Brijuni Rooms Karmen

It was cold and damp, and if you have neighbours, you'll hear them since there's practically no sound insulation. There's no reception, no staff around, and no information about anything. The restaurant is in another hotel. On the plus side, it's clean, well located, authentic, funny, and good value. Check the photos first. The place has a very particular 70s lunatic asylum feel, so, well, it was different.

The sea view is beautiful, with nature all around, and the hotel isn't expensive. The staff are friendly and kind to everyone. The rooms have nice equipment, including Internet, but the walls could use repainting and the bathroom tiles need cleaning. In the lobby, replacing the fluorescent lamps with LED tubes could add light and save electricity. The retro look brings back a lot of nostalgia, and I think it's one of the best hotels on the northern Adriatic. It'd be nice if the hotel became pet friendly so we could all spend time together and share positive feelings. If pets shed, brooms and vacuum cleaners could pick up the hair and leave things clean.

I suggest renting bikes for the day and taking the whole route around the island. The views are amazing, and there are places to swim along with remains of ancient churches and homes. I'm still in awe that somewhere like this exists. As an American tourist, I see the rooms in Karmen as vintage and charming, part of the island's history. They're not air conditioned, as some visitors have complained, but Neptune hotel next door offers that for more money. If you need air conditioning for a summer holiday, you'll pay more to stay at Brijuni park. Some people may not realize that living in a relic means giving up some modern conveniences. Keeping old buildings going costs a lot, and retrofitting them does too. Plan accordingly. Just getting to visit a place like this is rare and exceptional. The food is decent, and considering the accommodation price and what's offered, I think it's excellent value. Taking everything available on the island into account, I'd give the park and hotels 5 stars. To the haters, an air conditioned apartment in a coastal tourist city or resort might suit you better, where you can complain about Wi-Fi and the lack of white glove dining, lather on excessive sunscreen, then get into a warm hotel pool with the same sort of travelers.

Even without air conditioning, we slept really well with the fan they provided. I fell for Karmen's vintage look, from the old furniture to the worn decor. It has such a strong personality. Staying there felt like being between a Yugoslavian story and an Agatha Christie novel. Fascinating.