Hotel Laguna

The staff were polite and professional, which was the one good part of this stay. I’ve been to Hotel Laguna several times and knew it was an older hotel from the Yugoslav era. I didn’t expect luxury, and I understand the age and style are reflected in the price, even if it still isn’t exactly cheap. But basic hygiene should be a given. This time, the bathroom sink was cracked and dirty, and the toilet barely flushed. Whenever I showered, the bathtub overflowed and left the bathroom like a small pool. A long black hair was on a supposedly clean towel, and the bed linen smelled unpleasant. The carpet in both the room and the rest of the hotel looked as if it hadn’t been properly cleaned in a long time and smelled bad too. I knew what to expect from the decor, but not this sharp drop in cleanliness. A very disappointing stay.

The breakfast was the biggest surprise. I’d paid less than hostel rates, so I expected a mediocre spread, but there was a lot to choose from: several hams and cheeses, mozzarella, capers, seeds, sauerkraut, cold dishes, pastries, cakes including cheesecake, yogurt, three kinds of handmade jam, boiled and scrambled eggs, wok vegetables, sausages, national dishes, bread, and more. The staff kept it stocked and were attentive. In the breakfast area, they were kind and helpful too. I paid 52 euros a night for a two-bed room on a weekend in mid-May. For a 3-star hotel, that felt like a 5-star experience. Hostels for two were around 48 euros a night for the absolute worst ones, while hotels were about 60 euros or more, all without breakfast. The location isn’t especially pretty, but shops and bars are close, the tram is one block away, and the centre is walkable. The receptionist was attentive and eager to help. When we had a thermostat problem, someone came to fix it right away. It’s a very old hotel, with old-fashioned decor, carpets, and furniture. It feels like a trip to the past, but I found there was some charm in that. If you expect a modern, brand-new place, it might feel odd. The rooms are simple and functional. The beds were new, and the sheets and towels very clean, though there were a few small stains that seemed expected at this price. The fridge barely worked. We were on the fifth floor, where it was quiet enough to sleep well. The bathroom worked properly, and the shower had good pressure and temperature. I booked only a few hours before arriving. The many very negative Google reviews made me nervous, but some of the one-star accounts seemed suspicious to me, mostly local profiles with very few reviews, which made them feel more like competitor attacks than genuine experiences.

The staff were friendly and helpful, and trams to the city centre, bus station, and railway station are nearby. The decor in both the rooms and hotel feels very late 1970s, a bit stuck in the Tito era.

Service was good, but that was about it. The hotel must have looked luxurious when it first opened, but it seems no money has gone into it since. Everything felt so old that at 24, I seemed like the youngest thing in the room. At breakfast, the buffet plates were tiny, almost as if they were telling you not to eat too much. The pink fruit yogurt, maybe strawberry, though I couldn’t tell, wasn’t edible, and the scrambled eggs weren’t cooked enough. For the same price, you can find much better options in Zagreb. It feels like the health inspector should stop by now and then. I considered giving it a second star for the antique luxury feel, but I’d suggest going somewhere else.