Location: Licko Petrovo Selo– Croatia
Classification: 4 star hotel
Official website: hotelplitvice.com

Located in a very interesting and convenient spot near the world famous Plitvice National Park, Lyra Hotel Plitvice is rated as one of the best hotels in the area. The hotel is only a short drive away from Plitvice National Park. If you are visiting Croatia, a visit to this National Park is a must do! It is one of the most beautiful nature parks I have ever seen. Walking around in the park is like walking in paradise. The water features are mind blowing! Also good to know is the nearby military underground airport Zeljava. This Airbase is only a few kilometers away from the hotel and we were pretty impressed.

Now let’s go back to the hotel. Lyra is a brand new four star hotel and offers only the best of the best! From the moment we arrived untill the time we left, we felt great. The staff is just wonderful and will do their upmost best to serve you in a fantastic way.

Upon arrival, everything is explained in a friendly yet professional way. Good to know: complimentary parking here!

The lobby is stylish and trendy decorated. There are several cozy sitting areas where it is great to hang out and talk about the everyday’s life. Our keys were handed in just seconds before we headed to our wonderful room. Speaking of rooms, there are only 58 rooms at Lyra Hotel Plitvice which is why they can provide such personal service. Each staff member I met was friendly and each request was dealt with professionalism.

The superior room we stayed in had a great size, trendy décor and is comfortably appointed. I enjoy the daylight and appreciated the floor to ceiling windows. Standard amenities are a Nespresso coffee machine, HD television and a safe. The small couch is a treat after walking all day long in Plitvice. The in room telescope was a fun feature which I loved very much!

The bathroom had a nice sized shower, single sink and toilet. Fancy Rituals toiletries are provided in each room. Every spot in our room was spotlesly clean.

We were booked in half board. The food here is delicious! Did you know that the hotel invited elderly ladies from the village who cooked for the first visitors to the park to teach the hotel’s chefs how to prepare the traditional local dishes. Again, the service provided was top notch!

The next morning we had breakfast in the restaurant downstairs. Usually, it is a buffet style breakfast offering only fresh products. The time we were there it was during Covid and that’s why they served an à la carte breakfast at that time. We sat down and the very accommodating staff immediately wished us a very good morning. The mini buffet they offered at each guest truly was delicious and I appreciated the mix of sweet and salt. There’s just something for everybody.

There’s a lot to do here so even on a rainy day, you won’t get bored. The fitness center is fully equiped. If you are not into working out, the wellness area with sauna and a spa menu is something for you. Especially after a day of walking in Plitvice, this is a treat!

Our stay at Lyra Hotel Plitvice was wonderful and I can easily understand why it is rated as one of the best hotels in the area. From the personal approach to the comfortable rooms and amazing breakfast, Lyra Hotel Plitvice is top notch and I highly recommend to stay at this hotel when you are in the area of Plitvice national park. The up to date design and accommodating staff will please anyone!

Location: Zagreb – Croatia
Classification: 5 star hotel
Official website: esplanade.hr

The famous five star Esplanade Zagreb is one of the very best hotels Zagreb has to offer! When we arrived, we were wowed by the beautiful building. It is such an amazing building… Since its opening in 1925, the hotel has been the most prestigious hotel in town, even in Croatia and I can tell why …

Let’s first speak about location. Esplanade Zagreb has a prima location in Zagreb. The most interesting sights are reachable within walking distance. I appreciated the fact that the hotel is located right outside the busy city center.

When they open the doors for you, you will be amazed by the most amazing lobby area. I immediately felt the grand feeling of this place which is unique. Did you know that Esplanade means ‘field’? They named the hotel that way as it was built on a vast plain to the west of the station. In the early days, the hotel was used for an elegant stopover for passengers traveling on the Orient Express.

We were welcomed with a smile. The staff was so accommodating and professional. No impersonal check-in here, they do take their time to explain everything while we were seated in some very comfortable couches.

Again, the lobby area is spectacular. One thing I truly appreciated about the Esplanade Zagreb is that they kept almost every detail of the past, such as the beautiful grand staircase in the lobby. Walking around in this hotel is like walking in a grand castle. Behind every corner, a new surprise is waiting for you.

We stayed in a Deluxe Suite and trust me, they are amazingly decorated with plenty of space! It has a separate living area with comfy couches and an oversized working desk. The bedroom had the best king sized bed ever!

The marble bathroom had a good size and featured bath tub, toilet and a large shower with rain head. Amazing full size deluxe L’Occitane toiletries here and dental and saving kits are provided for your convenience. Loved it!

On the lower level there is a full spa center with gym. If you are into relaxation, the use of the sauna and relaxing area is complimentary. For ultimate relaxation, you can book a spa treatment from the large spa menu.

Esplanade Zagreb has several dining options, from casual dining to more formal. We thoroughly enjoyed a wonderful afternoon tea at Esplanade Bar 1925. The weather was great when we were there so we were seated on the gorgeous terrace overlooking the stunning building of the Esplanade Zagreb. The food was prepared and presented in a very nice way. Sparkling wine and tea are included. The sandwiches and sweets were of a great quality. Highly recommended for an exclusive afternoon treat!

Zinfandel’s is Esplanade’s signature restaurant. Although we didn’t had dinner here, I only read and heard good things about this place. Next time, I’ll definitely check it out myself!

From the moment we walked in the door, until we stepped into our car heading home, everything was perfect here at the Esplanade Zagreb! Highly recommended for a luxurious getaway in Zagreb!

Hotelchain: Brown Hotels
Location: Trogir – Croatia
Classification: 4 star hotel
Official website: brownhotels.com/croatia

Let me present one of the cutest towns in Croatia: Trogir. While we were visiting Trogir, we stayed at one of the best hotels in town: the Brown Beach House.

