We're thrilled to announce the talented winners of the Central Istria Gourmet Getaway!

These incredible individuals have been selected to join us on this transformative workation journey. We had a great pool of applicants, and it was very hard to choose. Thank you to our judging panel from DNA Croatia and Adventurel

Here are the winners:

Danielle Farage – Gen Z Futurist, educator, and community builder, working on her book during the getaway. She aims to communicate through ‘Danielleisms’ and ‘Friendtorships’ to enhance conscious thinking and relationship building.

Yuval Ackerman – Resident pasta-obsessive and storyteller, will share her journey discovering local cuisine in Istria through posts and emails, using her unique analogies to dive into deeper topics.

Lizzy Komen – Amsterdam-based food photographer and recipe developer, working on her first cookbook with food photography and videos. She aims to capture mouthwatering images and share her culinary passion.

Paul Bradbury – Runs the Total Croatia News, will create a series of 4 videos to showcase Croatia’s lesser-known destinations and festivals, sharing the beauty and lifestyle of Central Istria.

Shaun Busuttil – Seasoned digital nomad and writer, will compose an academic journal on the “commodification of community” in the digital nomad space, contributing to the discourse on digital nomadism.

Nilesh Pandey – Tech founder and entrepreneur, will explore the culture, food, and friendships in Central Istria while working on his latest project, bringing innovation to the region.

Ali Greene – Remote Work Leader, Advocate, and Speaker, is on a mission to empower people and companies to thrive through flexible work. She’ll continue her work remotely while enjoying the Istrian environment.

Thank you to all who applied! You are welcome to register for the weekend activities including dining meet-ups and follow our socials for more details.

Taste the Treasures of Central Istria - win a Gourmet Getaway - Workation & Workshops 3.11 - 3.12.2023

Enter to win a Gourmet Getaway – Workation & Workshops in a rural coliving villa i Central Istria. Four winners will be chosen. Entries are open until midnight CET on Sunday 24 September 2023.

Enter now

The inaugural Central Istria Gourmet Getaway – Workation & Workshops will be held from 3 November to 3 December 2023 in a rural coliving villa in Croatia.

Over the course of 4 weeks– and many a three course meal, 4 winners will join a select group of digital nomads and mentors to experience the culinary delights of the charming interior of the Istrian Peninsula – full of hilltop medieval villages and traditional konobas*.

The program includes:

  • WEEKDAYS

    Focus time – in the coliving villa or coworking space.

  • WEDNESDAY WORKSHOPS

    The option to join our experts for a local niche tourism workshop, anthropology for digital nomads, a sunrise drone safari and mentor workshops of choice for our winners (in person or virtual).

  • FRIDAYS

    “Nomad Table” dinners at local konobas.

  • SATURDAYS

    Meet the Makers: learn local culinary crafts at four gourmet masterclasses.

  • SUNDAYS

    Free days.

See the program PDF for more details.

AUTHENTIC ISTRIA

Located 1-3 hours from six airport hubs, and well-connected by road, the small towns and villages of Central Istria pride themselves on an Authentic Istria ethos; upholding food and wine traditions for true field to fork experiences in bucolic surrounds. Add abundant nature trails for hiking and cycling, fishing and local food production – from sausage, olive oil and wine making to truffle hunting.

The picturesque and serene rural setting provides ample focus-time, and the workation offers winners their choice of mentor for together in one setting – a restored school, now 9-room coliving villa.

Central Istria is 3 hours from Venice. It’s a 6 hour drive from Munich. It’s a 15 hour vanlife road trip from Rotterdam… and if you’re already a digital nomad in Croatia, a bus or Bla-Bla rideshare will take you there. There’s also a train line from Pula!

If you’re new to working remotely, or a seasoned digital nomad – this experience caters to all levels, and you’ll be supported by the organising team and an experienced live-in coliving community manager.

