Salona Palace

We booked for Valentine’s Day hoping for a good stay, but it turned into a horrible experience. We had accepted that the shower in our junior suite was broken, but the short-haired receptionist’s attitude in the morning was the worst we’ve encountered. Her treatment of us was unforgettable, and not in a good way.

We booked two rooms, and both the stay and the receptionist’s attitude made this our worst hotel experience. The short-haired receptionist showed no good manners and treated us badly. We accepted that the shower in the junior suite wasn’t working, but guests should still be treated like human beings.

Breakfast became chaotic when a coach group arrived. The single coffee machine sprayed liquid everywhere, and people of all nationalities struggled to work out its options. Then it took ages to dispense anything into the tiny cup. A coffee urn or jugs of filter coffee would have helped. At least the yoghurt came in pots! In our room, most of the light switches seemed to do nothing, and the shower heads needed a good scrub. We wanted somewhere away from Split’s crowds, and this hotel fit the bill. It was nice and tried for an opulent feel while still offering good value. The car park is shared with the entrance to the Roman archaeological ruins, which made for an interesting walk to watch keen archaeologists digging.

The hotel staff were pleasant and quick to respond when we asked for anything. The area is a long way from most things, but Solin is lovely for a walk by the river. Taking the bus into Split was easy, and from there we could reach other places and activities. We liked having a quiet room and were glad we chose a pool view. The bed was firm, though whether that’s comfortable is personal preference. Old bleach-like marks on the carpet made the room look tired, and we had to cover the many little LED lights at night to sleep in the dark. Breakfast was fine, but if you go later everything ends up tepid. The fresh fruit and bread rolls were nice. The sauna and pools were a real treat, and at this quiet time of year we mostly had them to ourselves. They could have been cleaner: dead insects by the indoor pool were still there the next morning, and the women’s changing area smelled unpleasant. The spa staff seemed disinterested, though perhaps it’s because the place was so empty. We got one free towel each day, and they were badly worn with frayed bits, like the ones we’d use for cleaning at home. We still had a fantastic holiday.