"This was a last minute booking with my niece via TUI. We were a bit put off by a 2 hour transfer but in the end the bus was lovely and it was fine - nice to see the beautiful scenery enroute too!
The hotel itself mostly exceeded all expectations - we had a double with partial sea view. You can make special requests so I asked for a high room. There’s 16 floors and we were on floor 15 and had a hug sea view. Ours was a tiny balcony but that was fine as we only used the room to sleep and shower anyway.
The room was much bigger than I was expecting - really clean with fresh towels daily and gorgeous shower gel, hand soap and moisturiser - they also supplied little vanity caps and shower gel. Good light in the bath room for make up and there was also a plug right outside the bath room so could have mirror for hairdryer and straighteners.
We requested a twin but got a huge queen bed which was fine for us. There was also a little chair that doubles up as a sofa bed with a spare duvet in the wardrobe. Plenty of wardrobe space and hangers with loads of shelves. Plugs by the bed although no USB charging ports which lots of hotels have these days. Fridge but no water provided as local water is fine to drink from the tap.
We had breakfast only as that’s standard but we both hate eating early so we only had a coffee and croissant for later - the tables honestly are a bit crammed and I always had to wait for the croissants and it was a minor bun fight! I’ve been to lots of all inclusive and never had this issue before - they could do with offering bigger variety of pastries, breads etc. they have auto drinks machines for water, juice and coffee which I guess meant we didn’t have to wait for table service. All in all good we weren’t confined to the restaurant as they always feel a bit like a school canteen but all in all was clean - just way too cramped for my liking.
All rooms, bars and the restaurant had views over the gorgeous sea and Mountain View’s - just stunning really!
We particularly enjoyed the egg chairs in the reception bar and our routine became coming to the bar 7pm and having some rose watching the sun set for 2hrs - was the most relaxing thing with super chill music playing and the staff were lovely but also didn’t pester or get too involved. There was another bar downstairs on the ground floor where I guess all the families and kids went as it was always so quiet in the beautiful reception bar - suited us down to the ground!
Re sunbathing - you get the stairs of the lifts down to level 2 to get to the beach. You grab beach towels from level 6 pool and then go and pick up your sun beds and sunbrellas from the promenade in level 2 and find your spot. The first few days we pootled about and so all the sunbrellas had gone so we figured getting to the beach before 8am to get your spot and set up your sunbrella before getting brekkie was the way forward. We got a spot right on the shoreline - was just idyllic really - as the beach is stones rather than sand, the water is the clearest I’ve seen but you do need jelly shoes (local shops €8!). Sitting in the sea instantly cooled you down - although mostly it was windy but the sun was super strong!!!!! There were toilets on the beach but they remained locked - apparently it’s still off season for them so imagine in busier times they’ll be open.
The pools were defo disappointing - only cos we don’t have kids! They advertise a kids pool which really is for babies - it’s a paddling pool really which means kids bigger than nippers are in the other pool, which is tiny for the size of the hotel but we would always opt for the beach anyway!
You could get drinks at the pool bar, then by the actual pool and I’m assuming in the garden bar (that’s not what it’s called - it’s where the nighttime entertainment happens - kind of in the shade with assortment of chairs including egg chairs! It was too shady and kiddy so we didn’t spend much time there but is defo good if you’re with kids!). Oh they have an aqua park as well, n the sea, looked a lot of fun for kids also!
I’m gluten free - the only beer was corona that I could have, they did have GF buns, and salads and veg and GF sausages - didn’t investigate too much as we ate out.
So Podgora is basically a promenade with bars and restaurants - mostly restaurants playing lovely chilled tunes. Food is mostly pizza, burgers, salads, fish dishes and meat (although we met a local lady who said their meat isn’t the best but we both had yummy spag Bol!). Loads of places for seriously good ice cream!! There was a really cool pancake place which was shut the whole time but looked like they were getting ready to open for high season!
Loads of gift shops selling the usual - most took cards but smaller ones needed cash. Also loads of lovely cats - not too scabby and they didn’t pester you - we wanted to play with them!!! Also there’s a pharmacy which shuts 2pm ish and a couple of small supermarkets.
Our fave restaurant was KAPPO - they had pizza for my niece and salads and GF pasta for me. Extensive drinks menu. I also had the best gluten free pizza at Portobello Bar Pizzeria at the harbour and a GF beer - was heaven !!!
There were a few things we could have done but we basically just wanted to sunbathe and chill - but in Podgora there is a sky walkway bridge thing up a mountain with apparently spectacular views - you could get a bus up there or a scrambler buggy thing then have a picnic and watch the sunset - would be great for sure!
The only thing we did was have Thai oil massages in the hotel which was really really top notch and excellent price for hotel massage!
All in all the views reminded me of the Amalfi coast at a fraction of the price! Gorgeous mountains which change colour every minute of the day with expansive sea and with the odd cloud made for a spectacular sun set. Even the one day it rained was super fun watching the lightening on the sea!
We had a great time, thanks to TUI and the hotel and we hope to be back next year!"
