Admiral Grand Hotel

The hotel and setting were lovely. Our room was clean and suited our needs, the private beach was fantastic, and the scenery was beautiful. The cleaners were friendly and thorough. The quiet village, about 50 minutes from Dubrovnik, suited us well. The restaurant was a real disappointment. We discussed my egg allergy and dietary needs before booking and again when we arrived, and were assured there’d be no problem. Yet for seven nights, with several chefs working, they gave me a glass of whipped cream for dessert. The food choices for anyone with dietary requirements were very poor. A medium bottle of water with a meal cost 9 euros, and there was no table water. Most of the restaurant staff were giggling kids who seemed unwilling to help. Such a shame.

I booked this for a quiet week to unwind, and that’s exactly what I got. Slano is a gorgeous village among bays and mountains, with a real wow factor if you want to switch off. If you’re after lots of shops and nightlife, this probably isn’t the place. There’s a small supermarket, post office, and bus stop opposite the hotel. A two minute walk gets you to an ice cream shop, three restaurants, a bar, a bakery, and two souvenir shops. The marina is five minutes away. The beach is lovely and almost private, and I could always find a sunbed by the pool, even in mid afternoon. My room on the third floor, room 301, had a balcony and a magnificent view across the bay. It was a good size, as was the bathroom, and the whole hotel was extremely clean. The food was fairly basic and there wasn’t a huge choice, but I always found something really nice. You can drink the tap water, though I thought it was unfair that bottled water in the restaurant cost extra. Evenings could be dull: in my seven nights, there was entertainment on only two, and by 9:30 pm about 90 percent of guests seemed to have gone to bed. I booked it as a four star hotel, and that’s how it felt, even though the sign outside says five star. For a thoroughly relaxing week, I thought it was a lovely place. I’d definitely choose a sea view room.

The staff were friendly and helpful without the overdone service you get in some countries. Don’t expect American style service, but several people really stood out: Perina in the restaurant makes excellent poached eggs and checked with us every day; Marie J greeted us each morning with a smile; Ruza and Dijana were attentive; and Ivana at reception was always glad to help. It’s a peaceful hotel that’s great for resting and resetting. If you’re looking for a Benidorm or Aya Napa kind of holiday, you’d be better off somewhere else. The surrounding area of Slano is beautiful and quiet, good for long walks and hikes. I loved the food, especially the local dishes, though you need to be willing to try something different. If pasta and pizza are more your thing, go elsewhere. The range of dishes felt like a strong four star hotel, rather than five, and water should be available in the restaurant with every meal. The hotel is immaculately clean and right on the beach. Its facilities are well maintained for a place that opened in 2007, but some spa equipment, including the hot tub, wasn’t working and could do with fixing. This was my first stay, and I’d come back.

The staff were warm and capable, and there was a good range of tasty food. With a private beach and perfect weather, it was one of the best hotels I’ve stayed at, and one of Croatia’s best too. I’ve been twice and will definitely return. ❤️