ENTER THE GOURMET GETAWAY GIVEAWAY

Enter for your chance to win 1 month in a rural co-living villa for a food-and-focus themed workation and custom workshops. The Gourmet Getaway runs from 3 November to 3 December 2023. The getaway includes up to 1 month free accommodation, dinners, workshops and local foodie masterclasses.

All who apply access special deals from our partners.

Enter now

TYPEFORM

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

Four people in need of a foodie and focus themed workation. You have a passion – and knack, for storytelling or have a passion project you keep putting off.

Winners 1 & 2:

STORYTELLERS – Beginners to advanced.

If you’re an established or aspiring creator, across any medium – we’ll match you with a mentor and you will work on telling the story of a local producer (eg. wine makers, truffle hunter, apiarist, etc). Our mentors include food and travel writers, photographers and marketers.

Winners 3 & 4:

PASSION PROJECT – It’s time to bring your project to life!

We think rural spaces are great for focus time. Have you got a project on the back-burner? Need to be in a distraction-free zone? A book. Blog. Side business…. Think of this as a “turn-key” workation; we do the planning – from weekly menus to hiking trail tips and wine tastings. You just show up, do your thing and help set the table at group meal times. And clean up, of course.

Each winner will present their finished work to the group at a finale workshop.

We’re excited to see your ideas. Especially around RURAL FOOD DESTINATIONS. (Hint Hint).

Terms and Conditions apply.

Enter now

Gourmet Getaway - FAQs

Up to 1 month free accommodation in a rural coliving villa.
A travel stipend of 250 euro (paid after the program).
Enjoy a weekly grocery allowance for self-catered meals in the villa, with menus set by your coliving community manager.

Four ‘Nomad Table’ group dinners at local konobas on Fridays 3, 10, 17 and 24 November based on a set menu with a free welcome drink.

Free attendance at program workshops including transport and materials.

Private transport in Central Istria to attend official program activities.

Free wifi in the coliving villa.

A custom mentoring workshop based on your interest. Eg. video, tourism, writing, photography, career consulting, business coaching and more.

As per the terms and conditions, any costs you incur and upfront travel costs to and from Pazin, Croatia, are at your own expense. (A €250 travel stipend will be paid after completion of the program and on issuance of an invoice or written payment request submitted by 15 December and paid by 22 December 2023). Also not included: any food and drink costs outside the official program. Other expenses incurred based on your own activities outside the official program.

Yes, pending approval. Due to the coliving arrangement, we must ensure other villa guests and winners are comfortable. Please indicate your request when applying in the “other comments” section. We kindly ask you to be considerate of other guests at the villa if we cannot accommodate your request.

Yes. You can bring one added guest. Please note, you may be subject to paying supplements for some meals, transport and activities. Additional guest is based on twin share – double or twin beds are available in the villa. These will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are selected, we will inform you in advance of what workshops and activities need a paid supplement. They can also come at any time and length during your stay, provided you notify us ahead of time.

Yes. This is a workation, after all! The program designed for you to still have time to fit in a full work day, and we’ll recommend some days (eg. Fridays) to be more flexible for exploring. The program has activities scheduled on evenings, weekends for active and gourmet workshops. All the workshops are optional, though, we prefer as much participation as possible. You can review the program in advance and factor time off for activities you wish to participate in. You can work with our community manager in advance and at any point during the workation.

A coliving villa is a shared living space that combines the elements of communal living with the comforts of a private home, often in a larger setting. In a coliving villa, individuals or groups of people rent out individual rooms or private living spaces within the same property, while sharing common areas such as kitchens, living rooms, dining spaces, and sometimes even workspaces or recreational facilities.

The coliving villa is the “Old School Villa” located in the small village of “Jakovici”. The closest town with amenities is Tinjan, a 4 minute drive away. It is a 9 room villa, each with an ensuite (bathroom and WC), plus a kitchen, living/dining room, bathroom and laundry on the groundfloor. It was restored from an old school, as the name suggests and run by the local municipality. The property is large, with pool, outdoor wood-fire oven, outdoor dining table and pool. The villa has wifi and large dining table (suitable for coworking) for up to 12 people. Each bedroom has its own key, AC (cooling and heating), and a single desk and chair. Rooms overlook the pool and trees in a quiet, rural setting. You will have the option of working in your room for privacy and in the group work/dining area. There is ample sofa seating and a large television and natural light from the many windows overlooking the yard.

