Istrian Villas Plava Laguna

The location of the resort is absolutely stunning: on a small peninsula where the sea is just within a few steps from each building. We made a booking very last minute, while driving in the car (after getting the confirmation email I typed in the address into the navigation and had to 'turn after 900 meters to the right' to the resort, so it was really that last minute) yet the room was prepared with fresh flowers and fruits. Check-in was quick and uncomplicated, yet I would have welcomed more information on amenities, services etc. so we don't have to figure out everything by ourselves. We booked the self catering stay so I cannot comment on the all-inclusive option. We had lunch and dinner at O Grille and the pizza restaurant. Waiters were super friendly at both places, food was OK but not extraordinary. The villa itself was amazing, nicely refurbished and equipped with everything you need incl. sunbeds, gas grill, very well equipped bar etc. the bathroom could have been a bit more spacious though. The villa area can not be accessed by car, they transfer you with a golf car to the building, this is perfectly fine. Yet the supermarket is not close so I had to walk with back with the grocery which wasn't ideal. The beaches are rocky or pebbly but this is Croatia so shouldn't be a surprise. With small children we spent more time at the pool. We had a nice stay here, probably could have explored the resort better but we were rather out for relaxation.

The good: -The Istrian villas were nicely renovated (as of 2023). -Lots of shade provided by Pine trees, which are well integrated in the resort area. The bad: -The are several restaurants: the overall dining experience can be horrible if you eat at the restaurant/refectory "Stella Maris" (lots of noise, refectory type of food, poor service) or rather pleasant if you eat at the Restaurant "Al Mare" (beach view, buffet, decent service). In principle, with a booking at the Istrian villas you are allocated to the restaurant "Al Mare" for breakfast and dinner ( 1/2 board). The problem is that the restaurant can be overcrowded in summer and you may be attributed to the refectory "Stella Maris", which I consider basically as a fraud given the 4* rating of the resort. That's what happened to us before we figured out that we were fraudulently allocated to the wrong place to eat. If you complain, the reception will simply argue that is a "misunderstanding", but you won't offer any compensation.

The Istrian Villas are located some 2.5km from the town of Umag, they are set in a vast area within a national park with pine trees. The area is huge and within it are the Istrian Villas, apartments (Amfora and Stella), the Coral Hotel and lots of other properties that are part of the Plava Laguna Group. The setting is simply idyllic. We landed at Pula airport and it took about 2hrs to reach the villas by coach, it sounds like a long way but it was a nice, relaxed journey by coach (organised by TUI). Roads were clear all the way. The coach made 5 stops along the way to other hotels so if you're coming directly from Pula airport, without any stops is should take just over an hour. We checked the price for a taxi and were told between 750-1000 kunas one way. We had a standard villa, with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, small kitchen area, living room and an outdoor terrace. The Plava Laguna website states that all villas are refurbished, when we got there we were told the standard villas are NOT refurbished, only higher category ones are (Premier, Plus etc). They are planning on refurbishing them next year, we were told. We had one twin bedroom with 2 single beds, one bedroom with king size bed with an en-suite shower & WC. The beds are hard but comfy, pillows are good. The kitchenette is small with a small fridge, two ring hob (no oven) , microwave, a kettle and a selection of pots, pans, cutlery, dinner ware - if you are planning on going self-catering the kitchen is probably not adequately equipped to cook dinners every day (unless you don't mind boiled and fried food only). The sofa in the living room is not that comfortable, so are the wooden dinning chairs. There were AC units in both bedrooms and one in the living area - they seemed to be at a set temperature at 25-26C, and were controlled by the hotel reception. We did ask if we could have it cooler and they allowed us 23C which we found cold enough. Bear in mind outside temperature was around 32-33C. We had HB included (breakfast and dinner), this was at the EL Mare restaurant which is superb. Big shout out to Marijan (the manager) and all of his staff from the chefs to the waitresses (Milena, Teodora and the others I am sorry I can't remember your names) - all very professional, accommodating and friendly. Breakfast is from 7am-10am / Dinner from 7pm-9pm We found the food quality and choice excellent. The restaurant is on the seafront, not busy and had a relaxed atmosphere. The views and setting is stunning. Marijan really knows how to run the place with the customer in mind. He keeps things relaxed and not over crowded. Well done for that and they should keep this up!! On the other hand, the people that stayed in the Amfora and Stella apartments had the use of the Stella Maris restaurant which was much bigger and busier, depends what you are after but would not recommend the Stella Maris restaurant if you want a relaxed setting. Within walking distance to our villa, there were 2

Durante la prenotazione avevo chiesto la possibilità di avere una villa vista mare. Non è stato possibile , va bene, ma mi sarei aspettato di avere almeno una villa vista giardino come tutte le altre. Invece no. Mi è stata data una villa vista muro grigio di un edificio in costruzione. Il peggio è che lo stanno costruendo adesso con conseguente passaggio e sosta di furgoni ed operai che iniziano a lavorare con i trapani alle 8.30 del mattino. Scrivo questo perché penso che non sia corretto che si affitti case ad un prezzo considerevole ad una famiglia che viene in vacanza e che poi si trova nel mezzo di un cantiere di lavoro. Per il resto il posto e bello e se non ci fosse stata questa mancanza di professionalità probabilmente ci sarei ritornato il prossimo anno.

Wir waren bereits mehr mals in den Hotels dieser Kette in Porec und waren immer sehr zufrieden. Das mal wollten wir mal etwas neues und entschieden uns für die Istrian Villas Beachfront. Der Preis für 4 Nächte knapp 3.500 Euro. Dies war viel zu teuer für diese Villas. Es war dreckig und vom ersten Tag bis zum letzten war täglich etwas das nicht funktionierte. Das Telefon ging gar nicht wir mussten jedes mal vom Handy anrufen um wieder irgenein Problem zu melden. Die Managerin und der Rezeptionist sind sehr unfreundlich und es interessierte sie nicht grossartig was wir alles bemängelten. Für una hat dieses Hotel nicht mehr als 2 Sterne verdient die Villas mit dem Whirlpool sind dreckig in den neurenovierten Badezimmern hat es schon Schimmel. Der Whirlpool ist soooo alt, nicht mal der Sprudel ging richtig an. Wir waren mwhr als enttäuscht dies schilderte ich auch beim Check out jedoch interessierte es sie wenig sie boten mir ein gratis Frühstück das ich aber bereits schon inklusive hatte oder ein Nachtessen im Restaurant wo niemand essen will an. Für das wo man kriegt in diesen Villas ist es eher ein Apartment mit Campingplatz Feeling nichts von Luxus!! Nie wieder!!

Die Villen in der Zwischenzeit alle komplett renoviert, ausgezeichnete Lage direkt am Meer und in einem Pinienwald ( Schatten !!!) , dazu ein breites Angebot für junge ( eigener Poolbereich, Kids Club, Basketball Feld, Trampoline, Animation, etc ) und ältere ( Fahrradverleih, Bootsverleihe, Strandbars, etc..) Gäste in einer sehr angenehm ruhigen Umgebung. Die gesamte Anlage wirkt schön gepflegt, die Mitarbeiter sind zuvorkommend und freundlich, dazu gibt es gleich eine Bäckerei und ein Lebensmittelgeschäft in der Nähe . Einzig wirklich kleiner Minuspunkt: das Essen in der Anlage - geschmacklich in Ordnung - ist durch die Euroeinführung schon hart am oberen Limit… Aber : für Familien mit kleinen Kindern ist es ein wunderschönes Erlebnis