Adriatic Beach

"We have just returned from our first visit to this hotel and it exceeded our expectations. The delays and transfer were quickly forgotten once we got to our swim up room. It was better than any we have had at 5 star resorts in the Caribbean! The pool was lovely, never over crowded and the beach and crystal clear sea were breath taking. The food and drinks were faultless with plenty of variety. The sunset views from the Mojito Bar were out of this world. The staff were friendly and attentive but not over bearing. And it’s the first holiday that I didn’t get bitten at all by mosquitoes!! Who knew paradise was such a short flight from the UK?! Will definitely return"

"Beautiful hotel, location and people! Our first time visiting Croatia did not disappoint! After first seeing pictures of TUI Blue Adriatic Beach a few years ago it has been my dream to stay here in a swim up room. Our room was clean, modern and had a very spacious bathroom. Very comfortable bed and pillows and lots of storage space for clothes. The air conditioning was excellent and kept the room cool 24/7. The sliding door leads out to a terrace with sunbeds, table and chairs and the swim up infinity pool overlooking the wonderful view of the sea and pool. The food is of high quality and there are plenty of choices available from hot dishes to cold cuts and salads. The desserts are divine. Much preferred coffee at Theas by reception rather than the machines in the restaurant. We ate in the Culinarium restaurant once during our stay and we enjoyed our meal and service. I understand its unbranded drinks included in the All Inclusive, the cocktails were not brilliant and I was surprised to be charged for a popular cocktail like Pina Colada at the main bar one night, but the night before I didn't have to pay for it at the pool bar? Also, it would be nice if the mini bar was filled free of charge on the day of arrival and then if guests wanted it refilled then be charged so they can enjoy a drink in their room with ease. We had a couples massage on one day and it was excellent. Very friendly and professional therapists. Great facilities at the spa/gym also despite us not using them. We also made the most of our swim up room and enjoyed a floating breakfast which was amazing! The beach is pebbly and it is advised to wear swim shoes as there are sea urchins. Beds are chargeable on the beach, we did not use these. If you turn right outside the hotel you'll find it less stoney! And also some nice bars along the way if you fancy change of scenery. Very nice walk if you turn left outside the hotel also just cover your eyes in a certain area! Be sure to catch the most amazing sunsets every night, you may be lucky enough to see dolphins. There is a watersports facility directly outside the hotel, we did parasailing and went right across near to Hvar island, having an amazing view of the Croatia coastline and mountains! Jet skis, crazy UFO, boat hire, SUP and more too! We would have loved to have visited Makarska Riviera but the local taxi is pretty expensive at 40€ each way; although it did let us book an Uber/Bolt at half the price, the ride didn't get accepted by any drivers as the area is remote. There are lots of steps at the hotel which we had no issue with but it is not suitable for those with mobility issues. Overall our holiday was very enjoyable and relaxing, the staff made it exceptionally good! We will definitely be back."

"This hotel's location is certainly its crown jewel. As many reviewers have said, the first morning when you pull back the curtains and look out over the coast, it is breathtaking. An unexpected bonus is the swifts that nest above the balconies. Watching them bombing in and out of their nests is fascinating—not to mention they do a very good job on the bug front! We booked a double room with a sea view, which is well worth paying a bit extra for. It was a good size with a very decent-sized shower, and tea and coffee facilities were provided in the room. One minor detail to note is the lack of USB ports, so remember to pack adapter plugs. This caught us off guard since TUI heavily promotes using the TUI Blue app, and bedside USB outlets are usually standard nowadays. Luckily, a wonderful couple we met on our first night lent us a spare adapter, getting our holiday off to a great start. There are plenty of excursion activities available at the hotel. Even for just a week, due to the remoteness of the hotel itself, it is worth doing a couple. All were reasonably priced. We would highly recommend the white water rafting. The river is a nice combination of gentle rafting building up to some more fun sections later on. It allows you to fully appreciate the beauty of your surroundings, and the amount of dragonflies and butterflies skimming the water and hitching a ride made it possibly the highlight of our trip. The food at the resort was very good for the size of the hotel. We actually preferred the main buffet restaurant to the Culinarium, which was a bit hit-or-miss with service, no bread basket or anything to nibble when service was slow and I think having two pork dishes caused a bit of confusion. But other people have loved it. There is a grill section in the buffet restaurant which usually had a fish and meat choice available at all times. Seabass and pork seemed very plentiful. There were some delicious Croatian recipes alongside the usual fare. Nice touches were the fresh herbs you could pick, and it’s worth checking out some of the more obscure dishes dotted about. Breakfast was exceptional: nice omelettes, lovely smoothies, plenty of fresh fruit, and some amazing pastries. Service in the main restaurant was consistently good, with a special mention to Marianna, who was always smiling and super efficient. There are two coffee machines available, but the best coffee for breakfast is actually in the urn in the middle of the machines. I think it might have been the catering manager who arranged this; he clearly knows good coffee, and if you ever can’t find something, seek him out. He’s super nice. Activity-wise, it is quite low-key. A few more sessions a week of cornhole toss or boules would be appreciated. There is plenty of stretching, but the more fun activities really get you mixing more. Water shoes for the sea are a necessity. There are a few sea urchins and it’s very stony, but the clarity of the water is amazing. You'll see plenty of small fish and the most beautiful azure blues. The pool is a good size and never too crowded. If you get a lounger without an umbrella, the hotel staff will happily get one for you if you ask. There are sunbeds on a section of the beach which I think cost 8 euros, but the pool area is just a few steps down to the beach, so it’s no distance at all to go swimming in the sea. The staff at the pool bar work really hard. In the heat, if you want a break from alcohol, they serve Heineken 0.0, and we found the 'Elderflower Sensation' and 'Mango Mania' mocktails very refreshing. In the afternoon, there is fresh popcorn available—which was wonderful while warm—as well as wraps and a few snacks. The house wine is palatable, though we preferred the red. There are also some nice gin-based cocktails on the all-inclusive menu. The evening entertainment is very low-key. There are some restaurants to the right of the beach if you take a walk. Walking the other way is a very pretty route around the coast—just be prepared to avert your eyes in one particular area! The transfer is long. The flight to Croatia from Gatwick was actually shorter than the transfer from Split, but it all depends on how many drop-offs you have. The reversing skills of the coach drivers are quite impressive, but the journey is worth it once you arrive. Our flight out was delayed, meaning we missed dinner, but some sandwiches and Doritos were waiting in our room. The bread was white and stuck to your teeth a bit, but it was still a nice touch. A mix of white and brown sandwiches would be even better, perhaps with an egg mayonnaise option rather than just ham and cheese. They also provide a packed lunch if you are out on a trip, and the sandwiches seemed to be the same. Considering how good the buffet restaurant food is, a slightly more innovative packed lunch would be a great improvement. Matt and David, the TUI reps at this resort, were phenomenal. They were always visible by reception with a friendly greeting, and the TUI briefing offered just the right amount of information on trips without taking up too much of your time. On the white water rafting trip, Matt even came along on his day off so he could fully inform future guests on what was involved. They were always so professional and polite. Rooms were impeccably cleaned, and the corridors are carpeted so you don’t get any footstep noise. You may want to disconnect the TV before bed, though, as the blue standby light is very bright and was directly opposite the bed in our room. To finish the review, I must mention Cisco, who always greeted us with such enthusiasm as we went down to the pool. If you get to meet him, please give him an ear scratch from us! We found Croatia and its people absolutely charming and thoroughly enjoyed our week here. If you are looking for a relaxing, scenic getaway with excellent service, we cannot recommend this hotel enough."