S. travelers time to explore the coastal city before heading to the island of Hvar. Dubrovnik, which sits on the Adriatic Sea, is known for its charming Old Town and surrounding 16th-century stone walls. From Dubrovnik, getting to Hvar is as easy as hopping on a ferry that runs between the two destinations four times daily during the peak season. The ferry ride takes just over three hours. Upon arrival into the ferry port in Hvar Town, the island's main hub, travelers will be welcomed by sun-drenched marble streets and Renaissance architecture. Further afield are hillsides covered with lavender and tiny stone villages tucked among olive groves. The seasonal flight also serves as an entry point to other islands: many travelers take ferries to the Pakleni Islands, which are just off the southwest coast of Hvar and renowned for their secluded beaches and rocky coves. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
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Travel + Leisure
4 days ago
- Travel + Leisure
United Has a New Nonstop Daily That Makes It Easier to Visit the 'Sunniest Island' in Croatia
There are places where time seems to stretch out like a sun-drenched afternoon, where the clamor of modern life softens to the murmur of waves and the clink of glasses under vine-shaded pergolas. Hvar, a slender Croatian island adrift in the Adriatic, is one such place. Long favored by yachters and sunseekers, Hvar is known for being Croatia's sunniest island, particularly during the summer months of June, July, and August. The island—and the whole of Croatia—just got twice as easy to visit thanks to new daily flights that connect Newark, New Jersey (EWR) and Dubrovnik (DBV). The expanded route, operated by United Airlines, builds off of a seasonal service that previously ran between the two cities four times weekly. Now, Americans can travel directly to Croatia daily on a nine-hour nonstop red-eye flight that arrives in Dubrovnik the next morning. The expanded nonstop service started in early May 2025 and ends in late August 2025, reflecting 'a more than doubling of available seats,' for the summer, according to a November 2024 press release shared by Dubrovnik Airport. The Newark to Dubrovnik flight is currently the only nonstop flight connecting the U.S. and Croatia. The overnight flight lands in Dubrovnik just after 10 a.m. local time, allowing U.S. travelers time to explore the coastal city before heading to the island of Hvar. Dubrovnik, which sits on the Adriatic Sea, is known for its charming Old Town and surrounding 16th-century stone walls. From Dubrovnik, getting to Hvar is as easy as hopping on a ferry that runs between the two destinations four times daily during the peak season. The ferry ride takes just over three hours. Upon arrival into the ferry port in Hvar Town, the island's main hub, travelers will be welcomed by sun-drenched marble streets and Renaissance architecture. Further afield are hillsides covered with lavender and tiny stone villages tucked among olive groves. The seasonal flight also serves as an entry point to other islands: many travelers take ferries to the Pakleni Islands, which are just off the southwest coast of Hvar and renowned for their secluded beaches and rocky coves.
Times
4 days ago
- Times
18 of the best Croatian islands to visit
Somewhere along Croatia's long coastline, you'll find an island that will make the ideal getaway. That's not so hard considering that of its 1,244 islands, islets and reefs strung out in the Adriatic only a mere 48 are inhabited, and all benefit from an Adriatic microclimate that provides nearly 3,000 annual sunshine hours. You can lose yourself in nature among olive groves, pine forests and lavender fields, or kick back in smart beach clubs by the water's edge. Hike and cycle through wooded trails, swim and snorkel in incredibly clear waters off pebbly coves and long sandy beaches and dine on freshly caught fish and homegrown food. Explore beautiful Venetian towns and villages, and find rustic hideaways where life takes on its own pace. Read on to discover the best Croatian islands to visit, and where to stay. This article contains affiliate links which may earn us revenue Best for that castaway feelingThe sailing set and day-trippers from Hvar will know about this little archipelago in full view of Hvar Town. Clubbers in particular will be on the taxi boats going to and from the island outpost of Carpe Diem club on Marinkovac, one of 16 islands in this archipelago. The biggest is Sveti Klement, home to