Our 4 winners (with up to 4 plus-ones) who will be there to create or work on a focus project. Plus, we have curated a select group of digital nomads who have participated in previous digital nomad residencies, including a business coach, underwater videographer, marketing professional and an academic. An experienced coliving community manager will be present the entire month. A range of guest mentors, including a chef, meditation and yoga teacher will come for short stays. Select workshop mentors staying in alternative accommodation will also be present at the villa for some activities. Bennie, a small old dog, will join the villa.

We will announce winners the week commencing 2 October 2023 via the Central Istria Tourist Board’s social media channels, and later on the website. We will notify winners on Friday 29 September, based on the contact information provided.

You can reach Pazin by road or bus. The closest airports drive time is as follows:

Zagreb: 2.5 hours

Ljubljana: 2 hours

Rijeka: 1 hour

Pula: 40 mins

Trieste: 1.5 hours

Venice: 3 hours

As we have other attendees joining us, please inform us of your preferred departure and arrival points, as we may be able to assist with car-pooling (eg. Rijeka or Pula). We can also advise on transfers (at your own expense) to and from your most convenient arrival and departure points.

We recommend you arrive in Pazin by 18:00 on Friday 3 November 2023. We can also suggest the best mode of transport and pickup/drop offs if you are selected.

We require winners to physically be in the coliving villa for at least the first 2 weeks of the Gourmet Getaway program. If you wish to stay longer, we can connect you with the villa management – note, any extensions to the program dates are at your own expense and pending villa availability.

Yes. There is stable wifi (with back-up modems) and the rural setting provides a distraction-free zone. You have the choice of working from the villa or a local coworking space, and can provide transport provided this is arranged ahead of time. If you need to make calls, the rooms are soundproof and you can do so in the privacy of your room.

The selection process is based on originality, clarity and your reason for applying. Two winners who are ‘storytellers’ and two who are ‘focus-project’ focused will be selected, for a total of 4 winners (two per category). Simply answer the form to the best of your ability.

We can accommodate most dietary requirements. Please indicate this at the appropriate section on the application form.

 

The more, the merrier in Central Istria! The coworking villa is full and reserved for the winners and program team. However, if you contact us in advance, we can share information about the range of activities which are open to the public, such as the four Friday nomad table konoba dinners, guided hikes, masterclasses and workshops. All expenses – from accommodation, transport and meals are entirely yours. We will provide all entrants recommendations and deals from our supporting partners.

 

Yes. This is not an all-expenses-paid experience. Eg. The weekly grocery allowance covers 1 standard self-catered group dinner for winners each night for the entire month, based on the website prices of our preferred local supplier, Valfresco Direct. Additional expenses we expect you will encounter include snacks, additional groceries for breakfast and lunches, winery visits, gifts, additional activities (eg bicycle or jeep rental) and extra purchases you make during the program. Internal transport is included for the official program. You may need to cover fuel and tolls if you explore the region on your free days. If you bring a guest, a supplement for transport may be required. We can provide a cost estimate if you are selected.

 

If you’re selected as a winner, you’ll need to follow the instructions provided in the winner notification email or communication within 48 hours. This includes confirming your acceptance of the prize and providing any necessary details for further arrangements.

 

This program is run by the Central Istria Tourist Board and delivered by Saltwater Nomads. It is supported by the Digital Nomad Association (DNA) Croatia and other partners. If you have questions regarding this specific giveaway, please contact Saltwater Nomads via email: hello [at] saltwaternomads.com. If you have questions related to a workation in Central Istria, please contact the Central Istria Tourist Board through your preferred mode of contact listed on their website.

 

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