Classic Hotel Gala Split

Our balcony faced a concrete wall for almost its entire view. You could just about see the sea on the left, through other buildings, despite the room being described as having an ocean view. The carpet was the other big letdown: it had long hairs and bits of debris stuck in it, and didn't look properly cleaned. We wore flip-flops indoors all week. I heard the rooms in the Main building (San Antonio) don't have that carpet and are much better. The location is great, and service was generally good. A few people could be curt, but I didn't mind. Restaurant staff were friendly and helpful. Getting beach beds and umbrellas was confusing, and the umbrella price seemed to change from day to day. Some information boards would help. Nobody really came around to take orders by the beds either. Better drinks and snacks service there could probably bring the hotel more business. I also found it odd that the beach bar didn't have chips or crisps, which I think would sell well.

The breakfast, beach, and reception staff were all good, and I liked the room layout and color scheme. But the room smelled of cigarette smoke under air freshener, and the old, stained carpet had its own musty smell. The air conditioning wasn't great. When I opened the sofa bed, it hadn't been cleaned and there were toenail clippings inside. Replacing the carpet would improve the stay a lot. This isn't a good choice for anyone with accessibility needs. Some ramps end before reaching the ground, the lift only serves every other floor, and the main building has lots of marble steps without handrails.

The hotel had friendly, helpful staff and a generous breakfast, even in January, which is about as quiet as the region gets. We had a penthouse in an annex. It was clean enough, though not spotless, and there were small signs of wear inside and outside the building. The elevator stopped working for a day after being mishandled during cleaning. A simple reset got it going again, but nobody dealt with it for the whole day. The area around the hotel probably looks nicer in high season. During our visit it seemed a little neglected, with spring upkeep still due in less than a month. Diocletian's palace is about a 10-minute drive away, and there's a nine-hole golf course and marina with a campsite within walking distance. We had an easy weekend. A solid C overall.

Friendly staff and a great location for the price. The cleaning crew were especially kind every time. I'll book again next year!