We checked into the Hotel Galija on the recommendation of the receptionist of another hotel in a small town 15 km from Pula called Medulin. We'd had problems being based in Medulin at this time of year (Oct) because everything was closed and we'd had to travel to Pula by bus each day anyway.

The Hotel Galija was extremely central which was a definite plus since we were travelling with 2 children aged 6 and 10. The room was spacious enough with a double bed in one room and 2 sofa beds in the 'living room' but these had been made up as beds and this greatly reduced the size of the room. The kids loved them, though.

The Hotel breakfast was much better than in our previous hotel and plentiful, though quite basic.

The hotel staff were very helpful and spoke quite good English. One lady in particular, Boyana, was really nice and booked taxis and a tour to Brijuni Island for us. She was also brilliant when my husband got tonsilitis and had to see a Doctor, phoning ahead and acting as interpreter by phone.

The only problem with the Hotel Galija -and it was a big one when there are 4 people travelling together - was a fact that has been mentioned before on this site. I phoned reception on the first night to find out how long it would take to get hot water for a bath or shower and was told it would be about 10 minutes from the time I switched the heating system on. I waited 2 hours and even then only got enough hot water for one person to have a very quick shower so we were forced to work out a strict shower rota. We never had enough hot water to enjoy the jacuzzi bath I saw advertsed on the hotel website when I got back.

We were in room 20 in the annex and perhaps this is not a problem in the other rooms. I only know that had it not been for the inconvenience of having to work our schedule around a hotel's availability of hot water, I would have given the Hotel Galija a much more favourable review.

Overall we liked this hotel, our room was small, but clean in the annexe across the road. Good air con and satellite TV worked fine. Beds were a bit "lumpy" however. The main member of staff that we came across was extremely friendly and cheery, spoke good English and was very helpful. The hotel has a car park for about 2 euros a day, it's quite big and only 2 minutes walk away, it's very secure as it has electronic gates. I agree with previous reviews about the poor standard of the breakfast, we found this to be pretty common across Croatia though. The food in the pizzeria attached to the annexe is very good though and extremely good value.

Hotel Galija has an excellent location in busy Pula near all there is to see in town. This hotel is hidden on a side street just off the main drag. It is rated a 3 star (sometimes 4 star property), but it is really a 2 star with location going for it. We were housed in their annex accros the street. Our room was small and clean but very basic and a tough climb up three flights with two heavy cases. The beds were tiny and hard and the bathroom had a tub shower with only enough hot water for one guest; a problem when there are two of us! Staff at this hotel are plentiful but they seem to have little interest in the guests; we were never greeted or acknowledged as long as we stayed there. The breakfast provided is "slim pickings". A final note; Pula is a very busy town and parking is a problem. You need to be lucky to find a spot on the street near the hotel and lots are tough to find. We have a parking ticket to prove it.

Good hotel with adequate sized rooms. Bathroom good size with great pressure in shower. Rooms airconditioned which is a necessity.

Meals compare favourably with other meals in similar restaurants. Menu the same all over. Restaurant busy most nights.

Breakfast the same each day. Staff will replenish dishes if asked no matter how late you come down to breakfast. Breakfast does not vary but this is not unusual in Pula.

Staff extremely friendly and helpful, especially if you make an effort to talk to them.

Only issue satellite tv did not work. Staff unable to show how it worked so there was no point in having it.

Great treatments available in Beauty saloon at very reasonable prices.

Would recommend hotel.