Dalmatian Coast hotels

Each summer, thousands of foreign visitors and Croatians themselves flock to the Dalmatian Coast, some looking for style and luxury, others happy to get by with a cheap and cheerful hideaway.

Starting at the top, you have a small selection of 5-star and 4-star boutique hotels occupying carefully renovated old stone buildings in the historic centres of Dubrovnik, Split, Hvar Town, Korčula Town - expect traditional architecture combined with funky modern design elements, gourmet cuisine and highly personalised service.

Next, the 4-star and 3-star categories see a lot of recently renovated mid-range hotels in big Yugoslav resort buildings from the 70’s and 80’s. They are slightly lacking in character due to their size, but I’ve included several here due to their lovely seafront locations, spacious light and airy rooms, and excellent sports facilities.

In the lower price bracket, you’ll find homely private rooms and apartments to rent, most with basic self-catering facilities.

Things to consider before booking:
* Prices drop in shoulder season (May-Jun and Sep-Oct) when visitor numbers fall, but you can still expect sunny weather and sea warm enough to swim
* The cities of Dubrovnik and Split make lovely short winter breaks
* Prices increase substantially in peak season (Jul-Aug), when visitors flock to Dalmatia
* Breakfast is almost always included in the room price
 

While living in Split I travelled extensively through Dalmatia – up and down the coast, out the to islands, and into the mountains. In summer it’s so easy to throw some clothes into a rucksack, walk down to the port, and jump aboard a late-afternoon ferry, not quite sure when you’ll be returning. During the late-1990’s, before tourism got back on its feet, you didn’t even need to book – you’d find a room wherever you went. Now however, especially in peak season, you really do need to make reservations in advance.

I return to Dalmatia several times a year, both for work and pleasure. As new hotels keep opening, and old ones are occasionally refurbished and up-graded, my choice of accommodation options will be updated regularly to keep abreast with developments.

Out of the 40 hotels listed here, I’ve included my personal favourites – places I have stayed and would recommend to friends or family. I’ve also tried to make sure that I’ve catered for various types of visitors - couples, young families, families with teenage kids and mature travelers – and a range of price brackets.

And as sustainable tourism is essential for the preservation and future of Dalmatia, you’ll find that almost all the places I’ve chosen are locally owned, use locally sourced ingredients in their kitchens, and respect the local culture.
 

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