"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."
