Has anyone stayed at the Adriatic hotel on Hvar? Conde Nast says it's better than the Palace there. Other opinions sought.

I have been trying to find a web site with some good photos of the Adriatic. I have been researching here and on the web too! The Adriatic has been recommended to me by some of this forum. Apparently the Palace is a dump. I am a little unsure of the Adriatic because it is "all inclusive" and I don't usually like that arrangement. I am trying to book the PodStine even though it isn't right in old town. I will be watching this thread too!

Which Conde Nast Traveler was this info in?

Few photos of Adriatic can be found on this Polish site:
http://www.nautica.pl/turystyka/chor...-adriatyk.html
and here:
http://www.chorwacja.pl/oferta/HRM00....xml?turnus=18

also here:
http://www.suncanihvar.hr/galerija.htm

One more here:
http://www.kompas.si/slovenia/sloven...20ADRIATIC.jpg

Wow. Looking up Croatian hotels on Polish websites. This is truly international.

WT, Sorry, I only clipped the Conde Nast article, not the date of the mag. But it says to disregard all guidebooks that advise to stay at the Palace--they describe as a Soviet style dump--and stay at the plain but quiet, air-conditioned Hotel Adriatic which overlooks the old port and has a heated seawater poolt. They also suggest a bungalow at Meneghello Place on the islet of Palmizana a 20 min. boatride from Hvar--www.palmizana.hr Hope that helps. I have never stayed in an all-inclusive place. Wonder if that's still true. Adriatic website lists both half and full board prices. How far is PodStine from town?

We stayed at the Palace in Oct 2003, and I would NOT describe it as a dump. At least not our room, which was actully three little rooms, with a balconey overlooking the harbor. It was certainly old, clean, perfect location, and fairly priced. It was NOT a square box.(my description of a Soviet hotel) There were mostly European guests there, and we had a fabulous three days.--This hotel would not meet the needs of most Conde Nast travelers---More the ITN sort.

I wanted to stay at Palmizana in the little cottages, but I am not going to be there long enough. You have to book for a week and I will only be in Hvar 2 or 3 nights. Do a Croatia search and you will find other info. I think my thread has "Will it work" in the title. Someone on that thread told me that the Podstine is about a 20 minute walk from town. I think the Adriatic, Podstine, or private housing are your best choices. Several fodorites recommended the Adriatic over the Palace. Now, I need to go check out those Polish sites. Thanks Jonas.

Jonas, just wanted to let you know I checked out the Polish sites and that first one had more photos than I had seen. Now, I am not sure whether I will stay at the Adriatic or Podstine.

Thought I would I chime in regarding the Palace Hotel - I was a solo traveler but had requested a room with a sea view ( 6 onths in advance). Well, solo travelers are not given rooms with doubles but rooms on the first floor (U.S. - 2nd flr)- which are pretty bad - cigarette burns in the carpet, rejected IKEA furniture, broken tv and while on the sea side, the views are pretty much blocked. I had a lovely view of a stone tower. Fortunately, I didn't spend much time inthe room . As for spending the extra $5 for dinner - don't bother, tried it - fairly lame, though the chicken soup and the marsala ice cream were tasty. Breakfast on the terrace was a real treat. I requested an opportunity to see the rooms with the balconies but to no avail. I have a couple emails out to locals seeing if they can arrange a room in town proper for me - push come to shove, not sure which one I would stay at - Hotel Adriatic or Podstine. I'll be visiting Zadar, Primosten and Lastovo also so i may want to be in town - not sure. Of course I may opt and stay in Zavala, on the south side of Hvar.

Let us know what you decide to do Wandering Texan.

Mark, I've printed yours and several other's travel reports on Croatia and have been reading them with considerable interest as I plan my own first trip there later this year. I hope that you will consider posting something similar following your upcoming trip - your information is detailed and very useful. Thank you. When are you going ?

Mathieu -
I'm going in the beginning of September - vacation crowds will be receeding - the sunlight becomes more amber, oranger - the evenings are cooler, hinting at the coming of fall. It's my favorite time of year to spend at the beach - I only wish I could do the whole month (all in due time)

Mark, I decided to save Hvar for another trip, for now. I am flying into Split one evening and I am currently planning to drive the next afternoon into Dubrovnik, stopping along the way. If I change my mind, I can take the ferry to Hvar, spend the night, ferry back to Hvar the next day and then drive to Dubrovnik. I am flying out of Dubrovnik. I will be there in June!

WT -
Dubrovnik and the surrounding environs will keep you busy the entire time you're there. June is just around the corner. Keep us posted on your plans.

Mark, oddly enough I'm planning on a September trip as well for the same reasons - weather still nice, less crowded and cheaper airfare. I haven't fixed dates yet but I'm planning for 2 weeks from about the 8th. Who knows, may even bump into you. I have also been looking into good beach areas to stay and explore along the Dalmatian coast since I will be foregoing my annual September 2-weeks in the Caribbean in favour of this trip. There sure seems to be a lot to see and do and now its a matter of choosing the most interesting. I know what you mean about the orange sun and sunsets at that time of the year - I have loads of pics. of sunsets with the sea in the foreground from previous Caribbean trips. The cloud colours at sunset are amazing too. Are you familiar with the phenomenon of the 'Green flash' ? I've seen it only twice, most recently once last year. Since Croatia's beaches are face westward, I'd imagine one could see it there too.

Mathieu -
Another reason I go in September -
everyone I know is back at work.
I've not heard of the 'green flash'.
I'm sure you know this already but
a majority of the beaches in Croatia
are pebble and rocky, not powdery
and fine like many of the beaches
in the Carribean. I use to do a beach
share on Fire Island - September was
wonderful on the beach - most of the
houses had closed up, a little chill in
the air, the smell of fireplaces being lit.
There's so much to see and do in Croatia
it hard to chose - keep us posted on
your plans.

Mark : Will do. The Green Flash is a natural phenomenon that occurs if the light and weather conditions are right; just before a sinking sun disappears completely over a watery horizon (ocean, sea), there is sudden green flash for a second just before the last of the sun goes.

WT : Hope you'll post a trip report on your return too.