Hotel Istra Plava Laguna

The hotel looks quite modern from outside, and the lobby is spacious and really nice. The rooms were tidy and very clean, though they had a strong 90s feel. Breakfast and dinner were both very nice, served as an all-you-can-eat buffet with plenty of food and lots to choose from.

I can’t get the booking to work on your official website, and the contact form isn’t working either. Could you check it? Calling the phone number seems to be the only other way to reach you, and that would mean international charges.

The bathroom is so cramped that a lukewarm shower practically leads straight into the toilet, all in one glorious square meter. No need to waste time walking between fixtures, apparently. And the view from below the balcony was a row of colorful garbage bins and a giant red truck. There was a distant sliver of sea, just enough to add to the seaside irony. Truly a masterpiece of space-saving and scenic irony. I’d recommend it to my worst enemy. It’s also not stroller-friendly at all. There were stairs everywhere and no ramps or elevators in sight. We had to carry the baby stroller up and down constantly, a real hassle with a toddler. Definitely not ideal for families with small children.

We'd come back. It’s a great budget hotel in a lovely area, close to everything, with a nice atmosphere. The grounds are fabulous, though rooms without a balcony face the back of the hotel. The hotel is old-fashioned, but immaculately clean and well maintained, with comfortable rooms and great air con. The bathroom is tiny, as others have said, but the shower is powerful and there’s plenty of hot water. The food was okay, with plenty of the usual choices. If you want restaurant-quality food, go to a restaurant! The pool area is small, but it’s not one of those places where people claim sunbeds with towels all day. The little tourist train takes about 20 minutes to Porec and costs €4pp.