I got the chance to explore this jewel in Trogir. It is a high class four star hotel and I was impressed, let me tell you why… First of all, the Brown Beach House is perfectly located near the center of beautiful Trogir. This boutique hotel has been designed with style. I could take pictures of this place forever, it is so beautiful and totally up to date.

The lobby area is spacious and stylish full with modern art. Staff was very professional and check-in was done within a few minutes. It was bloody hot that day and they immediately offered a glass of sparkling wine which was very much appreciated. They also gave us a small city map of Trogir at check-in with all the information you need to know when exploring this beautiful city.

Rooms at the Brown Beach House are luxuriously appointed and the feel brand new! Again, the mix new/old was very appealing. Our suite had a living area with comfy couches. The bedroom has heavenly beds. Truly, the beds are amazing. Again, the décor is very nice. It’s all about the details at the Brown Beach House, from the wooden floors to the great art work… the nautical theme is noticeable throughout the entire hotel.

The bathroom featured a large vanity sink, toilet and a nice bath tub. Water pressure is excellent for the shower and complimentary toiletries are of an awesome quality.

Again, after every corner you will find something interesting. I was walking through the hotel and suddenly found out some art work that I actually wanted to buy for my home. I loved it that much! 😊

Besides all the beauty and design, the Brown Beach House offers a full spa area with nicely equipped fitness center. The spa area is the perfect place to relax after a day of exploring Trogir! A large sauna, hammam and ice fountain are there to enjoy. The place was immaculately clean. Bathrobes are in the room, by the way.

I thoroughly enjoyed a spa treatment here. The whole experience was very pleasant and ultra relaxing. The massage rooms are nicely decorated and offer a relaxed atmosphere. The therapist did an excellent job. After the treatment I felt like reborn. I highly recommend to book a treatment here. You won’t be disappointed.

Make sure to check out the pool area. The pool itself is beautiful and offers stunning views over the sea. It’s wonderful to relax on one of the loungers, soaking up the sun.

Cartina Restaurant is another highlight at the Brown Beach House. We had dinner here and I must admit, the food and service were impressive. Its Mediterranean cuisine is yummie. This is what I call fine dining. Not only did the taste of the food surprised us, also the presentation was excellent. The dishes looked like pictures. Clearly, the chef uses fresh local ingredients.

Breakfast is served in the other part of the restaurant, it was – again – of a high quality and offered a good variety of hot and cold items.

I was sad to leave the Brown Beach House as I felt at home here! Can’t wait to visit this hotel again! Highly recommended!

Location: Split – Croatia
Classification: 5 star hotel
Official website: hotelpark-split.hr

Hotel Park Split is known as one of the best hotels in Split. I just had to explore and experience this jewel myself and I can definitely say that it deserves its good reputation. The hotel is located in the heart of the city. Whether you are in Split for shopping, sightseeing or businesses purposes, everything is nearby… Very convenient! Split is the 2^nd largest city in Croatia and a must visit. The old town very authentic and takes you back in time.

From the outside, the hotel looks already like a grand hotel. When I entered Hotel Park Split, I immediately knew that our stay here would be a great one. The lobby is stylish with beautiful art works and furnishings. The hotel has a great history. Did you know that the hotel opened back in 1921? From then the hotel has been considered the apple of Split’s eye with its famous view over the gardens and sea.  Hotel Park Split has been renovated in 2015. And that’s clearly noticeable from the moment you enter the hotel.

Staff made us feel welcome as we entered the hotel. From the comfortable seating areas to the efficient check-in procedure, everything went smoothly and ultra friendly right from the beginning. With a total of 72 rooms and suites, Hotel Park isn’t a very large hotel which is why they offer a very personal service to each guest.

Speaking of rooms, the superior room we stayed was stylish and ultra luxurious. It was decorated with high quality materials. The lines on the king sized bed were great! I appreciated the cozy sitting area with comfortable couch and a working desk. Our room had a great view over the gardens and sea.

The large bathroom was very comfortable featuring a bath tub and an oversized (rain)shower. Complimentary toiletries were provided. The marble vanity sink was beautiful.

Hotel Park Split has a wellness area with sauna, steam room and a complete fitness center. Always nice to be able to make use of those facilities after a day in busy Split. After the work out, I enjoyed some me-time in the outdoor pool, surrounded by the hotel’s garden.

The hotel has one of the best hotel-restaurant in town, Restaurant Split, surrounded by its beautiful gardens. This fine-dining restaurant is the place to be for a delicious dinner. The Chef did inspire us with his creative dishes. For a fine-dining restaurant, the menu is quite large. There are a lot of options to choose from. I started with the beef tartar which was prepared right in front on my eyes. Pretty unique and I loved the show-cooking-factor. It gave our evening a nice touch. As a main course I ordered the catch of the day fish. And fresh it was! The staff did fillet our fish right at our table again, which was very much appreciated. The fish was to die for, especially with the grilled vegetables that came with the dish. You should definitely try this dish yourself. You won’t be disappointed!

I must also highlight the top notch service and wine knowledge of the staff! They made us feel at ease right from the beginning until the end.

The next morning we enjoyed an à la carte breakfast with a great variety. Several kinds of cheese and meat are offered. If you need anything, the staff is more than helpful and will do their upmost best to serve you. This was like a perfect start of the day.

Hotel Park Split is one of a kind! I love every aspect of this place. It truly is a ‘grandhotel’ and staying here is a guarantee of a flawless stay in an ultra luxurious environment. You will love it!