Villa Zvonko

Our stay was mostly comfortable: the room was clean and had the advertised basics, and we enjoyed the sea view from the balcony. The beach, restaurants and bars were all close by. The shower head was broken, so it couldn't be used from the wall, and the balcony chairs weren't comfortable. It also felt a bit pricey for what we got. Communication made things less smooth. We drove several hours from continental Croatia and, an hour before arrival, I had to ask whether we needed a lockbox code. The reply was, “It's not ready yet.” I understand changing the code before each check-in, but guests travelling a long way should be told when they'll receive it. We did get the details before arriving and let ourselves in without trouble. We later couldn't access HTV1, 2 and 3 while the Olympics were on. When I asked, the hosts simply said yes, without explaining that these were hidden channels requiring a PIN in the settings. We eventually guessed the PIN ourselves. They didn't check whether we needed help, though that was why I'd messaged. A few minutes after we arrived, a woman called up from the street and asked if we were at Villa Zvonko and whether our room was mouldy. She said her own room was “full of black mould everywhere” and seemed very upset. We didn't see her again, so I assume she found somewhere else to stay. On Sunday, two unrelated groups asked us for help because they were trying to check in without having received any information. Both had tried calling the hosts several times without getting through, and neither had the codes. We heard doors in the hallway later, so I think they eventually got them. Sunday is a day of rest in Croatia, but it's still a poor impression to have guests arriving when the hosts are so hard to reach. Communication seems to be a problem. We were lucky our own stay went fairly smoothly.

The balcony and Netflix were the best parts, and the bed was clean enough for us to stay. The bathroom was more or less clean, but the apartment itself needed cleaning. The place is very small and neglected, and the photos don't match what you get. The work table is unusable, hanging halfway off the wall and halfway down to the floor. It badly needs renovation. I thought the price was extremely cheeky for this accommodation, so don't book expecting too much. The beach nearby wasn't nice; you have to drive farther for a good one. The old town is about 1.8 kilometers away on foot. There is a fantastic pizzeria two minutes away, where we ate three days in a row, and Müller and DM are nearby too. With a proper renovation, it could be a good apartment. As it is, I can't recommend it.

We booked with good expectations, but the room we found was covered in mold. The cupboards and dishwasher were broken, and even the air smelled moldy. It was the worst experience I've had. Never again. If you're considering this place, turn around and run.

We came with friends for a few nights and found mold all over the rooms, including the walls, bathroom, kitchen and dishwasher. After breathing it in for a few minutes, we asked for a refund, but didn't get one. We tried contacting the owner every way we could, and they ignored us. Total scam.