Prima Luce Downtown

It took us a while to find the place. It’d help if the name were posted at the main entrance. Otherwise, it was solid.

The room smelled of mold and sewage, though at first the smell was masked by very strong perfume. The door was broken, but a worker called it a “special security measure.” The safe also had problems, and the building’s first floor felt shady and run-down. Worst hotel I’ve ever stayed at.

The staff were diligent, friendly, and very helpful, and the upgraded room was fine: no strange smell, a panoramic window, good A/C, cleanliness, and a comfortable bed. I had asked for an upgrade because the first room smelled of sewage. Parking was a headache. The “hotel” offered public parking for around €38 per day or private parking for €20 per day. The cheaper option looked decent in the photos, but it turned out to be an empty, run-down house with overgrown bushes, no lights, and only three spaces. It’s far from the property, around 15-20 minutes by car or about 1 km on foot through Split’s walking shortcuts. Parking in Split is very limited. The main advantage is the location, but I’m definitely not coming back. Rooms are on the top floor of an abandoned department store, and taking the glass elevator past the dark, run-down first two floors felt creepy.

The rooms are decent, and the bathrooms are nice. The TV’s big, too. But the place stinks of feet, which they clearly try to cover with perfume. You get used to it, apparently. The air conditioning was so hot that for a moment I thought I was in a microwave. Getting in means using a dodgy alley, then climbing what felt like 2000 stairs to the lobby. That lobby is a balcony over an abandoned shopping center and looks like a horror game. We realized it was an old Primark with the last two letters ripped off, and the first floor is a nightclub from 00:00 to 05:00, so bring earplugs if you want sleep. The building is a huge eyesore. I think there’s a car park nearby, maybe you could sleep there, if you bring a tent or something. Don’t go here at any cost. The prices don’t match the experience, and I don’t know how it gets good reviews. If there’s no other option, honestly, just be homeless for the night.