a handful of hotels and holiday rentals, secluded coves and a patchwork of olive groves and vineyards. Follow rocky footpaths to bijou harbours and waterside restaurants serving just-off-the-boat fish. Choose one of four luxurious suites — all with their own pools and/or hot tubs — at Zori Timeless Hotel, in a sheltered bay in Sveti Klement. • Read our full guide to CroatiaBest for car-free daysTake the 30-minute ferry from Sibenik and you're in Zlarin's three square miles of laid-back loveliness. No cars are allowed here, just two feet and two wheels. It's the place to wander through olive groves, orchards of figs and almonds, and cypress-studded slopes. Hike up to its highest point, Klepac, at about 169m (550ft), to admire the views of the Sibenik archipelago and the hovering Velebit mountains. Rent a kayak or paddleboard for a leisurely exploration of the island's hidden coves. For a change of scenery, take the little ferry that shuttles across to neighbouring Prvic, which is even more laid-back. Stay in Zlarin village at the self-catering House AnaDora, which has its own pool hidden behind a stone wall. There's one bedroom plus a sofa bed in the lounge. Best for wineAll those lovely things that are summoned up by thoughts of Adriatic coast holidays — sun glare, beaches, sapphire seas, crisp white wine — come together on Croatia's Lumbarda peninsula. Vela Przina beach is 365m of biscuit-coloured sand and blue shallows. Behind it grows a unique grape from antiquity: grk. Flit between the beach and tastings of dry white in informal family vineyards — Bire and Zure are excellent. Enjoy views of Korcula old town from the pool, huge terraces and bathing platforms of Aminess Younique Liburna Hotel, which is about a ten-minute walk for sleepy villages and pebbly covesQuite how visitors manage to miss this island that sits directly in front of Split, yet is often ignored in favour of Hvar and Brac, is a bit of a mystery. With its sleepy fishing villages, craggy coastline, pebbly coves and acres of olive groves and vineyards, Solta gives a delicious flavour of slow-paced Dalmatian island life. Make your way from Maslinica on the west coast via the ferry port of Rogac, and end up in Stomorska's harbour, facing a giant plate of seafood at one of the rustic waterside restaurants. Soak up the history of the Heritage Hotel Martinis Marchi, a 300-year-old former palace in the pretty port of Maslinica with a pool and gorgeous for the feelgood factorWhen the 19th-century Habsburg emperor Franz Joseph inhaled the herb-scented air of Losinj, he fell in love with this long thin island in the Kvarner Gulf. Losinj is as relaxing and healing as ever, with the fragrance of wild thyme, pine, rosemary, juniper and helichrysum inducing a welcome sense of bliss. Wander past the baroque sea captains' houses of the main village, Mali Losinj, and its Venetian-style near neighbour, Veli Losinj, before going for a swim in the emperor's favourite Cikat Bay. Feast on lamb from the neighbouring island of Cres on the waterside terrace of Lanterna Grill after a bike ride on the pine-scented footpath that rings parts of the island. You'll be in the heart of beautiful Ciktat Bay when you stay at the regal Hotel Bellevue, with its large swimming platform and enormous for silver screen momentsThe cast of Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again danced and sang on Vis's beaches. Now it's your turn, and my, my, how can you resist Stiniva? It's a natural amphitheatre formed by cliffs, with just a narrow channel open to the sea. The pebbles are smooth, the air clear, the water calm, and lunch is octopus salad in a fisherman's shack. Boat tours from Hvar pull up by noon, so arrive early. Or go exploring — thanks to Vis's indented coast, endless dreamy wild coves wait to be discovered. The family-run Hotel San Giorgio in Vis Town is just a few yards from the waterfront, and has a delightful courtyard garden and restaurant surrounded by for golden sand Rab is an island of sand in a country of shingle. Stuff that's fine enough for making castles lies all along the bays of the Lopar peninsula in the north of the island. Rajska beach is over a mile long and has shallow seas and a lot of snack bars. The name means paradise, but unless your version includes children you'll prefer Livacina (cooler, livelier) around the bay, or Sahara (wilder, nuder and only accessible on foot). Arbiana Heritage Hotel in Rab Town is an elegant 1924 villa with a lovely outdoor pool terrace and fabulous sea for postcard-perfect