If you'd like some new experiences on your next vacation, we've got some novel suggestions in the hour ahead.

Hi, I'm Rick Steeves. Today on Travel with Rick Steeves, we're getting inspired to explore Brazil and Croatia.

From Old World Mediterranean Resorts with a to explore Brazil and Croatia.

From old world Mediterranean resorts with a Slavic accent

to tropical cities and jungle outposts pulsing with the beat of an emerging powerhouse economy,

these two countries are charming more and more Americans.

Travel writer Seth Kugel went so far as to move to Sao Paulo.

He'll tell us how all you need is a hammock and 12 bucks a day to feel the rhythm of the Amazon on a commuter ferry.

It's the peacefulness, the vastness, and of course every night a sunset that cannot possibly

be imagined.

And tour guide Marion Kiskobich is here to take your calls to get the most out of Croatia. A young country with a fascinating history, a new sense of hope, and a stunning Adriatic coastline.

We're in covering surprises in Brazil and Croatia on today's travel with Rick Steeves. Two intriguing destinations are the focus today on travel with Rick Steeves.

We'll get an insider's guide to Croatian just a bit.

Let's start with an overview of Brazil for budget travelers with Seth Kugel.

Seth divides his time between Sao Paulo and New York.

He writes the Frugal Traveler column for the New York Times.

Seth, thanks for joining us.

Great to be here.

You spend a good part of your life living in Brazil. Tell us about that.

Well, I went down a few years ago to be a reporter. I had been learning Portuguese for a while,

and Brazil is this enormous country that's becoming ever more important

in the world beyond what we all know it for soccer and beaches and samba and

...