Galeria Valeria Seaside Downtown - MAG Quaint & Elegant Boutique Hotel

The location by the water is lovely, right at the bottom of the Marjan Hill steps. There’s an easy view of the harbor, good access to all of Split, and a lovely rooftop. The beds could’ve been more comfortable, and the room felt a little damp. That wasn’t surprising given the waterfront setting and windows that open fully, which make the air conditioning work harder. For me, that puts it at the high end of three stars rather than four, even by European standards. Still, for the price, it didn’t disappoint. I appreciated that the hotel calls itself informal, and that it’s a boutique Heritage Hotel in Split’s historic UNESCO-protected area. These hotels are often old houses or estates converted to preserve their original architecture and history, so knowing that helped set my expectations, and they were met.

They said our room was one of the best, but the decor was hideous. To see the sea view, I had to stand on a worn bar stool. We asked several times for the bathroom light to be fixed, but it never was, and the rooftop terrace lights didn’t work either. I’d like a refund.

I’ve never left a bad review before, but this was the worst room I’ve ever stayed in. We checked in at 3 pm and went straight to reception to ask for another room. The receptionist said none were available, even when we offered to wait, so we were made to stay. The dampness was awful. The sheets felt wet every day, and even my clothes in the suitcase became damp. There was a constant sewage or poop smell that made sleeping nearly impossible. It felt unsafe, as if there might be mold somewhere, though I don’t know that for sure. The lights barely worked, the all-marble room felt like a dungeon, the toilet paper holder was broken, and the mini fridge didn’t work. I can’t believe we paid for this. The conditions seemed completely at odds with health and safety regulations. I wouldn’t stay here even for free.

Petra at reception made me feel welcome as soon as I arrived. She was so kind, helpful, and friendly. The hotel’s location was perfect too. I had a great stay and highly recommend it.