picturesThe finger of golden shingle framed by cerulean shallows that you've seen on countless tourism posters? That's Zlatni Rat, a Croatian cape near Bol on the island of Brac. This pin-up of Croatian beaches is beautiful, obviously, but also busy: crowds are heavy in peak season and the prices high. Unless you've come to windsurf, sort out your tan at Murvica beach, wedged between trees two and a half miles to the west. Babin Laz, on the north coast near Supetar, is another stunner. Hikers can follow the rocky trails that lead to Vidova Gora, which, at 780m (2,559ft), is the highest peak on the Adriatic islands. The adults-only Hotel Milna Osam is in the laid-back port of Milna, with superb views of the harbour from its outdoor pool and sprawling swimming platforms. Best for partyingUnlike most destinations in Croatia, for nine months the island of Pag is as silent and magical as a desert. Then from mid-June until late August, Zrce beach in Novalja morphs into a Croatian Ibiza with tunes from the nightspots Aquarius, Kalypso, Noa and Papaya and beautiful people sipping cocktails at beach bars. The action starts at about 4pm, before which you'll be stretched out on the beach. But there's also the quiet side of the island — Pag Town is a completely different world, with a family-friendly beach and a string of waterside restaurants. If you want a change from party-mad Novalja, chill out in Pag Town at Hotel Plaza which has an infinity pool and terrace overlooking two beaches. Best for a time capsuleThe protected marine Eden of Telascica Nature Park, little more than two hours by ferry from Zadar, is a living time capsule. Among 25 coves and six inlets dangling on the claw-like southern edge of the island of Dugi Otok, you'll find evidence of human habitation dating back beyond the Romans — who built lavish villas and planted olive trees and grapevines on the hillsides — to the earliest humans who left flint tools scattered about the place. Today visitors come for much the same reason: to feel the sun on their face, listen to the breeze stir the branches of Aleppo pines and holm oaks, and to plunge into the vivid waters of the saltwater lake Mir, meaning 'peace'. Surrounded by olive groves and with dreamy sea views from the pool, the ultra-luxurious Villa Nai 3.3 has eight suites dug into the hillside à la James Bond films. • Best hotels in Zadar• Best places to visit in Croatia Best for greeneryThere's something about Mljet's luscious greenery that instantly puts you in a mellow mood. Almost half of Croatia's greenest island is home to Mljet National Park, where you can wander or cycle through pine forests past two saltwater lakes and up into the surrounding peaks. Take the dinky little boat that chugs across the larger of the two lakes to the monastery on St Mary's Island. Afterwards, head to the southern side of the island and join the locals jumping off the limestone cliffs into the blue depths of the Odysseus Cave — if you're brave enough. The immensely stylish PineTree Boutique Apartments overlook Saplunara Bay and its sandy beaches. There's also a pool and one of Mljet's best restaurants, Kod for hedonistic funPartygoers in search of throbbing beach clubs descend on Hvar Town, turning the ancient streets into another Croatian version of Ibiza. But if you prefer peace to partying, there's so much more to the island. Stroll through the laid-back Venetian streets and cobbled squares of Stari Grad, and breathe in the heady scents from the lavender fields that cover so much of the island. Step back into ancient history just outside the town, where the Unesco-listed Stari Grad Plain still has the vineyards and olive groves created by the Greeks more than 2,000 years ago. Carry on eastwards if you want to kick back in the relaxed villages of Jelsa and Vrboska, where pebbly beaches are backed by cooling pines. In a prime harbourfront spot in Hvar Town, Adriana Hvar Spa Hotel has one of the area's best people-watching restaurant terraces and a rooftop pool. • More of the best hotels in Hvar Best for room to roamCres is tied with its Kvarner Gulf neighbour Krk as Croatia's largest island, but with more sheep than people there's plenty of space to go round this long, strangely shaped island. And with all those sheep, it's not surprising that you'll find some of the best lamb in Croatia. The biggest settlement is Cres Town, a pretty little place of Venetian houses sheltered in a deep harbour with laid-back waterfront restaurants. If you want quiet, pebbly beaches, you're in luck. Some, such