Maistra Select Island Hotel Katarina

"Although a little dated, we had an amazing stay with our family. The food was delicious and varied, with plenty to choose from. We did have to ask for gluten free bread which is available if requested. The restaurant was exceptionally clean and the staff were very friendly and attentive. When we asked for a jug of water with our evening meal however, only bottled was available to buy which was quite pricey, this is also the case at lunchtime. The tap water is clean and suitable to drink, so we filled our empty bottles and took them with us. Our room was spotless on arrival and very spacious, it was checked every day, and the beds were turned down, even if we’d made them. Clean towels were provided daily and we just had to ask if we needed anything. The saltwater pools were great, which is where we spent a lot of time with our grandchildren, there are also numerous bays on the shore with sunbeds and umbrellas to choose from and swim in the sea. Everything was so clean with no litter to be seen around the island which has lovely walks and gardens, try and spot the Hoopoes. An hourly ferry from St Katarina Island took us to the mainland where we explored Rovinj, a pretty Venetian style town situated on the harbour side. Numerous narrow cobbled streets and alleys with tall rustic buildings leading off the main square took us to many galleries, restaurants, bars and shops and the 17th century church of St Euphemia at the top of the hill is well worth a visit. With live street entertainment and great scenery to take in, it’s a lovely place to have a meal and a drink and watch the world go by while watching the sun set over the horizon. Several boat trips are available in the harbour which are reasonably priced and the local national park is within walking distance and well worth visiting. There are supermarkets dotted around the mainland, Tommy being the biggest on the east side of Rovinj only a 15 minute walk from the fountain in the main square, don’t mistake it for the smaller Tommy supermarket on the harbour if you want a better deal. All in all we had a great experience and lovely holiday and would definitely return in the future."

"This is a lovely old fashioned hotel on an island 5 mins by boat from Rovinj harbour. Many of the old hotels in Rovinj have been bough up and redeveloped but so far this one is untouched - it has been bought by the Maistra Group (as with all the others) but so far not redeveloped. As we went in May and the weather was stormy one night no boats ran after 8pm and so we were (eventually) put up in the Hotel Eden nearby. I'm not sure how often this happens but they are building an (EU funded) improvement to the harbour so possible fairly often. The hotel is characterful and quirky and we liked it in a slightly shambolic way. Its amazing being on the island which is very peaceful and has amazing views from every angle and room. The rooms are old and shabby but everything works and the bathrooms have had a light touch reno. Overall we loved it but if you are looking for chic and mega air conded lobbies etc it wont be for you. If you love sea swimming and walking round an exclusive island its great,"

"We spent two unforgettable weeks at Hotel Katarina, and it truly deserves 5 out of 5 stars. The staff are the heart of this place — genuinely kind, happy, and always ready to help, yet never intrusive. They went above and beyond in every way. Even with the many dinner options, they happily prepared freshly cooked vegetables just the way we wanted. Every interaction felt personal and sincere. The food is another highlight — a huge variety for both breakfast and dinner, and everything we tried (which was almost everything after two weeks!) was delicious and fresh. The island itself is a dream: peaceful and car-free, perfect for relaxing walks and quiet evenings. The short boat ride to the city makes it easy to explore when you want more activity. The views of the old town from our room were simply breathtaking — waking up to that scene each morning was pure joy. There’s a large beach with bars and easy sea access for kids, and plenty of smaller, more private rocky spots where you can enjoy the sea in peace. We loved every moment of our stay and are already planning to return many times. Highly recommended for anyone who wants a mix of nature, comfort, and warm hospitality."