"This was my second stay at this beautiful hotel, and returning to Rovinj always feels wonderful. Hotel Istra has a truly magical setting and so many qualities that make it special. With a few thoughtful improvements, it could easily be first class.
Pool — Absolutely outstanding. Spotlessly clean, perfectly maintained, and always the ideal temperature.
Setting — The island is breathtaking. The jogging path, the sunsets and sunrises, and the peaceful atmosphere make it unlike anywhere else. The addition of water sports is a fantastic bonus.
Food — A hugely noticeable improvement since my last visit. Plenty of variety and consistently good quality. Genuinely great.
Rooms — Compact but smartly designed, well equipped, and very comfortable. The beds are excellent.
Boat transfer — Efficient, punctual, and a smooth way to travel between the island and the mainland.
Air conditioning — The biggest challenge during peak season. Both the rooms and communal areas were often too warm, and it was hard to find a genuinely cool space.
Daytime entertainment — The daytime schedule is extremely limited. The kids club focuses almost entirely on very young children, with activities such as learn to swim, mermaid-tail sessions and ball games in the pool. Usually once a day for about 20-30 mins.These are lovely for small children, but they don’t cater to a wider age range or to sporty kids. Given the facilities available — tennis courts, large open spaces, shaded areas, and a huge indoor kids club room — there is so much potential for sports sessions, mini-football, tennis lessons, creative workshops, or mixed-age challenges. The list could be endless. If these do exist, it certainly wasn’t clear to me and they were not well advertised as a cohesive daytime programme of activities across the resort.
The kids club itself is a large, well-equipped space, but it’s not being used to its potential. It could easily host structured sessions, themed afternoons, indoor sports, At the moment, it feels under‑utilised and again very much focused on very young children.
Evening entertainment — This is where the gap is most noticeable. All very confusing. The hotel has a fully set-up stage and a large bar area that could create a brilliant evening venue if opened up, yet during peak August there was hardly any evening entertainment at all. Families naturally look for evening entertainment, something for the kids at a slightly earlier time, and then something later in the evening too for adults and slightly older children to enjoy. Without this, guests head to the mainland, which reduces atmosphere and bar revenue. Rovinj has a thriving creative scene, and bringing performers to the island would be simple, cost-effective, and hugely appreciated. The Captains Bar is perfect for couples wanting quiet music and conversation, so keeping that space calm and peaceful while adding a full family entertainment programme to the main reception/bar area would give everyone something that suits.
Island shop — Convenient and well-stocked for toys, inflatables, and pool essentials, but missing a range of everyday practical items that families often need. Because the hotel is on an island, even small errands require a boat trip to the mainland. Essentials such as snacks, basic toiletries, women’s sanitary products, simple medication, and children’s necessities would make a big difference. For families , especially with young children, taking a one hour round trip for something small can be inconvenient and disruptive.
In summary
Hotel Istra is a beautiful place and holds a special place in my heart. I would never want it to lose its charm or become overly commercial, it’s a hidden gem. But with a few thoughtful tweaks, especially around entertainment and practical family needs, it could elevate itself from lovely to exceptional.
Right now, it feels a little unsure whether it wants to be an adults-focused romantic retreat or a family-friendly resort. It works wonderfully as the former, and in reality it’s a large enough island that it could do both really well if developed. But to truly cater for families of varying ages, it needs to refine the subtle but important details that make a family holiday seamless.
Dare I say an all inclusive option would not go amiss here and would offer something hard to find on the mainland. More family boat trips and day trips with pick up from the hotel would be a real winner to, currently the options are very exclusive and expensive, missing a trick.
Until the next time! Thanks for a wonderful holiday."
