We stayed there for an extended holiday with two small children. This was right at the end of the high season so we didn't have the overcrowding problems that others ran into.

Positive: My daughter loved the Mini Club activities with Dina and the other Ludis Animation staff. Beach areas have plenty of space and you can be as much in the sun or shade as you like. Large, well-marked swimming areas in clear and calm sea; you can swim all the way around the little peninsula. Outdoor pool is great for children with a separate wading area for babies. Food at breakfast and dinner buffets was always tasty; nothing fancy or gourmet but plenty of variety. The maids and restaurant staff took a liking to our kids and were always very friendly. Convenient location with easy driving access to Zadar, Nin, and the surrounding area. Plenty of free parking. Short walk to cafes and shops in Petrčane (I recommend Ljepotica bakery for pastries). Free WiFi access in the lobby plus separate paid WiFi in other areas that even works out on the beach. Most of the staff speaks at least some English.

Negative: Beaches were rocks or concrete, fine for adults on lounge chairs but not great for small children (there are sand beaches nearby in Zaton and Nin). Room was rather small with not much space to walk around once the portable crib was set up. Room didn't have enough electrical outlets (only way to plug in a computer on the desk was to run a cable behind the bed). The bottom of the shower door didn't seal completely and leaked some water on the floor. No self-service washing machines for guests; they have a dry cleaning service but it's ridiculously expensive if you have to wash a bunch of baby clothes (we ended up using the Loto laundry service in Zadar). They don't take room charges for drinks and beach chairs so you have to carry cash. Why aren't beach chairs free for guests? They charge about $70 for a shuttle ride to the airport, much higher than a local taxi service.

Overall it was a good experience. There are certainly some little issues they ought to fix but considering the location and price I am happy with the value we received.

We stayed in this hotel with 2 years old child. At arrival we were told that all the guests must wait till all the rooms are cleaned before getting a key. We got the key past 2.30 pm after few hours of waiting.
In the whole week we got only once the beds made and probably not even once vacuumed cleaned. Only the bins were emptied daily. When we arrived in the room there was a paper tape on the toliet that it was disinfected. Well under it was a dead mosquito.
There were plenty of food for breakfast and dinner but almost every day the same. No pancakes for breakfast and no ice crem for dessert.
I was horrified how the outside swimming pool was cleaned. Just before closing time the life guard took a mop and cleaned all the water and the dirt around the pool into the pool.
Well I don't believe they will see us in this hotel ever again and I also wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

The hotel boasts tennis courts, spa, a cafe and restaurants but is no way a 4 star hotel. The rooms and bathroom smelt musty and are in desperate need of renovation. I'm not sure how they can class this as a 4 star?! We stayed here for 4 nights and in that time the rooms were not properly cleaned, if at all with dead insects (presumably killed by prior staying guests) moulded to the curtains. No mini bar or coffee/tea making facilities. Free shampoo and shower gel in the bathroom were more like watered down soap.
The location is suburb and I would most definately stay here again as long as the rooms were renovated. My friend said her single room was like a prison with no door to the shower - which resulted in a flooded floor.
For the restaurant I would give it 3/10. Neither did the meat look or taste like meat and the whole service is operated on a buffet style basis. You do feel like a chicken in a large pen.
Watch out for the additional tax/exchange rate charge (which I still do not understand what this was for and refused to pay) at the end of your stay.

I would recommend Amore for fresh fish, pizza and pasta. We ate here twice in 4 days.

My friend and I stayed here for the SunceBeat festival for 5 days and we were pleased with the hotel.

Yes there is a lot of truth in the reception staff, but actually you will find that this is the case throughout croatia generally, they just haven't caught up on the hospitality, tourism side of things. I am used to be welcomed and greeted when I arrive at a hotel and this was not the case at the Pinija...but I wouldn't say it ruined my stay. I think it just lets the hotel down.
We had booked a twin room and were satisfied with what we found, the only downfall would be that there are barely any english TV channels, had we have known that we could have bought a DVD player to plug into the side of the TV.
Just to clarify, sun loungers are free poolside but anywhere else it costs 25kuna. We opted for the B&B tariff and found that breakfast was fine,one evening we decided to have dinner in the hotel and we were pleasantly surprised, a variety of warm cooked meal, buffet style. The layout of the dining area feels like a school canteen, but I wouldn't say the food reflected this.