as Kruscica on the eastern coast, need a bit of effort to get to, but Lubenice and Valun are easier to reach. Pop into the tiny wildlife sanctuary near the village of Beli and catch glimpses of rare griffon vultures. The Isolano, Cres, Autograph Collection is a luxuriously chic addition to the otherwise sleepy Cres Town, with an infinity pool, spa, excellent restaurant and direct beach access. • Best luxury villas in Croatia• Best beaches in CroatiaBest for charming villagesIt's easy to reach Krk, thanks to the bridge that attaches the island to the Croatian mainland. Most visitors head to the south to Baska beach — lots of sunloungers, water sports and beach cafés — along with slightly quieter spots including Stara Baska. Get a sense of the island's long history by strolling around Krk Town's Venetian-style marble alleyways past medieval fortified towers. If you like your wine crisp and white, visit the charming village of Vrbnik, which produces the indigenous zlahtina wine from its neighbouring vineyards. Vrbnik also has the dubious distinction of having one of the narrowest streets in the world, Klancic, which at just over 40cm wide is probably best avoided after a heavy lunch. The family-run Hotel Villa Margaret is on Malinska's waterfront on the northern coast, and features a pool, spa, bathing platforms and home-grown produce in the for seclusionBy the time you reach far-flung Lastovo, you're practically on your way to Italy. It's actually on a regular ferry route from Split and Korcula, but this small island does make you feel as if you have pitched up in the back of beyond, in the most agreeable way. Home to fewer than 1,000 people, the entire island, along with its archipelago, is a nature park. The idea here is to walk the forested trails around the island, stopping at small coves for a refreshing dip, maybe hiring a kayak and going over to one of the scattered islands for a bit of snorkelling. It's barren but beautiful, a rugged place where tiny mountain restaurants will serve you peka — meat and vegetables cooked for hours over flames in a pot with a bell-shaped pan lid — while waterside cafés offer local lobster. The guesthouse Augusta Insula has smart rooms and apartments in the yachtie hotspot of Zaklopatica Bay, where there's a pool, large terrace, wonderful views and a for lazy ramblesWhile day-trippers from Dubrovnik pile into boat trips that cram in all three of the inhabited Elaphiti islands in a day, visitors in less of a hurry will stick to just one and feel time slow down for a while. That's what you get on Sipan: although it's the largest of the trio and the only one that allows cars, life here is hardly rushed. Hire a bike to cover the three miles between the two villages of Sudurad and Sipanska Luka, passing olive groves and vineyards. You should spot some of the ruins of the 15th-century palaces built by Dubrovnik nobility in search of an island bolt hole. They had the right idea. Set into a pine-covered slope near Sudurad's ferry port is Hotel Bozica, whose outdoor pool and restaurant overlook the sea and swimming for boat tripsIf you've been paying attention to Croatia's dance music festivals over the past couple of decades, you'll have seen the Garden Tisno pop up regularly as the host of everything from SunćeBeat to Defected Croatia. But cross the little bridge from the festival site and you'll come to the chilled-out island of Murter. Away from the dance crowds you'll find cute little villages and pebbly beaches, as well as a museum revealing Murter's proud heritage as an island of shipbuilders. It's no surprise, then, that it's a popular launching point for visits to the mesmerising islands of the Kornati National Park. Ultra-modern Zakan's five apartments are stacked like white cubes opposite Bettina harbour. All have terraces and sea views, and the penthouse has its own hot for beachesLopud island, an easy ferry ride from Dubrovnik, is home to some of the finest beaches in Croatia, which considering that the country has a coastline about 3,700 miles long, is no mean feat. The serene arc of Sunj to the south of this peaceful island rivals the wild sands of Nin near Zadar for beauty and peace. RMH Lopud Lafodia rises like twin cruise ships divided by cascading gardens and is a 20-minute walk from Sunj beach. Pools, a huge spa, bathing platforms and five restaurants and bars will keep you entertained. Mary Novakovich is the author of My Family and Other Enemies: Life and Travels in Croatia's Hinterland (£8.99; • Best things to do in Croatia
