Hotel Croatia Cavtat – Our Complete review and guide
Hotel Croatia is a hotel that has existed since the start of Croatia tourism itself. Over 50 years’ old and having gone through multiple renovations over the years, this 5-star-rated hotel is a great place to stay for those that want to experience the historic and attraction-packed Dubrovnik area. It features the many amenities and stunning views of all of Dubrovnik city’s hotels, but with a more relaxing atmosphere.
The hotel’s secluded location is only 20km from Dubrovnik gives you access to all of the great attractions in the area. In addition, accommodation costs are generally lower than Dubrovnik. You also have the beautiful town of Cavtat on your doorstep.
Is Hotel Croatia a good place to stay? Read our guide for a detailed Hotel Croatia Cavtat review, with plenty of tips, tricks and info on all of the hotel’s amenities, restaurants and rooms. If you have any questions about Hotel Croatia that we didn’t answer in our guide, be sure to send us a message.
Location
Hotel Croatia in the village of Cavtat, which is located 20km away from the city of Dubrovnik and right next to Dubrovnik Airport. It’s a quaint little tourist town with some excellent restaurants, hotels and bars. It features the same beautiful architecture and Croatian seaside-town appeal as Dubrovnik, just on a smaller scale. Many people that are visiting the Dubrovnik area choose to stay in Cavtat. It’s a quieter and more affordable place to stay but you have access to all of the same great attractions.
How to get to Cavtat
Cavtat is only a 10-minute drive from Dubrovnik Airport, which you’re most likely flying into. You can catch the bus from the airport to Cavtat town and then walk to the hotel. Alternatively, jump into a taxi at the airport or use Uber. Expect to pay around 15 euros one-way from the airport to Hotel Croatia.
If you’re visiting Hotel Croatia Cavtat from another part of Croatia, we recommend getting a long-distance bus such as FlixBus to Dubrovnik city bus station. You can then board a local bus onward to Cavtat.
The hotel grounds
Upon arrival at Hotel Croatia, we were impressed with its size and how clean and tidy it was from the outside. The hotel is over 50 years old but has been renovated and updated multiple times. It has a Soviet-style façade, but everything inside is modern and nicely designed. Despite being a large hotel with over 480 rooms, you’ll never get lost. Multiple elevators, staircases and hallways join all rooms to the main facilities and dining areas. The best part of the hotel is the easy access to the beach and rocky swimming areas… We’ll talk more about that later! 😊
Hotel Croatia Cavtat Rooms
As with most hotels, there are plenty of different room options you can choose from at Hotel Croatia, ranging from the basic classic room, all the way to the luxurious presidential suite. Rooms are located within the accommodation wing, away from the hotel’s bars and restaurants. This allows you to enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep whilst other guests are enjoying a glass of wine or two at the bar. One major consideration for rooms at Hotel Croatia is the view. As a seafront hotel, many rooms have beautiful sea-views, which are a little more expensive than the standard garden-view room.
View the details for all room options on the Hotel Croatia Cavtat’s website.
- Classic Room
- Superior Room
- Deluxe Room
- Junior Suite
- Executive Suite
- Ambassador Suite
- Presidential Suite
Our top room tips
- It’s well worth upgrading to a sea-view room if the additional cost isn’t much higher. Waking up to stunning sea-views and enjoying a sunset drink on your balcony will be some of your best holiday memories.
- If you’re visiting for a special occasion such as an anniversary or birthday, give the hotel a call or send them an email before arrival. They may be able to arrange something special for you.
- Opt for a room further away from the stairs/ lifts, as these rooms tend to be quieter. This is a must for those who need their beauty sleep!
- Ask for a room on floor 5 for easy access to the swimming pool and beach areas. Floor 1 is excellent for those that want direct access to the rocky swimming areas. Floor 3 is best suited for those that want easy access to the restaurants and reception area.
