Rent a villa in Croatia direct from the owner: at least 5% cheaper than on booking platforms, same cancellation terms, direct contact with the local team.
Renting a villa in Croatia direct from the owner means exactly that with us: you book with the people who planned, built and furnished the houses and who run them themselves today. No agency in between, no call centre, no booking fee. On this page we explain who we are, what you get out of it – and when a platform might still be the better choice.
Who is behind the three villas
Trawelltopia is Julian Schuldt and his partner Igor Božić, with a small German-Croatian team. We didn't buy the villas Just be Alive, Just be Light and Just be Happy in Kaštel Stari ready-made – we planned them ourselves, from the plot of land to the socket by the bed. Several team members live locally.
Trawelltopia.com is operated by BS Homes d.o.o., a company registered in Croatia. More about us, our story and our certification under About Us.
What you get when you book direct
At least 5% cheaper – guaranteed
Platforms fund themselves through a booking fee that's built into the price – even when it isn't shown separately. With us, there isn't one. That's why the direct price is always at least 5% cheaper than on any platform. If you find the same villa cheaper anywhere else, let us know: we'll match it and usually beat the price by at least 5%.
The same fair terms
Free cancellation up to 60 days before arrival – the same cancellation terms as on the platforms
50% on booking, the balance taken automatically 60 days before arrival
Secure payment via Stripe by card (incl. Amex), Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Klarna, SEPA direct debit or bank transfer – depending on amount and country, PayPal up to a maximum amount
€500 security deposit, refunded in full after departure
One final price, no add-ons
Final cleaning, tourist tax, pool and hot tub heating in season, electricity, water, linen, Wi-Fi and parking are included. Only a dog costs an extra €79 per stay – shown in the final price in advance. Exactly what's included is listed under Croatia Holiday Villa with No Hidden Extras.
Direct contact instead of a ticket system
Your message goes straight to the team who look after the houses – via WhatsApp, email or phone, usually within a few minutes. An early check-in, baby equipment, a dog, a special occasion: we sort these out personally. And there's a small welcome gift waiting when you arrive.
4.5Trustpilot(15)TrustScore 4.5 out of 5 on TrustpilotTrustpilot is an independent review platform. Guests review us there publicly – we can neither delete nor change reviews.See all 15 reviews on Trustpilot
Reviews updated daily – only guests who completed a stay can leave a review. We never delete or edit reviews.
SStefanOctober 2026 · Just be HappyAirbnb
Ein wunderschönes, sehr gepflegtes und super sauberes Haus mit einem tollen Pool/Whirlpool! Wir haben uns rundum wohlgefühlt und unseren Aufenthalt sehr genossen. Alles war tipptopp und hat keine Wünsche offengelassen. Bei Fragen haben wir immer eine schnelle Rückmeldung erhalten. Wir können die Unterkunft absolut weiterempfehlen und würden jederzeit wiederkommen! ☀️🏡
RRobbieOctober 2026 · Just be HappyBooking.com
Lovely villa just needs to be moved
Positive: The villa is beautiful with excellent facilities. Also, any issues were handled quickly eg. Notified two broken sun loungers - two new ones arrived the following day.
Negative: Location is 15-20 minutes walk away from anything and the walk back is mostly in the dark. However, Ubers reasonable and very efficient and local transport also very cheap.
MMarkusSeptember 2026 · Just be HappyAirbnb
Check-in was very easy and extremely flexible, as there is a key box on site and the access code is sent to you directly. This means you are completely independent in terms of your arrival time.
The house was very, very clean and well kept when we arrived. The pool was also exceptionally clean and made a very good impression overall. We felt at home right away and can definitely recommend the accommodation.
Translated · original in German ·
MMariaSeptember 2026 · Just be HappyAirbnb
An incredibly lovely house that truly lived up to expectations! We had a wonderful stay, plenty of space, and it felt luxurious with a private bathroom for every room. Beautiful pool and nice outdoor area. Always a friendly and quick response when contacting the host. However, we had hoped that someone would meet us when we arrived, but unfortunately no one showed up.
