We've just come back from a great last minute holiday at Hotel Pineta in Vrsar. The accommodation and location were great and I loved the dinning and drinks terraces which overlooked the busy harbour.
The room was adequate with a comfy bed, mini fridge and aircon.
Bathroom was clean and maid service was good although I'd have liked to have had clean towels every day. The shower in our room (no 7) was a bit dodgy, power ok but temp could be erratic depending on time of day and other guests showering in the hotel. Ladies who like to do their hair properly should be advised to take their own hairdryers as the one provided was pretty useless and tended to take ages to do the job.
Breakfast was great and we often didn't bother with lunch as we were so stuffed from the buffet. Choices of bacon and eggs as well as pastries and cold cheeses and meats with toast, jam and fruit etc . . .
The hotel bar was a little pricey for some drinks but happy hour between 8 and 9 is worth a visit as the cocktails are half price then. The Belini was very nice. (champagne and archers).
Hotel staff spoke fair English and made an effort to make us feel welcome although I wouldn't say that smiling comes naturally to most Croatians!
Although the hotel didn't have it's own outdoor pool, the inside one was good and the other hotel with the outdoor pool that you have use of is very close and almost on the same site as the Hotel Pineta.
Transport was a bit of a let down in Croatia, no trains in that part of Istria and the buses aren't terribly frequent to the larger towns of Pula and Rovinj. I would suggest booking early to ensure you can get a hire car unlike us who were left a bit stranded. One excellent service I did discover was www.istriatours.com who are a very reliable and by far the cheapest airport transfer taxi service.
Definitely have a fish platter for two whilst on holiday but stay away from a restaurant with a large fishing net hung up on the balcony just back from the harbour area. Very pricey and bad food. Only restaurant we found this in all the rest served excellent food at reasonable prices. Pizza and ice cream to die for, definitely shows the Italian influence.
Do take a good pair of walking shoes due to the hilly location of Vrsar and also a pair of wet shoes and if you fancy it a snorkel for the beach. I'd suggest buying a cheap beach mat on the first day you arrive. Will probably cost about a fiver but is well worth it as the beaches/rocks can be a little uncomfortable without it.
Do go for a boat ride and have a trip on the little tourist train that takes you around Vrsar. Both are cheap and good fun. We also hired push bikes which meant we could cycle out to the Fjord along the eco bike path, nice country side and good for looking at the vineyards. You can also hire scooters for fairly cheap prices.
Overall a thoroughly good holiday with just enough for a week. Two weeks might have got a bit dull but I'd certainly recommend it as a holiday for couples and families.
Hope you enjoy it as much we did.
- Pineta Hotel Vrsar