- In our experience, rooms at Hotel Croatia Cavtat are larger than other hotels. A basic room option is surprisingly spacious and well equipped. Keep this in mind if you’re thinking of upgrading your room.
View Hotel Croatia Cavtat on Booking.com
Swimming pools
Don’t we all love a hotel with a good swimming pool? Larger hotels are often equipped with larger swimming pools, and Hotel Croatia doesn’t disappoint. It has two pools: one indoor and one outdoor.
The main swimming pool is located next door to the pool bar and restaurant. It’s surrounded by sun loungers and has some shaded areas under trees if you want a break from the sun.
One aspect of the swimming pool we loved was the deepness of the water. You could swim leisurely without the worry of scraping your legs and knees on the floor. There’s also a shallow section that’s great for kids or just sitting down and relaxing. Whilst the pool is large enough, we feel the hotel would benefit from another smaller pool area. It can get quite busy when the hotel is at full capacity.
The other swimming pool is located next door to the outdoor pool and is perfect for an early morning or late afternoon swim. The water is refreshing and slightly cooler than the outdoor pool, making it perfect for a hot day in Cavtat. We preferred this pool. it wasn’t as busy and it was always easy to find a sun lounger.
Top tip: we recommend grabbing a sunbed in the indoor pool if you struggle to find one outside. You can go for a dip in the sun and laze around indoors where its quieter and more relaxing.
Dining
If food’s a big part of your holiday, you’re in for a treat, as the food quality and options at Hotel Croatia are second to none. We were pleasantly surprised by the variety of the food and how well each dish was cooked. The hotel has four restaurants to choose from. One is a buffet option, which is the main restaurant for those on a half board package. There’s then two a la carte restaurant options and a pool bar restaurant that’s open for lunch. The three a la carte options aren’t included in the half board offering.
The main buffet restaurant
The main restaurant is open for breakfast and dining. The dining hall is really spacious, with plenty of seating indoors, and outdoor seating on the patio area. It overlooks Cavtat town and is a great place to enjoy a meal with a view.
Breakfast served at Hotel Croatia is possibly one of the best breakfasts we’ve ever had at a hotel. From cooked dishes such as bacon, different egg variations and sausages, to continental options like cold meats, cheese, bread rolls, pastries and cereals. Favourites of ours, and a staple every morning, was their speciality oatmeal, followed by a freshly baked chocolate croissant.
Eating here for dinner was the highlight of our time in Cavtat. The food served up was always prepared to a high standard and there were plenty of options, every single night. Dishes are served buffet style and you help yourself to as much as you’d like. Some of the dishes on offer during our stay included tuna steaks, sea bass and other types of fish and beef, pork, chicken, meatballs and more.
Pizzas, burgers, pastas and other commonly liked dishes were also on offer every night. There was always an option for vegetarians but note that this was usually only one or two dishes. If you’re a vegetarian, it might be worth speaking to the hotel ahead of your stay.
Top tip: there are two different cooking stations in the restaurant that serve the same food. Go to the side that’s less busy to get served quicker (a must during peak times of the year).
Steak house restaurant
Hotel Croatia Steakhouse is the first of hotel’s a la carte restaurants. Perfect for those special, one-off occasions and date nights, it’s a small restaurant with an outdoor dining area. With a variety of different starter options, desserts, and a choice steak cuts, they’ve got some excellent dishes for steak lovers. Prices aren’t too high and it makes a good alternative to the main restaurants, especially if you’re staying half board and want a change of scenery and environment. If you’ve opted for half board, you’ll need to pay extra to dine here. However, you’ll get a 20% discount on your bill.
Spinaker Restaurant
It’s always handy to have easy access to food and drink when lying out in the Croatian sun, and the Spinaker Restaurant is in a prime location for exactly this. Located at the front of the hotel beach/promenade area, it’s a convenient place to grab a snack, lunch, or a cocktail or two. Spinaker is a seafood restaurant, serving up fresh fish, burgers and a variety of Mediterranean-inspired dishes.
