Studios Ravlić Marija

The location is quiet, a bit more peaceful than the beach or harbor, though getting back up to the property takes some effort since it's on a slight rise. The beach is about five minutes away on foot, and the harbor takes around 15 minutes. There are two bakeries and a laundromat nearby, where 12 kg of laundry costs €7. We stayed at "Studios Ravlic Marija" and were greeted warmly by the owner, a friendly, hospitable older gentleman who also speaks some German. There are several free parking spots right at the property. The apartment was simply furnished but had what we needed: a very comfortable double bed, a kitchenette with two burners and a sink, lots of dishes and cookware, a kettle, and a medium-sized fridge with a small freezer compartment. We also had a large terrace with sea views and plenty of seating, a drying rack, clean towels, a hairdryer, and an ironing board and iron, even with a bottle of distilled water. There was air conditioning and nice blackout blinds. No coffee maker, but we managed with the kettle.

The hosts were warm and friendly, and the apartment was clean, smelled nice, and had fast Wi-Fi. The kitchen had all the utensils we needed, and shops were within walking distance. The nearest public beach is about 500 meters uphill. I highly recommend it.

There were a few things going for the apartment: the bed was large and comfortable, and the toilet facilities were adequate. But a lot of the rest was frustrating. The balcony was no use to us. On the first day, smoke from the downstairs furnace chimney reached it and got into our clothes drying there. The nearest beach takes 15 minutes downhill and 25 minutes on the way back, and it was so unpleasantly crowded that the first beach area with decent breeze was a 50-minute walk. There isn't much nearby, and the steep streets make the return trip feel like a punishment. Inside, the wet room had a boiler connection that seemed dangerously unprotected against contact. The TV was mounted 160 cm high beside the bed, in a place where it was impossible to watch, with extension cords and cable TV wires dangling nearby. There was no full-length mirror. The tiny kitchen was almost unusable: no microwave, and the hob controls were worn down and unreadable, so it couldn't be adjusted. The extractor hood was oddly placed above the sink, with a corner you could easily hit your head on. Since it was white like the cabinets, it blended in and made that more likely. Under the sink, the water heater cord with a removable plug hung beside dripping water. The boiler seemed set to its lowest level, which wasn't enough. It gave about 30 seconds of hot water for washing dishes and a minute for a bath. We adjusted it ourselves, but it was still a nuisance. Parking was another issue. There aren't enough spaces for all the apartments, so the owner parks cars on the very narrow street in front of the house, at an intersection where the front of your car seems likely to get crushed. After checking the turn with only a centimeter to spare, we parked in front of the house that evening, where the owner also parks. When we asked him about it, we couldn't understand what he wanted, and he went on with his business ;) It's survivable, but another disappointment.

The Wi-Fi was super fast, and the rooms were spotless and well equipped. The stove was slow to heat, which was the one downside. The Ravlićs are very kind and helpful, and I recommend their apartment. It's near the beach, though the walk back is a bit of a workout because Makarska is mountainous.