Hotel Vis

Lapad was quiet at the end of October, and the hotel is nicely located. Staff were friendly and helpful, although communication with the cleaners was a little difficult because of a language barrier. Breakfast and dinner were quite OK for us, though that really comes down to personal taste. The building seems to have sections of different ages and renovation states. Our rooms looked like they might date from the dark communist era and had probably been refurbished a few times. Everything worked, but another renovation round may be due before long.

I stayed five nights, and although the hotel has a lovely sea view on one side, the room I got was very worn and old. Maybe some rooms are in better shape, but I wouldn't return unless the facilities are upgraded. It could have been a gem. Getting down from the hotel means using a steep staircase on the hill, so I was glad I hadn't brought a large suitcase. Inside, the living area was dark, the furniture smelled musty, especially the wardrobe, and the air conditioner, though it worked, was very dirty. The bed was so close to the exit that getting into the room was awkward. There was no fridge, safe, or even a bottle of water. The place felt like a 1970s hotel, with tired furniture, broken bits, and cleanliness that wasn't quite there. The bathroom door was nearly broken and hard to shut, the sink was cracked, and the ceiling had mold. Water pressure was good, but the blocked drain meant it flooded every day. The door frame was broken too, so using the key was difficult more than once. Breakfast was okay, but the coffee tasted like dirt mixed with water. The beach is public and gets crowded, and if you arrive late you may not get a sunbed. Two sunbeds and an umbrella cost 30 euros.

The smell hits you as soon as you enter, and the hotel feels very old. We paid to upgrade to a sea view room, but the room they gave us is shown in the photo. My wife and I spent one night sleeping in separate beds in a dusty room. Nobody apologized or tried to make things right. You also have to pay extra for sun loungers and umbrellas, so the stay wasn't worth what we paid at all. Stay away, don't go!

The view was the one real highlight of our trip, absolutely breathtaking. The rest of the stay fell far short. Our room was very outdated, and the bed creaked loudly all night, making sleep impossible. We complained and the manager was impolite and unhelpful. They offered another room, but its bed had the same problem, so it seems to be a general issue. Mornings were noisy too, with housekeepers working very early and making a lot of noise in the corridors. At meals, the waiters cleared our plates before we'd finished, and we felt watched while eating. That came across as very unprofessional and impolite. The light lunch menu was expensive for the surprisingly small portions. Bottled water at reception is overpriced, so you'd be better off getting it from the bar or a store outside.