It’s more expensive than the food served at the pool bar, but it’s a great place to dine for lunch if you’re chilling on the promenade. It’s also open for dinner, though you’ll need to pay extra to dine here if you’re on a half board package.
Alverde Restaurant
If you’re planning on spending the morning, afternoon, or entire day relaxing by the pool and don’t fancy getting dressed for lunch, head to the pool bar for a freshly prepared lunch. You can either dine at the comfort of your sunbed, or at the restaurant for a break from the sun. Dishes include freshly grilled salmon steak, burgers, grilled chicken and homemade sandwiches. We recommend the chicken teriyaki dish. The chicken is so tender, and the portion size is huge!
Bars
There are three bars at Hotel Croatia. One is located right above the main buffet restaurant, a short walk from the reception area. The next is between the two swimming pools. The final bar is a small seaside shack beside the rocky swimming area at the back of the hotel. The Piano Bar is very spacious, with seating both indoors and outdoors, plus stools around the bar. It was fairly quiet during the daytime during our visit and mostly comes alive on an evening. It’s the go-to bar for a pre or post dinner drink. It’s also where you’ll find the hotel’s evening entertainment.
The poolside bar at Hotel Croatia is a small bar area with a handful of stools. It has direct access to both swimming pools (indoor and outdoor) and there are lots of tables outside to enjoy your drink. The bar closes when the pool closes so it’s best enjoyed during the daytime when you’re by the pool.
All bars serve a wide range of drinks, with a variety of imported spirits.
Top tip: if you want to get a table at the outdoor bar area, we recommend heading out to dinner earlier (around 7pm-7:30pm). You may struggle to find a table on the outdoor patio area later in the evening.
Evening entertainment
What’s better than a tasty drink in hand, good company and looking out at the sea? Doing all of the latter with some live music of course! Hotel Croatia has a nightly entertainment schedule of singers, bands and other music acts. It ranges from traditional Croatian acoustic to pop music and rock classics. The evening entertainment is in the main bar area every night, either on the indoor or outdoor stage.
During our visit, we listened to a few good acts, but a couples of acts weren’t the best (in our opinion). Either way, the live music sets a great atmosphere for a post-dinner drink.
The hotel beach area
One of our favourite things about Hotel Croatia Cavtat (aside from the food, of course) is the easy access to the stunning beach area of Cavtat. Many hotel guests, us included, loved spending time relaxing at the beach instead of the pool. There are two main beach areas, one of which is only accessible to hotel guests. The main beach area is down the front of the hotel, adjoining the Cavtat promenade. This is where most guests spend the day relaxing. There are lots of sunbeds and parasols to use and you can go for a dip in the refreshing sea whenever you like. The beach area here is more of a promenade and there isn’t any sand/pebbles.
The second seaside area at the hotel can be accessed from the first floor. Somewhat hidden and a much quieter place to relax, this rocky cliffside was our favourite place to swim. Platforms and walkways have been carved into the cliffside to accommodate sun loungers and parasols. You also have direct access to a beautiful swimming area.
Wellness activities
If you’re big on relaxation or fitness whilst on holiday, Hotel Croatia offers different wellness activities, so you can stay fit and healthy, and unwind at the same time.
Spa
We were really impressed by the spa facilities on offer at Hotel Croatia. The variety of treatments, changing and shower areas modern, spacious and luxurious. The spa was always busy when we visited. Treatment on offer include massages, exfoliating services, manicures and pedicures. You can even get your hair cut at the hair salon, which is just along from the spa. You’ll need to book ahead of time to avoid disappointment, especially during peak times of the year.
Top tip: if you have a late flight, don’t worry about not having anywhere to relax and shower afterwards. You can use the showers and changing rooms in the spa area ahead of getting ready for your flight.