In addition, we were told that a pool attendant would come during the week, but none came. It would have been good if the pool had been cleaned at some point during the stay. One of the sun loungers was broken when we arrived; we informed the host immediately and got a quick reply.
This doesn't lower the rating significantly, though, since we had such a wonderful stay – we didn't want to leave! The whole group thanks you for a really lovely week! ☀️
Translated · original in Swedish ·
BBrentSeptember 2026 · Just be HappyAirbnb
Had a great stay, friendly host, responds quickly, a few small defects but fixed right away, the beach is within walking distance, only a pity that there aren't that many restaurants nearby, otherwise everything top
Translated · original in Dutch ·
FFlorenceAugust 2026 · Just be LightAirbnb
Beautiful house. But lots of flaws in the finishing (shutters that don't work, a technician had to be called to repair the air conditioning in one bedroom, we had to ask for kitchen utensils as well as towels and pool mattresses, the toiletries and basic essentials such as oil described in the listing were non-existent…). The railing of one balcony had given way, so it was inaccessible. The code for the front door lock didn't work. We had to make do with one key even though there were nine of us in the house. Be warned, the quiet surroundings described don't exist, as the house is under a landing flight path. The sea view doesn't exist either; instead there's a view of a construction site of terraced houses right up against the pool. When we arrived, several bags of rubbish were strewn around the garden. In short, very disappointed.
Translated · original in French ·
VVeronicaAugust 2026 · Just be HappyAirbnb
The house was nicely furnished and well equipped with what we needed. The location was also very nice, with a short distance to the airport and a convenient position between Trogir and Split. Also a short distance to the beach, restaurants and the grocery store. There was some construction work going on on one side of the house, so there was a bit of noise from there, but otherwise we had a very nice stay. We'd be happy to come back 😊
Translated · original in Norwegian ·
BBenAugust 2026 · Just be HappyAirbnb
Very good communication with the host. Responded kindly and quickly. Good service.
The house looked beautiful. Everything was neat and well organised
Translated · original in Dutch ·
MMetinJuly 2026 · Just be AliveAirbnb
We were warmly welcomed by Julian and given a tour. The house was super beautiful and clean and spacious enough for 10 people. The house is even more beautiful in reality than in the photos. We had a wonderful time here and would like to thank Julian for the super friendly service and hospitality. We would recommend this house 100%.
Translated · original in Dutch ·
Trust: how you can check us out
With an unfamiliar host, caution is sensible. That's why it's worth looking at our reviews: an average of 4.9 from more than 70 reviews on Airbnb, Booking.com and Google, Superhost status, more than 590 guests. The reviews come from the platforms themselves – collected under Reviews.
When a platform might be the better choice
So this doesn't become one-sided advertising: if you want to compare lots of properties side by side, or you place great value on the buyer protection of a well-known platform, you'll be well looked after there. You'll find our villas there too – just at a higher price. The full calculation with examples is in our guide Book Direct instead of Airbnb and Booking.
How a direct booking works
Check dates: the calendar on the villa page shows available dates and the final price.
Book and pay the deposit: 50% on booking; if you book within 60 days of arrival, the full amount.
Get ready: baby equipment, a dog, arrival time – a short message is enough and we'll prepare everything.
Arrive: self check-in from 4pm, via PIN pad at Just be Alive and Just be Light, and via key box at Just be Happy. If you'd like, someone from the team will show you around the villa.
Yes. Payment is processed via Stripe, and your contractual partner is BS Homes d.o.o., registered in Croatia. You can check our reviews on the platforms themselves.
Do different cancellation terms apply when booking direct?
No. Free cancellation up to 60 days before arrival, just as on the platforms.
What if I find the villa cheaper elsewhere?
Get in touch. We'll match the price and usually beat it by at least 5%.
Who can I reach during my stay?
Us, directly. Several team members live locally, and we're reachable practically around the clock via WhatsApp or phone.
Check your preferred dates in the villa's calendar or message us directly on WhatsApp – we look forward to getting to know you.
· 590+ guests
Ready for your Croatian getaway?
Hand-picked villas. Direct booking without platform fees. Personally looked after – before, during and after your stay.
