From all the luxury hotels I have stayed at, Valamar President Hotel is by far the biggest one. At least when it comes to square meters. Here’s what you can expect if you book a room at this majestic hotel overlooking the Adriatic Sea.
Amazing views
Upon my arrival to Valamar I had just covered 300 kilometers down the Dalmatian coast line, so I was pretty tired and ready to lodge. Unfortunately, there was a mistake in my booking, for which reason I had to wait for 20 minutes before I could finally get my key. But when that is said and done, Valamar President Hotel just continued to intrigue me from there. From its grand hall with panoramic windows allowing guests to gaze on the color-changing horizon for hours to the beautiful pool lit up by stars in the evening. There’s no doubt that this hotel is built to take in large amounts of travelers in need of a little extra luxury and comfort.
Hotel Valamar President Hotel is located on the green and hilly peninsula of Babin Cuk (can be translated to ‘grandma’s hip)’ surrounded by other grand hotels. From there it’s possible to reach the centre of Dubrovnik either by car or by bus in about 10-15 minutes, depending on traffic. Of course one can also walk in order to explore a bit more of the area. One of the best hotel locations in Dubrovnik, if you ask me. It’s calm, beautiful and most importantly tucked away from touristic hot spots and the overly crowded streets of the city.
King size!
The hotel is rather big and one could get lost (like me!) on the first night. However, it’s easy to find your way around once you understand that reception is located on the 7th floor! There’s plenty of things to do in the hotel, especially on rainy days where the spa area seems pretty tempting!
My room was a Superior Double Room with a terrace, queen size bed and a fancy work space. But the best part was the panoramic view of the Adriatic Sea! I could have spend hours on the terrace gazing into the horizon and beautiful pool area, which is tastefully decorated and surrounded by flower beds. This brings me back to the spa area, which is also quite big. It consists of both a treatment area, a pool & wellness area and and outdoor area, from where you can swim in the pool and look directly into the sea. During the summer it’s packed with guests, but during low-season (starting from September) there’s more space to enjoy. I can recommend the wellness massage, but bear in mind that reservations go fast, so book well in advance.
For those preferring the beach rather than the pool, Valamar President Hotel has two public beaches within 100 meters. And it would definitely be a shame not to visit a beach if you’re ever in Croatia, cause the country has some of the purest sea water in Europe at disposal.
Award-winning breakfast
Croatian food might not be one of the country’s main attractions, nevertheless, the ‘Beach Bistro’ at Valamar President Hotel is worth a visit. It’s huge and therefore able to seat hundreds of guests at a time, but there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the kitchen! Everyday, both morning and night, the chef and his crew prepare the food ‘live’, and guests can get their hands on almost anything they want! The breakfast buffet has won an award - maybe because of the large selection of fruits, bread, cold cuts, cakes….you name it. And the chef is very friendly too!
Valamar President Hotel is the perfect option for families with children or couples with a weakness for stunning views and wellness. It might not be small, charming and cosy (in the original sense of the word), but big, majestic and overwhelming. And the location is great if you want to avoid crowded streets and loads of tourists.
For more information go to www.valamar.com.
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