Myself and my boyfriend stayed in this hotel back in April 2010.
We originally went to Zadar for 3 nights, but ended up there for 10 due to the ash cloud - our orginal hotel became booked up and so we moved here.
My first impression when entering the hotel, was that it smelled, it was dark and dreary and extemely dated. Staff behin the desk looked shabby and were not too friendly.
We went to the room and it was what i feared - horrible. It smelled of cigarettes and was dark and damp. The bed was uncomfortable with a lumpy pillow, smelled damp and was damp. The shower was horrible and the sink was full of ants. The TV had no reception and it just made me feel dirty to be in it.

The only compensation was the view from the also dated balcony.

Across in another building was the all inclusive buffet which I was not altogether impressed with - my boyfriend can't eat fish so he wasn't left with much to choose from!

Did not mind its location the bus ride was nice. We tried to spend as much time as possible in town to avoid being in the hotel. We came back early 1 of the nights to find a busy bar but not sure where all these people were coming from as I cannot understand why you would want to be in this hotel! Sorry to have to say such bad things but I would certainly not recommend this hotel, not even to a dog.

The room reminded us of a well used student hostel (as did the dining area) and some fittings needed maintenance. Room musty -- maybe it had not been used for a while as it was in May. Bed too hard for us. Cannot judge value, as on a tour and there one night, but would need to be had at a good price. Dinner acceptable (with a good variety) especially if you are more concerned with quantity than fine quality. Breakfast similar. Free wine (roughish, but OK really) on tap: Perhaps this hints at the market it caters for.

I spent two nights at the Donat in outer Zadar recently, wow were my eyes opened. Firstly may I suggest when you are inside your room, always keep the key in the lock as the cleaners will open your door without knocking even if you put the DO NOT DISTURB sign on your door!! I had them trying to gain entry about 8am one morning when they thought everyone was at breakfast, not sure what they were looking for as the time i got dressed to see what was going on, I just caught the sight of a cleaner running around the corner.
If you insist on staying here, pay the extra 5 Euro for all inclusive as the food is not too bad, German food, but edible (just), don't bother with the bar as the beer and wine are not drinkable, cheapest of cheap.
This hotel advertises they are on the beach, well I think someone should tell them that a beach has sand, not sharp rocks and coral! if you are going to swim there buy reef shoes as you will slice up your feet bad!
If you choose to swim in the pool, you will notice the Germans will throw down their towels and books to reserve deckchairs from about 6am and will keep their deckchair for the whole day, leaving just to feed... but maintaining their right to the chairs, the pool boy seems unwilling or unable to control this, my advice is give the pool a wide berth and buy the reef shoes.
The rooms are very basic, very old furniture, showers overflow, toilets smell. If you only speak English, don't worry about the tv, it only has German and Croatian channels.
The hotel is located some distance from town, you need to catch either the number 5 or 8 bus, if arriving on the shockingly bad airport bus (which does not run to the published schedule!), walk across the footbridge from the old town to the new town, walk 1 block and there is a major bus stop just as you turn the corner right. Buses cost 8 Kuna to anywhere in Zadar.
Overall... I would suggest you give Zadar a miss and go to Split or Dubnovik

I was here for one night on a tour and it was one of the two worst hotels I've ever stayed in. We checked into reception in one hotel and were directed to another building nearby. The rooms were like very basic student accomodation, the bathroom was tiny and the hairs in the shower and washbasin weren't mine. I saw ants on the carpet.
The bar was in the other hotel where we checked in.
I feared the worst when I went for dinner. The dining room is large, like a student canteen, but the food was a pleasant surprise. It was a buffet, there was a large choice and plenty of it. Everything I ate ( I'm a picky vegetarian) was hot and tasty. Also, all the beer and wine was on tap, you helped yourself, free!
Breakfast was a disappointment, it was poor.
The hotel was quiet and the beds comfortable but I'd never go there again.