After two days in Dubrovnik, it was time to head to another of Croatia’s famous coastal cities – Split!
Just as the Hilton was the obvious choice in Dubrovnik, there was really no question about where to stay in Split: the Radisson Blu Resort & Spa. This has long been one of Radisson’s flagship resort properties in Europe. It used to be particularly popular for the excellent value offered by redeeming points for Junior Suites. Since Jin Jiang’s acquisition, Radisson points have become practically worthless, but on the bright side, there have been plenty of generous promotions. This time, we combined a 50%-off room rate voucher with a 50%-off points redemption offer to book three nights at a very reasonable cost.
The Radisson is quite far from the Old Town. Walking there is technically possible, but Uber and Bolt are so cheap in Split – usually just €6–7 – that there’s really no need. The advantage of staying here is the seaside location, with an actual beach (mostly pebbles, admittedly) rather than the harbour you’ll find around the Old Town.
Restaurants along the waterfront are just as expensive as those in the Old Town, though. Head north towards the main road and the surrounding residential neighbourhoods, and prices become much more reasonable. I’d particularly recommend Mala Kavana, where both the seafood risotto and tuna were delicious.
As you’d expect from a well-established resort hotel, the lobby is much more spacious than the one at the Hilton in Dubrovnik. There are also plenty of paintings on display, although I’m not sure whether they’re actually for sale.
I’d heard that this hotel was quite generous with room upgrades, and it certainly lived up to its reputation. My friend’s Jin Jiang Platinum status got me upgraded straight to a sea-view Junior Suite. Whatever else you might say about Radisson, its hotels tend to be pretty generous with upgrades, and this particular property certainly has plenty of rooms to go around.
Upon entering, there’s a living area with a sofa:
Beyond a simple partition is the bedroom:
Right next to the bed is an open-plan bathroom – rather romantic, shall we say.
The toilet, shower and bathtub are all separate.
Outside the window is an endless expanse of sea, with seagulls frequently flying past. Make sure you keep those windows firmly shut!
Both the sea view and the room’s functionality are excellent. Unfortunately, the décor feels rather cheap, particularly the sofa, which has a distinctly plasticky look and feel. The walls also have a somewhat unfinished, almost bare-concrete aesthetic – retro in a rather questionable way.
The welcome gift consisted of a box of sweet treats and some fruit.
Time to explore the rest of the hotel! Unfortunately, both the indoor swimming pool and whirlpool were undergoing a deep clean and were temporarily closed.
The neighbouring hot and cold plunge pools, along with the sauna, were still operating as normal.
From the spa, you can head upstairs and outside to reach the outdoor swimming pool. Alternatively, it’s accessible directly from the restaurant’s outdoor terrace.
The pool is huge and, importantly, heated, so swimming is still perfectly comfortable even as the weather starts cooling down in October. If, like me, you can’t be bothered to swim, lounging around and soaking up the sunshine is equally enjoyable.
Because the hotel sits on elevated ground, it doesn’t have a beach directly attached to the property. Instead, you need to walk a few minutes downhill from the ground level to reach the waterfront.
The beach club is operated by a third party, although hotel guests are welcome to use it. Prices aren’t too outrageous either, with a glass of champagne costing €18.
There are plenty of spots along the beach where you can get into the sea, but after testing the water with my hand, I quickly decided it was far too cold! A leisurely stroll along the shore, enjoying the sea breeze, was much more appealing.
Now, let’s head to the hotel’s Fig Leaf restaurant and see what breakfast has to offer. The restaurant is absolutely enormous, with an equally spacious outdoor terrace.
On the first morning, I had to get up early for a boat trip, so I arrived at breakfast to find the restaurant almost completely empty. I briefly wondered whether the hotel was struggling to attract guests. Well, that concern turned out to be completely unnecessary – when I returned at more normal breakfast times over the following two days, the place was absolutely buzzing!
Let’s have a look at the buffet.
The selection is very extensive, with freshly prepared omelettes and sweet pancakes available to order. The latter were particularly delicious! There’s also barista-made coffee. Overall, while the ingredients might not be especially luxurious, I actually preferred the breakfast experience here to that at the Hilton in Dubrovnik. And if you’re lucky enough to grab a table with a view, you can enjoy the sea while you eat.
I also noticed several bottles of sparkling wine prominently displayed at the buffet.
The hotel doesn’t have an executive lounge. Jin Jiang Platinum and Radisson VIP members do, however, receive the standard 15% discount on food and beverages, although I didn’t get around to trying any of the hotel’s other dining options.
All things considered, the Radisson Blu Resort & Spa in Split is an excellent hotel. Apart from the rather basic room décor, I really have very little to complain about. It’s particularly worth considering whenever Jin Jiang is running one of its generous promotions (and if you can avail them).
And one final observation: compared with Dubrovnik, Split feels much more like a living, breathing city, with a stronger sense of everyday local life. That makes it, in my opinion, an even better destination for a relaxed seaside holiday.
Recent Comments