Gym
The gym may not be for everyone, especially when you’re on holiday, but if you want to keep in shape, or simply fancy getting in a good workout after eating your bodyweight in desserts, the gym is a great place to spend 30 minutes or so. The gym at the hotel is quite basic, and whilst it’s quite small for the size of the hotel, they have all the equipment you need for a decent workout. Free weights, a few strength machines and cardio machines are all on offer.
As the gym is small, we recommend working out during mealtimes, early evening or early morning. It’s less likely to be busy at these times.
Tennis
For those who prefer to be outdoors as much as possible soaking up the Croatian sun, tennis might be a better fitness activity for you. The hotel has a tennis court just opposite the outdoor pool. You’ll need to request tennis rackets and balls at reception and book in a time slot.
Outdoor play area and table tennis
Just along from the main swimming pool, you’ll find a decent sized kid’s outdoor play area. It has a number of slides, swings and climbing frames, perfect for older kids. There’s also a couple of ping pong tables to use. This area was very quiet during our visit so there’s a good chance you’ll have it all to yourself.
Nature walking trail
The final wellness activity on our list is the scenic nature trail that leads from the swimming pool area, all away around the cove. The dirt path is surrounded by evergreen trees and luscious vegetation, making it perfect for a morning or sunset stroll. It’s also a great place to go for a jog.
Top tip: if you have kids, and still fancy a game of tennis with partner, your child can enjoy the park that’s right next to the tennis courts.
Frequently asked questions
Summary and review score
Overall, we had a fantastic time at Hotel Croatia Cavtat and couldn’t recommend it enough. The room was incredibly spacious, clean and modern for such an old hotel. The food was delicious every single day, and the beach area was the perfect place to cool down in the afternoon. We recommend this hotel to anyone who wants to visit Dubrovnik, with a preference to a more relaxing and quieter holiday over a bustling city break.
Review score: 5/5
Positives
- The hotel is well-maintained throughout with immaculate grounds and artistic finishing touches. The old building has been modernised to add a fresh touch to the hotel.
- The hotel’s location provides great transport links to Dubrovnik city centre. You can either walk to the harbour to catch the boat (20 min walk) or walk to the bus stop in Cavtat down (10 mins walk). You can get to Dubrovnik in less than an hour with either option.
- There’s a free shuttle service to the beach promenade, providing easy access to Cavtat town. This is great for those with mobility issues, or for when you don’t fancy climbing lots of stairs in the heat.
- All the staff at the hotel are friendly and are always on hand to help.
- The food is excellent at all mealtimes. There’s always a selection of fish and meat dishes, which are all prepared fresh and are well cooked and seasoned.
- The rooms are always clean and maintained to a high level. Robes and slippers are a great touch.
Improvements
- We would have like to have seen more evening entertainment at the hotel. The quality of some acts wasn’t the best.
- The outdoor pool area is quite small for the size of the hotel. The hotel would really benefit from having another pool area to cope with the demand of guests, especially during peak times of the year.
- We struggled to find sunbeds both around the pool area and at the beach when we visited in July. It would be great to have more sunbeds available during busier times of the year.
- Whilst the food options were right up our straight, there wasn’t much choice for vegetarians or vegans. If you have special dietary requirements, we recommend contacting the hotel before visiting and see what they can do for you.
- Drinks are expensive at the hotel, and in the Dubrovnik area in general.
- Hotel Croatia’s location isn’t ideal for those that want to spend lots of days sightseeing in Dubrovnik. The 45-minute each-way journeys soon add up.
View Hotel Croatia Cavtat on Booking.com
We hope you enjoyed our complete Hotel Croatia review and guide! It’s definitely a place we’d come back to in the future, and we would recommend this hotel to anyone. If you have any questions about Hotel Croatia, be sure to post a comment below.
By Susie
Author bio:I’m a passionate traveller that loves a sunny beach holiday, but also appreciate the cultural side to a trip and checking out undiscovered destinations. I’m the go-to Toucan Traveller for great holiday stories, cool photos and foodie recommendations.