Hotel Istra, Croatia

Situated on the beautiful St. Andrea Island just off the coast of Croatia, the Hotel Istra is a sprawling, luxury 4-star hotel with a fantastic array of facilities. It is difficult to overstate just how breath-taking the hotel’s setting is – perched on the island’s coast overlooking the clear blue waters of the Mediterranean and surrounded by colourful flowers and exotic trees, reviews consistently rave about how beautiful the island and hotel surroundings are. Guests will enjoy a good range of facilities here, including 2 outdoor pools, an indoor pool, a health spa centre, various restaurants and bars and easy access to the nearby beach. Rooms are clean and well-equipped with comfortable beds and perks such as a free air-conditioning and free use of a safety deposit box (a rarity in any European resort). It perhaps comes as no surprise then that the Hotel Istra is rated as one of the top hotels in the Rovinj area.

The hotel is situated in a secluded island location, around 15 minutes away from Rovinj by boat. Rovinj is a small, picturesque harbour town on the Croatian mainland, a short journey from the island of St. Andrea (also known as Red Island). Having been ruled by the Venetian Empire for much of its history, Rovinj boasts an elegant Venetian charm that can be seen in the narrow, cobbled streets that wind between small, wooden-shuttered houses and around the old Church of St Euphemia. The boat to Rovinj from the hotel runs every hour from 6 in the morning to 12 at night. Around 50m from the hotel is a small shingle beach, with parasols and sunbeds.  There are various day trips you can go on from here, including boat trips to Lake Bled in Slovenia and Venice. Also nearby on the Croatian mainland are the larger towns of Pula and Porec.

Accommodation at the Hotel Istra consists of 326 spacious, comfortable rooms, many of which have a sea view. Most standard rooms have a double bed, but there are a small number available with twin beds and a 3^rd bed suitable for a child up to the age of 12. Family rooms consist of 2 rooms with interconnecting doors that sleep 2 adults and 2 children under the age of 12. These rooms will have a sea view. All rooms come with free air conditioning and safety deposit boxes, an LCD TV with satellite channels, a mini bar, telephone, hairdryer, full bathroom with WC and balcony or terrace. Wired high-speed internet access is available in rooms for a surcharge.

The hotel boasts an impressive range of facilities. Two curving outdoor swimming pools – one fresh water and one salt water - surrounded by spacious sun terraces offer a relaxing place to enjoy the sun. There is also an indoor swimming pool complete with cushioned loungers and wall-to-ceiling windows. If you tire of the pools, the hotel has its own private beach such 50m away. There is a health club on-site, with a sauna, fitness facility, and children's pool. For dining, the complex has 2 buffet and 3 a la carte restaurants serving a range of Mediterranean and local dishes, and there are 3 bars, including the elegant Captain Club Bar. Other facilities include a games room, TV room, Internet café, giant chess board, gift shop, hotel run Kids Club, evening entertainment programme and 24 hour reception.

Board: Guests can choose bed and breakfast or half board options with meals to be taken at the hotel’s buffet restaurants. Meals at the a la carte restaurants will be charged additionally.

Children: There are 2 children’s pool and a hotel-run Kids Club for children up to the age of 11.